As the Allen-Round Rock Westwood playoff game got out of hand Saturday, Skyline scouts and coaches in the Waco ISD Stadium press box said the Raiders would face the Eagles this Saturday in a doubleheader at SMU's Ford Stadium.

Apparently, not everyone got that message.

The Region II Final will still take place, only now it is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Mesquite.

"Southlake and DeSoto had already booked the 2 p.m. spot, which means we would have had to be the second game," said Tom Westerberg, Allen head coach. "And you don't really want to be the second game of a doubleheader at SMU. When you play at Cowboys Stadium there are multiple dressing rooms and plenty of parking, but at Ford you have a bit of a harder time with the parking and dressing rooms, so it can be a pain for you and your fans."

With Ford Stadium out, a new site had to be found.

Skyline (12-1) submitted Memorial as its neutral site and Allen (12-1) submitted Clark Stadium in Plano as its choice. The Raiders won the flip and the game was set.

"It still beats going to Waco," Westerberg said, "because we're going to be a lot closer to home."

Beating Skyline will be a more challenging endeavor.

Any discussion of the Raiders has to start with quarterback Devante Kincade. The Ole Miss commit has thrown for 2,626 yards and 37 touchdowns against only six interceptions this season while adding with 750 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. That being said, replicating Kincade in practice hasn't been as hard as one might anticipate as his dual-threat style is on par with that of Allen sophomore quarterback Kyler Murray.

"I'd say Skyline's quarterback has a similar style to Kyler," Westerberg said. "With Devante, he is very good at avoiding the attack and his speed is definitely a factor."

One of the players looking to attack Kincade Saturday will be Stone Drulman.

The senior defensive lineman had been out since the end of non-district and it was previously feared he would miss the rest of the season, regardless of how long Allen's playoff run went. Yet Drulman was back on the field against Westwood, sporting a club-like cast reminiscent of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee.

"Stone is a leader for this team regardless of if he was on the sidelines or on the field," Westerberg said, "but obviously it's great to have him back out there."

"It's good to have Stone back," added Oliver Pierce, Allen senior wide receiver. "He's a really good player for our defense and he's also one of those guys that has been here for a while and you know he really wants a state title."

It will take more than Drulman to slow the Skyline offense though as the Raiders have more playmakers than just Kincade.

On the ground, Kincade's totals are surpassed by both Jordan Stevenson and Ellis Onic, who have combined for 1,597 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing. Onic is also one of the team's top passing-catching threats, though the No. 1 option for Skyline through the air is undoubtedly Ra'Shaad Samples. The Oklahoma State commit has 58 catches for 1,032 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.

"Skyline can make plays across the field," Westerberg said. "It's not just one guy; you have to defend everyone."

But Westerberg is confident his team is equipped for such a challenge.

"We've been getting contributions from just about everyone," he said.

That was evident against Westwood with continual pressure on the quarterback and three interceptions, including Pick 6s from juniors Christian Sam and Chad Adams. The Warriors were held without points for 10 straight possessions and became just the fifth team to surpass 20 points against Allen thanks to pair of touchdowns in the final five minutes.

"We knew our defense had it in us," Sam said. "We just had to step it up."

Allen's offense hasn't had to step up much this season as it has operated at a consistently high level, amassing at least 34 points for the 11th time this year in its 56-24 playoff win over Westwood. The Eagles now face a Division I-loaded defense that frequently bends but doesn't break.

"Even when Skyline gives up a lot of yards, they don't give up a lot of points," Westerberg said.

It was a defensive stop that led Skyline to be in this game as defensive back Derrick Dixon made an interception, his second of the game, on the goal line with only seconds remaining to ensure the Raiders' 38-33 victory over previously-unbeaten Spring Westfield.

That put Skyline into the Region II Finals against Allen, with both teams now halfway to a Class 5A State Championship.

"You don't want to overlook any opponents because of who you might play next," Pierce said. "But we all knew that if we beat Westwood then there was a good chance we'd be playing Skyline, so we'll be ready."

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