Archives > Sports > Schools
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Block-tober: Hartsfield stuffs two punts as Allen rolls through West, 47-25
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
ALLEN -- Plano West scored a touchdown with no time left Friday night versus Allen as sophomore quarterback Zach Norris tossed a 2-yard pass to senior Connor Doyle.
Unfortunately for the Wolves (3-4, 0-2) that touchdown came after 23 straight points by the Eagles (6-1, 2-0) had long since put the game out of reach. Even with West's touchdown and ensuing 2-point conversion it was Allen that was victorious, 47-25.
"Our intensity level was high last week and we saw that again tonight," said Tom Westerberg, Allen head coach. "We told the guys that we couldn't afford to let down or we would lose and they didn't let down tonight."
Allen blocked two punts Friday with both coming courtesy of senior Cameron Hartsfield, who also blocked a punt in the team's district-opening win over Plano East.
"We watch film every week, every day," Hartsfield said, "and saw something in that scheme we felt we could attack."
Hartsfield's first block came midway through the second quarter. West had being trailing since the first series, but pulled within 17-10 before having to punt. The ensuing block gave Allen the ball at the Wolves 33-yard line and the Eagles scored three plays later on a 10-yard run by sophomore quarterback Kyler Murray for a 24-10 lead with 5:26 to go in the half.
"That was big for the momentum of the game," Hartsfield said. "We were able to get that block and then the offense came in and did what they do."
Hartsfield would do what he does again to start the third quarter.
"I'm a very competitive guy," he said. "So once I got that first block, I wanted to go for another one."
This block put Allen, which held a 34-17 lead at the break, even deeper in West territory as the Eagles took over at the Wolves' 3 and scored two plays later on a 3-yard touchdown run by Murray to make it 41-17 with 8:32 remaining in the third.
"There are things like film study and preparation that go into blocking a kick," Westerberg said, "but Cameron just has a knack for it too."
Including a first-half interception by junior Chad Adams, which led to a 29-yard field goal from junior Carlos Arochi, Allen scored 17 points following West turnovers.
"Points off turnovers are always huge," Westerberg said.
Murray accounting for the turnover-following touchdowns stands to reason as he scored five times.
Two of those came on Allen's first two series as the Eagles jumped out to a 14-3 lead following a 16-yard touchdown pass to junior Cole Carter and 24-yard scoring throw to junior Grant Finney. Those were among the top targets for Murray, who completed 15-of-25 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns to go with 29 yards and two scores on the ground, as Carter caught four passes for 56 yards and Finney made two grabs for 35 yards. Senior Oliver Pierce and junior Kendall Clinton got in on the fun too with the former pulling in four catches for 66 yards and the latter catching two balls for 84 yards.
West attempted to battle back via the arm and legs of Travis Korry.
The senior quarterback did his best as he ran for touchdowns of 55 and 3 yards in the second quarter to pull the Wolves within 24-17. Korry ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, but also completed 13-of-18 passes for 173 yards with many of them going to Doyle, who had eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Seniors Zac Gideo, Connor Hubbard and junior Austen Anderson caught multiple passes as well with Anderson also running for 82 yards on 18 carries.
Sophomore running back Sotonya Jamabo, who had scored at least one touchdown in each of his varsity games, did not play Friday.
That fate was shared in the second half by Korry as he left after the second play of the third quarter.
"Obviously it's always tough when you lose your quarterback," Westerberg said.
West's offense, which gained 304 yards in the first half, was severely limited without Korry, though Allen's defense played a part in that.
"I thought we played a lot better defensively in the second half," Westerberg said. "We went with a little more base stuff and were able to stay out of certain covers and not get hurt up the seam so much."
Norris completed 8-of-12 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in the second half, but also found himself on the ground courtesy of sacks by Allen senior Jack Hawkins, Pierce, junior Tay Evans and back-to-back sacks from sophomore Camrin Manning.
The West defense was stout in the second half as well.
Allen did, however, hold the advantage in special teams again as Arochi booted field goals of 25 and 29 yards to go along with his first-half field goals of 29 and 40 yards.
"Of course you'd like to score touchdowns," Westerberg said, "but Carlos has been kicking the ball real well and getting his confidence up, so that's big for us."
The last of Arochi's field goals gave Allen a 47-17 lead, which held until West's touchdown at the buzzer set the final at 47-25.
West returns home at 7:30 p.m. Friday to play McKinney at Kimbrough Stadium while Allen will be on the road at the same time at Ron Poe Stadium against McKinney Boyd.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Plano West «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
