Highland Park (Dallas) coach Randy Allen had a decision to make. And not much time to think about it.
Hank Howard's third touchdown run of the game with 52 seconds remaining had brought his Scots within a point of Poteet (Mesquite).
Randy Allen, Highland Park
File photo by Kyle Dantzler
Conventional thinking is to send on the kicking unit and play for overtime. But Allen chose instead to attempt to win the game at that moment with a two-point conversion.
Quarterback
Jet Tuma's successful conversion run put Highland Park on top and the Scots held on for a victory by the narrowest of margins, 20-19.
For his decision that ultimately paved the way for a crucial win, Allen was selected as the Dallas Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.
"I've been on both sides when going for the two points worked and when it didn't,'' said Allen, coaching in his 32nd season. "There really wasn't much time to think about it. My main focus was getting the touchdown. If I had a lot of time to think about it, I might not have gone for two.
"Our offensive line wanted to go for it, but they always do,'' Allen said. "So did my offensive coordinator. But we didn't have a lot of plays I felt good about.''
The buildup to the winning play was anything but seamless.
"We went with an unbalanced formation and an option play, but we only had 10 on the field until our tight end came in late,'' Allen said.
Tuma later told Allen that he had to call the play out to the tight end and he was sure the Poteet defenders heard the call. Execution made the difference, even though the second half had been a struggle for the Highland Park offense.
"We got two or three really good blocks that gave us the room we needed,'' Allen said.
The coach had factors to weigh before pushing his chips to the middle of the table. The Scots failed on two extra-point kicks earlier in the game. One was blocked and the other missed. Fatigue was another concern, should the game go to overtime.
"Our defense had been on the field a lot in the second half. The kids were tired,'' Allen said. "And we were playing on the road with a chance to win right there.''
Randy Allen, Highland Park
File photo by Kyle Dantzler
After taking the lead, Highland Park (5-1) still had to hold off a final chance for Poteet (5-1). Linebacker
Chris Mitchell's interception with 28 seconds remaining sealed it for the Scots.
The win keeps Highland Park in a first-place tie in District 10-4A along with Friday's opponent, West Mesquite. Both are 3-0 in district games. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Highland Park's Highlander Stadium.
The victory over Poteet vaulted Allen over former Lamar (Arlington) coach Eddy Peach to No. 9 all-time in Texas high school coaching ranks with 310 wins (along with 77 losses and six ties). Four more wins will move him to solo seventh.
"I was fortunate to have some really great coaches in my career, men that made a big impact,'' Allen said.
He counts Tom Landry as a coach that was an influence on him. Landry died in 2000 and the following season Allen began his tradition of coaching in a fedora.
Before coming to Highland Park, Allen was a proven winner at three West Texas stops as a head coach -- Ballinger, Brownwood and his high school alma mater of Cooper (Abilene). He followed the legendary Gordon Wood at Brownwood.
Allen is in his 14th season at Highland Park and his teams have won at least 10 games in every season except 2004. His record as Scots coach is 157-18.
Allen said he asks himself one question when he considers how long he will continue to coach: "Is there anything else I can do and have this big an impact on young people? The answer so far is ‘No.'''
