While I went over some of the better games of the first week of high school football season, they all pale in comparison to the game that will take place at Lobo Stadium in Longview tonight.
That would be Longview vs. Allen, and these teams have some serious credentials.
Longview went 13-3 last year, losing in the Class 4A Division I state final, giving Lake Travis its second straight state championship. Now with Lake Travis losing QB Garrett Gilbert, the top spot in the state in 4A belongs to Longview, at least according to the preseason AP 4A poll.
Allen one-upped the Lobos last season, not only making it to the 5A state final, but winning it -- the first in the proud program's history. The Eagles return eight starters this year, with just two on defense. They do return two stud quarterbacks, which as you football fans know, doesn't do a whole lot of good barring injury, but they have two good ones in Matt Brown and Tucker Carter.
This game features matchups galore, but as far as pure firepower and starpower, I think Longview takes the cake here.
QB Aaron Johnson, RB Tyler McCray and WR Carey Fortson form a trio that is good enough to be called the Triplets. They were all studs last year, and this year should be no different. McCray rushed for nearly 2,000 yards, and Johnson rushed for 920 while throwing for 1,630. He really stepped up his performance in the playoffs, which should carry over into this season.
With all of this considered, and the fact that the Lobos have lost at home in 24 games -- since head coach John King's arrival -- I think 4A beats 5A this time around in a bit of a mild upset, although truthfully, whoever wins this game it will not really be much of an upset.
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Prediction: Longview 27, Allen 21
Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. Check back Monday for his "Beasts of the Week".
