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Kick return for TD sparks 28-0 run for Allen; Eagles join elite group

ARLINGTON — A touchdown late in the first quarter gave Pearland a 14-7 lead over an Allen team ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today.

It took Chad Adams 19 seconds to erase the last deficit Allen would face this season with an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Adams, a senior defensive back who has committed to Arizona State, stretched his hand over the pylon as he was going down to tie it 14-14 with 1:21 left in the first quarter.

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That sparked a run of 28 consecutive points for Allen en route to a 63-28 win, a second straight Class 5A Division I state title and a 27th straight victory.

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“That’s what we’ve been able to do all year,” Allen coach Tom Westerberg said. “Anytime in the game where we’ve had a big momentum change, we’ve been able to get it back.”

Adams also ran a reverse 38 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

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Allen joins elite group: Allen became the sixth school to win two or more state championships in a row in 5A. Since the UIL split 5A into two divisions for the playoffs starting in 1990, only Converse Judson, Midland Lee and Allen have won two consecutive titles in 5A Division I.

Allen will lose five seniors who have committed to Football Bowl Subdivision colleges, but the Eagles will return quarterback Kyler Murray (accounted for 468 yards and five touchdowns Saturday), receiver Jalen Guyton (125 yards, two TDs receiving Saturday) and offensive lineman Bobby Evans (Oklahoma pledge).

Winning Texas is good enough for Westerberg: A year ago, Katy went 16-0 and won the 5A Division II state title while Allen was 15-1 and the 5A Division I champion. Entering Saturday, both teams were undefeated and ranked in the top four nationally by USA Today (Katy was No. 4).

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So who is better, Allen or Katy? With Katy’s loss to Cedar Hill in the Class 5A Division II game, the question is probably moot.

“I’m going to tell you we’re the best after what we’ve done and the schedule we’ve played and how hard these kids have fought to get to 16-0,” Westerberg said. “I have a little biased opinion.”

Allen trails only Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington in the USA Today national rankings, but Westerberg wouldn’t campaign for Allen being the mythical national champion.

“I’m not concerned about that,” he said. “We’re concerned about being 16-0 and state champs here in Texas.”

Allen defense adjusts: Pearland got the ball to start the game and drove 81 yards for a touchdown. Two possessions later, a fumble return set up a 13-yard drive that gave Pearland a 14-7 lead.

Westerberg said the Eagles made adjustments up front, and the rest of the way Allen stifled an Oilers team that had been averaging 40.7 points per game. The next 11 times Pearland had the ball, it managed one touchdown, punted five times, committed three turnovers and turned the ball over on downs twice.

Allen linebacker Christian Sam, who has committed to Arizona State, was named the game’s defensive MVP after he had a sack, 51/2 tackles (two for loss) and forced a fumble.

Follow Greg Riddle on Twitter at @DMNGregRiddle

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