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Familiar Foes: Allen-Hebron district games set template for non-district matchup
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
The day Allen and Hebron were split off in different districts is actually the same day the football teams came together to schedule Friday's game.
"We were looking for opponents when the district realignment came up in February," said Brian Brazil, Hebron head coach. "And [Allen head coach Tom Westerberg] came up and asked if we wanted to play in Week 4. I didn't hesitate and said 'Let's do it.'"
Both teams enter the 7:30 p.m. contest at Eagle Stadium with impressive resumes.
"[Allen is] a great program because of their tradition," Brazil said. "You always look at them as a veteran team regardless of who is back and who they lost. And they always have a ton of depth; that's what makes them a great program."
But for as good as Allen as been, Hebron has challenged the Eagles the past two seasons.
The last time these teams played in Allen, in 2010, the Hawks were victorious, 35-28. That represents the Eagles' lone district defeat since 2005 and one of only two home losses (Euless Trinity, 2008) during that same span.
"The coaches have definitely been using what happened two years ago as motivation for us," said Cameron Hartsfield, Allen senior defensive back. "And we have a new stadium now, so with the new house we have to step up our game because we know everyone is going to want to be the first to beat us here."
The loss in 2010 wasn't the only time Hebron gave Allen trouble though as the Hawks led, 21-7, last season before the Eagles pulled out a 28-21 victory.
"You can just look at those two games and know the level we will have to compete at Friday," said Tom Westerberg, Allen head coach. "But it's not just what Hebron has done to us in the past, it's what they are capable of doing now."
Look no further than Dezmond Wortham and Jamal Adams as examples of what Hebron can do.
Wortham leads the way offensively, having already racked up 439 yards on the ground and three touchdowns in three games.
"When you look at an athlete like [Wortham], you know anytime you don't wrap up on a tackle then he has the opportunity to break a long run on you," Westerberg said.
Vandy Parkes is a viable option for Hebron on the ground or through the air as he is the leading target thus far for Hawks quarterback Carson Proffitt.
"Hebron is mostly a running team, but I think our defensive front will be ready to shut them down," Hartsfield said. "So then if they start to pass, we have to be ready to do the same."
Hebron knows a little something about shutting down the pass.
Much of the credit for that can go to Adams, a four-start recruit who is used somewhat in Hebron's offense but sees the bulk of his playing time at safety. The Hawks scored just one touchdown in their season-opening loss to Abilene and that came via a 57-yard Pick-6 by Adams. The safety also had an interception and blocked a field goal in Hebron's 34-7 win over Keller Fossil Ridge last week.
"Obviously [Adams] is a guy we have to watch out for," Hartsfield said.
Replicating Adams may be difficult, but replicating the Hebron defense shouldn't be as the Hawks run a 3-4 that, along with next week's opponent Coppell, was the basis for the Eagles' defensive system.
Whichever team can exploit those similarities may hold the advantage.
"Our kids know we will have to play extremely, extremely hard Friday night," Westerberg said.
Brazil echoed those sentiments.
"We know Allen isn't going to be intimidated and we're definitely not intimidated either," he said. "Our goal is to go out there and shock a lot of folks. But we know we are going to have to play our best game to beat them. No doubt."
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