Texas high school football is more than just a game — it’s a way of life. Dave Campbell's Texas Football is spotlighting a different program from across the Lone Star State, diving into their history, traditions, and legends. From powerhouse programs to hidden gems, Texas High School Football Spotlight is your deep dive into what makes each team unique. Whether it’s unforgettable seasons, iconic players, or fierce rivalries, this series celebrates the schools, communities, and stories that define Texas high school football.

Today's Spotlight: Allen Eagles

The Rundown

In the internet age of the mid-2010s, the Allen Eagles replaced Odessa Permian as the poster boy for Texas high school football on a national scale. The $60 million stadium, the starting quarterback with a 43-0 record, and the three state championships all combined to form a picture. Say you asked someone from New Jersey or North Dakota what they knew about Texas high school football, and that picture popped into their minds. And while other booming DFW suburbs caught up to Allen after 2018, the Eagles are soaring again under Coach Lee Wiginton.

By The Numbers 

Class – 6A
Enrollment – 5,273
Location – Collin County, 28 miles north of Dallas

Trophy Case

State Championships – 5 (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)
State Championship Appearances – 5 (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)
District Championships – 27 (most recent: 2025)
Playoff Appearances – 37 (most recent: 2025)

Glory Days 

There are only two undefeated state champions in program history, the 2013 and 2014 teams. We’re giving the nod to the 2013 Eagles because they scored a school-record 807 points (50.4 points per game) and allowed 119 fewer points than the 2014 team did. For that, the 2013 squad was voted by fans as one of the top 10 teams in Texas high school football history. 

Allen was led by generational junior QB Kyler Murray, who won Mr. Texas Football and Texas Gatorade Player of the Year honors, and current NFL left tackle Greg Little. Murray threw for 3,672 yards, ran for 1,283 yards, and scored 65 total touchdowns, nearly unheard of at the highest classification of TXHSFB. The defense featured two All-State linebackers, Tay Evans and Christian Sam. The Eagles’ 63-28 state championship win over Pearland drew 54,347 to AT&T Stadium, the highest attendance for a Texas high school football game of all time. 

The GOAT

I’ve written many of these “Texas high school football program spotlight” pieces. There has never been an easier pick for a team’s GOAT than Kyler Murray. Over three years with Murray at the helm, Allen went 43-0 with three-straight state championships. He is the only two-time Mr. Texas Football winner in the award’s history. 

It would be nearly impossible for Murray’s post-high school career to be as decorated as his Allen era, but you could argue Murray has matched it. He won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and was selected in the top ten of both the MLB and NFL Drafts. Murray went No.9 overall to the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 MLB Draft and No.1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and has been named to two Pro Bowls. Murray signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason.

The Architect

Tom Westerberg was the coach who took Allen from a Texas high school football power to a nationally known dynasty. He started at Allen in 2001 as the offensive coordinator under Coach Joe Martin, helping the Eagles soar to the state semifinals in 2003. After taking the head job, Westerberg led Allen to the first state championship in program history in 2008. From 2012-2015, Westerberg’s Allen teams won three straight state championships and 57 consecutive games. 

Battle Lines

The Dallas North Tollway’s continued extension has created a booming suburb in Prosper - and made its flagship high school into a district rival for Allen. These programs are eerily similar. Both are called the Eagles. Both play in state-of-the-art stadiums that could pass for college facilities. Both have upper-class demographics. And all that familiarity has created palpable animosity, which translates to an awesome Friday night atmosphere.

Home Turf

Allen’s $60 million Eagle Stadium made national headlines when it opened in 2012. With a capacity of 18,000 and a 38-foot HD jumbotron, Allen’s stadium came to symbolize the importance Texans placed on high school football. It also sparked a national debate over whether Texans placed too much importance on high school football. We won’t open that can of worms, but I will go on record that the stadium is an awesome place to watch a football game.

The Year That Was

Coach Lee Wiginton brought the Eagles back to the state semifinals for the first time since 2018. A bruising defense led by District Defensive MVP Josh Shaw (13.5 sacks, four strip sacks) allowed just 11.4 points per game. The 171 total points allowed were the fewest in a season since 1999. The Eagles’ secondary was a No Fly Zone with District Defensive Utility Player of the Year Lebron Bauer and District Defensive Newcomer of the Year Dom Butler. WR Caleb “The Jet” Smith earned District Utility Player of the Year with 1,307 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns.

Looking Ahead

Allen will find out what they’re made of early in the season with a grueling opening slate of Duncanville, DeSoto, Southlake Carroll, and Prosper… all in a row. The Eagles must replace six three-year starters from one of the top defenses in the state. The good news is that Allen has an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions with two-year starters such as WR Josyah Johnson and RB Trey Roberson. 

Xs and Os

Offense – Spread
Defense – 4-2-5

On the Rise 

QB Ty Snell saw plenty of action as a freshman in backup duty (1,030 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, three interceptions) and is prepared to take over as the full-time starter in 2026. Snell is built in a Quarterback Lab at 6-foot-3, 192 pounds, and already holds 32 Division I offers. He’ll have a First Team All-District RB (Lyndon Spriggs), C (Jayin Talib), and WR (Josyah Johnson) surrounding him.

In Their Own Words

“This is Allen. The community, history, tradition, and culture make it one of, if not the best programs in the nation. There is no bigger stage on Friday night than in Allen, Texas. The stadium has the years they won a state championship hanging between the top section and bottom section of the home side. Our goal every year is to put our year up there next to them.” HC Lee Wiginton