Editor's Note: "Inside The 25" counts down the '08 preseason top 25 rankings in all five 11-man classifications, taking a closer look at each team in the rankings, starting from No. 25 and working down to the No. 1 teams in each classification.
CLASS 5A's #14: Allen
2007 Preseason Ranking/Final Ranking: 8/24
2007 Final Record/Playoff Finish: 10-1/DI area finalists
Why They're Ranked: Every year you have one -- a major upset in the first round -- and Rowlett literally clung to its early lead (30-0 in the second quarter) in a 37-32 win, providing the state's biggest upset of the weekend. We're starting to wonder where Allen would be ranked had it not tanked in its one and only playoff game. Would Allen be viewed more favorably? Granted, a ranking in the Top 15 is not comparable to a slap in the face, but on paper, Allen seemingly deserves better. Six starters return on offense, including arguably the DFW-area's best sophomore last year, QB Matt Brown, who was thrust into starting duties early on but never showed signs of it, combining for 3,338 yards of offense and 35 TDs. His top target, A&M-bound Uzoma Nwachukwu, is among the state's elite receivers. And Allen returns two RBs (Bradlee Waddell and Jeremiah Williams) who each rushed for at least 715 yards. But as the Rowlett loss exemplified, Allen's defense often had trouble getting off the field. Several times (56-49 against Berkner; 31-28 against Plano West; 63-35 against Plano East), Allen was forced to win a shootout. Returning seven starters won't transform Allen's defense from weakness to strength, but it will improve and should become a trustworthy unit. Allen proved during the regular season it can beat anyone -- ask Plano, our No. 2 team. After last year's collapse, the motivation is to prove it during the second season.
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