Rockwall's improbable 60-59 win over Allen had everything.
They thought the game last year was pretty good.
With all due respect, that one paled in comparison to
Rockwall's 60-59 Texas Division 6A-1 second-round playoff win over 11th-ranked
Allen on Friday that clearly earned the moniker as an instant Texas classic.
In a game that featured 1,176 yards, 49 first downs, six lead changes and four ties according to the
Dallas Morning News,
Braedyn Locke completed a 2-yard touchdown to
Kade Klinkovsky to pull within one with 1:23 left before
JJ Williams hauled in a two-point conversion for the winning score.
The last time the teams met in the post season was last season and Allen won 52-40 in a game that featured 1,100 yards. This one was 38-38 at halftime and the offenses combined for 802 yards.
Ohio State-bound Jaxon Smith-Njigba with one of his 15 catches and five touchdown receptions.
Photo by Neil Fonville
Locke (30-of-42, 411 yards, 6 touchdowns) and Ohio State-bound
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (15 catches, 252 yards, 5 TDs) were remarkable all night and simply could not be stopped. The Yellowjackets (10-2) prohibited Allen (11-1) from reaching its seventh straight state semifinal appearance.
Rockwall took a pair of two-touchdown leads, the second on a 1-yard run by Smith-Njigba to go up 52-38 with two minutes to go in the third quarter. But Allen came roaring back as
Raylen Sharpe (15-of-28, 459 yards, 5 TDs) completed a 75-yard TD pass to Jordan Johnson and then ran for a 7-yard touchdown to tie things at 52-52.
Justin Hall gave Allen a 59-52 lead with 7:41 left on a 2-yard run, before Klindkovsky hauled in the 2-yarder from Locke. Rockwall went for the win and Williams hauled in the two-pointer from
Caden Marshall for the win.
Beyond his big passing numbers, Sharpe also rushed for 112 yards.
Zach Henry added 29 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown for Rockwall.
Rockwall players celebrate their wild win over Allen.
Photo by Neil Fonville
Blaine Green, who had four catches for 91 yards, celebrates a first-half 56-yard scoring strike from Raylen Sharpe.
Photo by Neil Fonville
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) receives congratulations for one of his six touchdowns, five receiving, in Friday's 60-59 win over Allen.
Photo by Neil Fonville
Allen quarterback Raylen Sharpe threw for five touchdowns in the loss.
Photo by Neil Fonville
