When you mention the Allen Eagles’ football tradition, you may mention names such as Kyler Murray, Christian Sam or Jalen Guyton. A select few may remember names such as Matt Brown, Tucker Carter or Jeremiah Williams from the miracle 2008 state title team.

Of course everyone in Allen, Texas knows about Kyler Murray’s dominance of the high school football spectra in his three years of royalty. Numbers such as leading Allen to a 42-0 record and three consecutive state-titles in the state’s highest division verify just how amazing Murray really was. But does anyone remember the days when Allen had the odds stacked against them? How about when Allen wasn’t the double-digit favorite but instead the heavy underdog?

Walking into the 2008 season, Allen had never even reached a state title game, much less won one, but the expectations were high after coming off of a 10-0 regular season and a tough early exit in the playoffs in 2007.

In the beginning of the 2008 season, Allen walked through opponents such as Longview, Prepa Tech from Monterrey, Mexico and Rockwall without a scratch before being faced with the mighty Trinity Trojans in week four. Allen dropped the game 24-14 and never looked back for the rest of the season, finishing the regular season 9-1 behind junior quarterback Matt Brown.

Allen beat South Grand Prairie in the first round 27-14 and whispers around town were that this might be the team that wins state, that this team will be forever remembered by the city.

All of these dreams were shattered when Matt Brown went down with a season ending collarbone injury late in the game against Coppell in the second round. No one could believe the team’s bad luck and that they had come so close to that elusive state title once again. With Texas high school football giant Permian up next in the playoffs, the Eagles needed a miracle. Their wish was granted in the form of junior quarterback Tucker Carter.

Carter took over a team that many doubted, but the team itself stayed consistent with their expectations and played remarkable, something Carter credits to having a team that felt more like a brotherhood.

“Everyone really rallied,” Carter said. “We had a really good team that had been close for years.”

The Eagles marched through the playoffs, beating Permian, Stony Point, and even the “mighty” Trinity Trojans in an epic rematch in the quarterfinals.

Allen was faced with a 7-0 deficit in the second half of the state game to Fort Bend Hightower after leading rusher Jeremiah Williams went down with a rib injury. Once again the Eagles were faced with adversity and once again Carter led the team through the fire. He threw three touchdowns and Allen won the program’s first state title, 21-14.

Carter later went on to college to play for Trinity Valley Community College and Texas San-Antonio, graduating in December of 2014.

“[Winning state] helped me with getting thrown into any situation and to learn how to play well on the road in front of big crowds,” Carter explained.

Now that Allen has become the 27th school in Texas to win four state titles, many will mention the dynasty Kyler Murray left, but don’t forget about the heroes that started it.