By Brian Gosset/Nolan Ruth
X – @gosset41
X – @realnolanruth
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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PROSPER— With the anticipation for inclement weather, several games across the metroplex were forced to change start times. That included the biggest game in the state for Week 9 between the Prosper Eagles and the Allen Eagles, with a District 6-6A championship on the line.
The game was moved up to 1 p.m. Friday at Children’s Health Stadium, creating a playoff style atmosphere with a near sold out crowd.
Jaden Hambric scored the game-tying touchdown and Preston Hurless made the go-ahead extra point, and Allen survived a last-second missed field goal to beat Prosper 31-30.
Allen came in #2 in the state by Dave Campbell’s while Prosper was close behind at #7. Allen improves to 6-0 in district and 8-0 overall while Prosper drops to 5-1, 7-1.
Prosper started off on a good note by forcing Allen into a three-and-out on the opening possession. The offense then strung together an impressive drive before stalling at the 13-yard line, setting up Michael Bukauskas to kick a 30-yard field goal, putting the hometown Eagles up 3-0.
Allen proceeded to drive deep into Prosper territory, draining the rest of the quarter off of the clock. Four plays into the second quarter, Allen took the lead when Lyndon Spriggs took the handoff up the middle for the 4-yard score to make it 7-3.
Prosper responded quickly when QB Braeden Imhoff found Lathon Latiolais over the middle from 75 yards out to reclaim the lead 10-7. The rest of the half was all Allen. On the ensuing drive, QB Jeremiah Daoud found a wide open Carter Harris along the sideline from 50 yards out for yet another lead change at 14-10.
After a defensive stop, Allen extended the lead with a 13-yard pass from Daoud to Spriggs just before halftime, making the score 21-10 going into the locker room.
Prosper did get off a successful flea flicker in the second quarter, but on the run after catch, Allen forced a fumble and recovered in its own territory.
The third quarter was all Prosper.
Prosper pulled within 21-17 with 8:13 on the clock when Bryce Robinson rumbled in for a 11-yard touchdown.
Less than three minutes later, Prosper reached down into its bag of tricks and reeled off a double pass for the touchdown. Imhoff hit Marcus McCoy in the backfield and McCoy found Latiolais down field for a 45-yard score and Prosper 24-21 lead just past the six-minute mark.
Allen closed out the third quarter by marching down into Prosper territory. Spriggs picked up a first down across the 50 and later, Allen had first-and-10 at the 21.
Spriggs rushed 11 times for 67 yards. Hambric added 42 on 12 carries.
However, the drive would come up empty as Allen missed a field goal and Prosper was still ahead 24-21 with 11:04 to play.
Allen’s defense came up big and forced a three-and-out and after a short punt by Prosper, Allen tied the game. Hurless redeemed himself and made a 38-yard kick as it was 24-24 with 6:52 left in the fourth.
Prosper went back in front on a 57-yard touchdown from Imhoff to Dallas Boozer, but the extra point was missed leaving it 30-24 Prosper with 5:27 remaining.
Imhoff went 15 of 25 for 303 yards and two TDs. Latolais led all receivers with 145 yards on four catches. Boozer added six for 100.
Allen marched to the Prosper 14 at the two-minute warning.
Then two plays later, Hambric just broke the goal line to put Allen ahead by one with 72 seconds to go. Prosper started at the 30 after the kickoff went out of bounds and then was gifted with a defensive holding on Allen.
On fourth-and-15, Imhoff and Boozer connected to move the chains to the Allen 40. After one more quick play, Prosper got to the 30 with three seconds on the clock with the potential game-winning 47-yard field goal lined up.
But the kick was short and off to the right as Allen hung on with the impressive win. Daoud was 27 of 36 for 230 yards and added 29 yards on six carries.
Robinson led all rushers with 18 carries and 110 yards for Prosper.
Allen closes out with McKinney Boyd in Week 10 and Plano East in Week 11. Prosper will end with Princeton and Plano West.
The match-up was ranked second best in the country this week by MaxPreps.
