Allen pulls out roller-coaster victory with last minute drive and last-second TD pass from Alec Morris to Oliver Pierce.
Alec Morris
File photo by Dan Wozniak
A 16-yard touchdown pass from
Alec Morris to
Oliver Pierce with eight seconds remaining lifted No. 11
Allen (Texas) to a 38-35 come from behind victory at
Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) on Friday.
The touchdown capped off an impressive drive for the Eagles that followed a go-ahead touchdown from Marcus with less than two minutes remaining.
Marcus established its offense early. It took a 7-0 lead thanks to a 10-yard touchdown run by
Harvey Giddens.
Missouri-bound running back
Jonathan Williams answered back for Allen with a 39-yard touchdown to knot the score at 7-7.
With Allen relying on receiver
Andrew Rodriguez and Marcus leaning on senior running back
Jeff Smiley, the teams went blow-for-blow throughout the first half, before a
Cole Erwin 18-yard touchdown pass to
Kyle Matheson gave Marcus a 28-21 halftime lead.
To start the third quarter, Rodriguez got behind the Marcus defense yet again, ripping off a 60-yard touchdown catch to tie the game 28-28 with less than seven minutes to play in the third.
A 34-yard field goal from
Carlos Arochi pushed Allen ahead 31-28 at the end of the third quarter.
After several failed drives, Marcus finally broke through Allen's defense. It was Smiley again, who darted into the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown with 1:40 left to go up 35-31.
As it has done several times this season, Allen proved resilient down the stretch.
Morris guided the team down the field with little time remaining. He connected with Pierce, a 5-foot-10 junior, for the 16-yard, game-winning touchdown.
