The Eagles finished the 2018 season with a tough loss to Duncanville, 44-35, in a showdown at AT&T Stadium. The 6A Division 1 semi-final loss snapped a 30-game win streak and a chance to play for another state title. Allen was undefeated and ranked #1 in Texas and the USAToday national poll. Duncanville was undefeated and ranked #5 in Texas and #11 in the country.
The Eagles went down big in the first half 35-14 but scored 3 straight touchdowns after halftime to tie it up at 35-35. Late in the 4th quarter on 4th down, the Eagles gave up a 40-yard touchdown run by Ja’Quiden Jackson and another safety late in the game to end their run for another title.
The Eagles have a long winning tradition and have been one of the top powerhouse teams in Texas. They have 5 state championships (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017) and have a combined record of 126 wins and only 7 losses since 2010.
Terry Gambill has been the head coach since 2016 and has one state championship and made it to the state semi-finals twice. He has a 44-2 overall record since he took over at Allen.
The Eagles lost quarterback Grant Tisdale, the District 6A-9 MVP, and Jayden Jernigan, the Defensive Player of the Year. Tisdale is headed to Ole Miss and Jernigan will attend Oklahoma State. Theo Wease and EJ Ndoma-Ogar both signed with Oklahoma. CerTaidrian Brooks is going to SMU and Seth Mason signed with Louisiana Monroe. Devyn Butler is headed to Texas Tech, Nick Boone signed with Oklahoma Baptist, and Mo Perkins will play for Midwestern State. There were 8 other seniors that graduated that made post-season honors.
Donovan Ford, a 6’3 310-pound offensive tackle, transferred and moved to California to attend Santa Ana Mater Dei high school, the 2018 USA Today National Champions.
Offense
The Eagles averaged just shy of 50 points per game last season and have the majority of their offensive skilled players returning. Raylen Sharpe (5’8 152) played wide receiver, running back, and split time at quarterback during his junior season. This year, Raylen will be the Eagles starting quarterback. Sharpe has good mechanics throwing the football on short and intermediate routes, but he is at his best running the read option and scrambling out of the pocket to pick up first downs with his legs.
He has one of the best receiving corps in the state and will have a lot of options in the passing game. Bryson Green (6’2 201) earned 2nd Team All-District honors as a sophomore and will be a hard player to stop for opposing defenses. Blaine Green (6’2 195) will play opposite his twin brother, Bryson, and is equally as dangerous. The Green brothers are also two of the best downfield blockers in the game. They both have received Division 1 offers from over 20 colleges. Darrion Sherfield (6’0 190) is an underrated senior slot receiver that has big-play potential. He recently committed to Houston Baptist University. Elijah Fisher (6’3 260) is a tight end and H-Back that can get open in the flat and over the middle. He is also an elite lead blocker in the run game. Alec Bailey is another reliable receiver in the rotation. Defenses will struggle to contain this group of receivers.
The Eagles bread and butter is their ability to run the football, move the chains, and keep their defense off the field. Celdon Manning (5’9 177) is a feature back that will get 20 touches a game and is a huge threat. He is fast, shifty, and will surprise you with his toughness running between the tackles. Grant Robinson (6’0 195) is another running back that did well last season and his role in the offense will increase during his junior season. Justin Hall has some big runs as a junior and will add depth to the position.
The offensive line lost 4 starters and will have to reload with some young talent coming up. Eddie Cao (6’3 295) is the lone returning starter at left guard. Jackson Newville, a 6’2 260-pound sophomore and Jordan Trout, a 6’3 307-pound junior are two bigs that will fight for a starting position this season. Tanner Norris and Kolton Ehlert will also be key players upfront for Allen.
James Griffin, a 2nd Team All-District performer as a junior, will give the Eagles an edge in the kicking game.
Defense
The defense gave up 17.9 points per game in 2018 and have some great players returning this season. The strength of the defense will be in their front 7 players.
Cole Latos (6’5 245), Cyris McDougle (6’5 245), Michael Onwuzurike (6’0 230), and Kenyatta Carter (6’0 230) are 4 talented defensive linemen. Latos and McDougle have Power 5 frames and are expected to have huge seasons this year. Latos is committed to Rice University. Isaiah Hullum (6’3 260) is a talented 2022 defensive tackle that will contribute on the defensive line.
The linebackers will be led by Ise Moeakida (6’1 220) and Jaden Healy (5’11 192). Moeakida is one of the most underrated linebackers in the state and Healy earned 2nd Team All-District honors as a junior. Caulin Prince (5’10 200), Lane Lewis (6’1 205), and Brayden Manning (5’11 200) all got some quality time last season and will have expanded roles this season.
The secondary lost All-District players, Devyn Butler and Mo Perkins, but the Eagles have a veteran group of defensive backs returning. Zayteak McGhee (5’11 163), Matthew Norman, Will Drogosch, and Savion Richardson are all seniors that have experience. McGhee committed to McNeese State and Drogosch committed to College of the Mines, a Division 2 college in Colorado. Norman has tons of speed and should have a breakout season. Richardson has a lot of talent and will be a key player for the Eagles.
2019 Schedule
The Eagles skated through the regular season last year and weren’t really challenged until the playoffs. This year they open up against two tough non-conference opponents in Cedar Hill and Dickinson.
Cedar Hill was 9-2 last year but was upset by Richardson Pearce, 23-21, in the first round of the 6A Division 2 playoffs. Their other loss was by 4 points to Mansfield Summit. Two losses by a total of 6 points. They had a long offseason and will want to start the 2019 season off right against Allen. The Longhorns return 10 players off last year’s team that earned All-District honors. They have a talented team and will be hungry to compete in week 1.
Dickinson finished the 2018 season with a 10-2 overall record and was knocked out of the playoffs by Galena Park North Shore, the 6A Division 1 champions. The Gators are an elite program in Texas and will be another strong opponent for Allen. They return 12 players that made All-District honors in 24-6A.
Allen should have an easy path prior to the playoffs, outside of the first two non-conference games.
2019 Outlook
Allen has one of the best football communities and programs in all of Texas and has a rich tradition of taking care of business with 5 state titles over the last 10 seasons. Terry Gambill will have an explosive offense with lots of weapons. We expect a balanced offensive attack and think they will put up a lot of points this season. Sharpe, Manning, and Robinson will move the chains on the ground and the Green brothers, Sherfield, and Fisher can beat you in a lot of different ways through the air. The only question mark is on the offensive line with several new starters this season.
Defensively, they have some underrated talent with Latos, McDougle, and Moeakiola. These 3 will shine bright this season. They have a lot of returning seniors with experience and there will be some new players that emerge and step up.
This senior class won a championship as sophomores and they are hungry to go out on top again as they play their final season. The Eagles will be in the thick of things deep into November. They will have some huge obstacles to overcome against some elite teams, but the Eagles have the players and the coaching staff to come out on top. Time will tell and anything is possible with this team.
