Tepper: Westlake's win over Allen rocks the state

[caption id="attachment_21315" align="alignleft" width="300"]Photo by Graham Staniforth Photo by Graham Staniforth[/caption] The dateline reads "Coppell", 1,170 days ago. On September 28, 2012, Coppell quarterback Cameron Smith found wide receiver Colby Mahon for a 23-yard touchdown strike in overtime to push the Cowboys to a remarkable 27-24 win over Allen. The Cowboys overcame a breakout performance from a young sophomore quarterback named Kyler Murray to remain unbeaten with a tremendous victory. Little did we know then what was in store. The next 57 games for the Allen Eagles would all end the same way, with the enormous squad swelled by the state's largest enrollment shaking hands with their vanquished foe. Sure, there were close calls — Flower Mound Marcus nearly had them twice, DeSoto probably should've had them on multiple occasions, Arlington Martin gave them a run — but for 57 games, there was no more dominant force in Texas high school football than Allen. Three consecutive titles. 57 consecutive wins. Zero doubt. So Friday night's Class 6A Division I state semifinal in Waco against Austin Westlake was destined to follow a similar script. Sure, Kyler Murray is gone, preparing for a Music City Bowl date for his Texas A&M Aggies against Louisville. Sure, longtime Allen nemesis Todd Dodge coached the opposing Chaps. But this is Allen, man. This isn't a Goliath; this is the Goliath. This is the most mercilessly overpowering force Texas high school football has seen this side of late-90s/early-2000s Celina. This is Allen, a program whose pedigree begets awe. This is Allen, a program whose sheer size is, in and of itself, an unmatched asset. Which is why, in the span of 48 minutes in Waco, with the scoreline of "Westlake 23, Allen 17", the entire Texas high school football world shook. In 48 minutes, Westlake managed to do what no other squad had done since that night in Coppell. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger was terrific, yes, and the defense was remarkable in holding down the still-potent-if-Kylerless Eagles attack. Todd Dodge has authored yet another chapter in his already legendary Texas high school football career. But what set Westlake apart on this night was a complete and total unwillingness to be afraid. Many cowered in the presence of Allen. Not Westlake. Not on this night in Waco. On this night, the Westlake Chaps felled Goliath. The new dateline reads "Waco", December 11, 2015.