High School Sports

NACOGDOCHES — He crossed the goal line, gently lifted an index finger in the air and handed the ball to the official.

In full detail, Arp quarterback Will Allen’s reaction to scoring the opening touchdown from 50 yards out last week explained his personality. He didn’t dramatically raise his hands toward the heavens. He didn’t kneel and pray. He didn’t return to the sideline in tears.

All Allen did was play the game of football the only way he knew how. He immersed himself. It’s all he could do.

“It was like somebody shot him out of a cannon,” said Arp head coach Dale Irwin. “We were all proud of him...He was entirely focused on the game.”

It was a nice moment during an otherwise tragic week. Just four days earlier, Allen learned that his father had passed away. His life had changed forever. He needed a release.

Allen went on to play what Irwin considers his best game of the season, accounting for 197 yards in leading Arp to a 20-17 victory against Harleton in the Class 2A Division II area round.

And in doing so, he competed with more determination than Irwin had ever seen before.

“He totally immersed himself in the game,” said Irwin, who said this week that Allen was not yet ready to speak to the media. “In the back of his mind, he was thinking about his daddy. He approached it as a football player. He went out there, and that’s what he did.”

On Friday night, Allen will once again carry a heavy heart onto the field. Arp (9-3) meets Corrigan-Camden (10-2) in a regional playoff at 7:30 p.m. at Stephen F. Austin’s Homer Bryce Stadium.

Allen’s father, Billy Jess Allen, died from a sudden heart attack last Monday. The news got to Irwin — during practice — before it did his junior quarterback, who had been a constant champ throughout the season. Irwin broke the news to Allen the only way he knew how — directly, locking his own pain inside.

“The initial reaction was disbelief,” Irwin said. “In a span of 30 seconds your whole life can change in an instant. I just came out and told him. There’s no easy way to describe that to a young man.

“I wanted to make sure that I did it in a way that I could try and comfort him and be there for him.”

As expected, Allen was excused from practice. He didn’t practice Tuesday or Wednesday, either. His team approached the rest of the week like he wouldn’t play the game.

But surprisingly, he returned to the team Thursday. His teammates greeted him with a collective hug.

“The guys just took him and wrapped their arms around him and told him they love him,” Irwin said. “I know he misses his father. He loves his dad. He’s playing in the memory of his daddy. He was the apple of his dad’s eye.”

Prior to the game, the Tigers decided to dedicate the season to Allen’s dad. Mr. Allen coached many of the players in summer league, and was a major backer of Arp athletics. In respect, all Arp helmets now have his initials on them.

“We didn’t say we are going to win state for Billy Jess. If you don’t achieve that goal you and the kids feel like you not only let down Will, but his memory,” Irwin said. “I think it’s more respectful to play in the memory of this man.”

This week, Allen has practiced every day. Irwin said the loss of his dad hasn’t come up verbally during practice. However, he is no doubt thinking about it and reminded of it when he returns home in the evening.

“We are just there for him,” Irwin said. “The good thing is we are back in school now. He’s got time-consuming activities. When he goes home, I can’t tell you what he’s thinking.

“When he leaves here he’s in good spirits. He knows his daddy is looking down on him.”

Notes: The winner between Arp and Corrigan-Camden will meet either Elysian Fields (11-1) or Crawford (10-2) in the state quarterfinals. Elysian Fields and Crawford contest their matchup at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Athens.