Why this might be the best defense five-time state champion Allen has ever had

Allen is a five-time state champion that has sent three defensive players on to the NFL. It has had three undefeated seasons and produced a 57-game winning streak from 2012 to 2015 that was the second-longest in state history. But this might be the best defense Allen has ever had. And the unit has only two area top-100 recruits for the Class of 2027. Allen (2-0) is ranked No. 10 in the nation by MaxPreps this week, and a big reason is a defense that has allowed 6.5 points per game in lopsided wins over traditional national powers Duncanville and DeSoto. Those two teams have combined to win five state titles in the last four years. In a 26-7 season-opening win over Duncanville, last year's Class 6A Division I state runner-up, Allen allowed 163 total yards and gave up only 65 yards rushing on 33 attempts. In last week's 50-6 rout of DeSoto, the 2025 Class 6A Division II state champion, Allen allowed only 28 passing yards and shut out DeSoto until the fourth quarter. Historically, Allen has had some spectacular defenses, such as in 1981, when it allowed just 4.9 points per game during an 8-1-1 season. That was one of four times that Allen has allowed fewer than 100 points in a season, with the others being 71 points in 10 games in 1978, 74 points in 10 games in 1974 and 87 points in 11 games in 1983. Statistically, the best defense Allen had during its five state championship seasons was in 2017, when it allowed 15.8 points per game while going 16-0. The 16-0 2014 team, which featured future NFL players Jaylon Jones and Levi Onwuzurike, allowed 26.1 points per game. The highest-ranked recruit on this year's Allen defense is four-star junior cornerback Dominic Butler, rated the 45th-best recruit in Texas in the Class of 2028. He lists 24 college offers, including reigning national champion Indiana, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M. A pair of three-star recruits — Wisconsin pledge James Roberson at safety and North Texas pledge Jacobie Wilkerson on the defensive line — headline the senior class. They are part of a defense that has recorded eight sacks and 19 tackles for loss in the first two games. Sophomore linebacker Raiden Johnson leads Allen in tackles with 16 and senior linebacker Hova Wilford has 14. Senior defensive lineman Beckhem Parker, who is 5-10 and 210 pounds, has been a spark plug with a team-high five tackles for loss, and senior defensive back Jeremiah Storey leads Allen with two interceptions. Allen's defense will be tested the next two games. Allen plays at eight-time state champion Southlake Carroll on Friday, then visits Prosper on Sept. 17 in a game that will likely decide the District 6-6A title. Those opponents have the top two passing games in the Dallas area among 6A schools so far. Carroll is averaging 322 yards per game through the air and Prosper is averaging 321 yards. Prosper has been the second-highest scoring 6A team in D-FW, averaging 53 points. This year's defensive domination shouldn't be surprising. Last year, while reaching the 6A Division I state semifinals, Allen led area 6A teams in scoring defense (11.4 points per game) and ranked in the top five in total defense, run defense and pass defense.