The Texas heat was relentless Thursday morning, but so were the storylines as Allen made the trip to Crowley ISD Multipurpose Stadium for a preseason clash with the defending state champion North Crowley Panthers.
North Crowley, fresh off its title run, looked every bit the part of a contender reloading for another deep push. New quarterback Hayes Cloutier, a transfer from California, wasted little time showing command of the offense. When he aired it out, dynamic playmakers Hayden Green and Damarion Mays made sure the highlights followed. In the trenches, Texas commit John Turntine anchored the line, creating running lanes and keeping Cloutier upright against Allen’s pressure.
Allen, meanwhile, rolled out a roster with plenty of new faces on offense, but it was the defense that stole the show. The secondary trio of Kai Wheaton, Dominic Butler, and James Roberson patrolled the field like veterans, shutting down deep shots and forcing the Panthers to stay honest. On the other side of the ball, new quarterback Jeremiah Doud looked steady in his debut, spreading the ball around and keeping the Eagles’ attack balanced.
The scoreboard didn’t matter in this one—it was about tone-setting. North Crowley showed its explosiveness hasn’t gone anywhere, while Allen proved its defense is ready to carry weight as the offense develops. Two programs with championship pedigrees, and both left the field looking like fall Fridays will come too soon for their opponents.
