Jackson Arnold shines as Denton Guyer beats Allen, improves to 8-0

Senior QB Jackson Arnold, an Oklahoma commit, accounted for more than 400 yards and five TDs to lead Denton Guyer to a 49-7 win over Allen

Nolan Ruth | Oct 21, 2022

DENTON, Texas — The Denton Guyer Wildcats had Allen circled on their calendar for over a year since their defeat at the hands of the Eagles in a tight District 6-6A title race last season.

Behind the performance of senior quarterback Jackson Arnold, an Oklahoma Sooners commit, the Wildcats rumbled past Allen with ease in a dominant 49-7 win Thursday night at the C.H. Collins Athletic Complex.

Arnold finished the night with 334 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air n 25-of-28 passing, and added 84 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries on the ground.

Denton Guyer — the No. 13 team in the latest edition of the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national football rankings — improved to 8-0 overall with the victory.

The Wildcats also secured both a postseason berth in a crowded 6-6A district playoff race and at least a share of the District 6-6A championship.

“This was our third time to play them. We don’t feel like, at least defensively, really put our best foot forward. Just a lot of credit (goes) to our young men," Denton Guyer head coach Reed Heim said.

"They really got ready, had a great week at practice, had a mindset they were going to come out, play well, start battles, be physical, and try to win in the trenches. I think they did a great job.”

The Wildcats went right to work on the opening drive, scoring quickly on a 25-yard pass from Arnold to Josiah Martin to give Guyer an early 7-0 lead.

Marin was Guyer's leading receiver, catching eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown reception.

Allen’s ensuing drive took more than 5 minutes off the clock. The Eagles were able to march all the way down to Guyer's 1-yard line to set up a pivotal fourth-and-goal situation.

The Wildcats' defense, however, held its ground and stuffed Allen's fourth-and-goal play for a loss, forcing a turnover on downs late in the first quarter.

Both teams stalled offensively until the second quarter, when Arnold struck again with another touchdown pass, this time on an 8-yard quick fade to Landon Sides, extending Guyer's lead to 14-0 just before the first half came to a close.

The second half started much the same as the first, but Guyer hit the throttle and totally took control.

After stopping the Eagles' offense on the opening drive of the third quarter, the Wildcats started clicking immediately as Arnold connected with tight end Si Stovall for a 12-yard scoring strike that pushed Denton Guyer's lead to 21-0.

Guyer got back into the end zone 3 minutes later, when running back Ahmed Yussuf scampered untouched across the goal line for a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Before the third quarter ended, Arnold called his own number, found the edge and raced 58 yards to pay dirt on an electrifying touchdown run to make the score 35-0.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Allen punted and Peyton Bowen fielded the kick at his own 40-yard line. He sliced through Allen's punt return coverage before running into traffic, but the Eagles were unable to bring him down, and Bowen escaped for an exhilarating 60-yard special teams touchdown.

Allen was finally able to get on the board less than a minute later, when Micah Ellis scored from a yard out to cut Guyer's lead to 42-7.

However just 30 seconds later, Arnold put the finishing touch on his big night and connected with Sides on a 73-yard touchdown pass.

Both teams then pulled their starters and gave playing time to their reserves as time ran out, giving Guyer a 49-7 victory and, officially, at least a share of the district crown.

“This is that part of the season,” Heim said. “Where you’re prepping to make a run in the playoffs and there’s no better way to do that than to play quality opponents and that’s what we’re gonna see next week.”

Guyer (8-0, 5-0) will try to solidify its district title against the McKinney Lions (5-2, 3-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at McKinney ISD Stadium.

Allen (6-2, 4-1) will try to bounce back when the Eagles host Prosper (6-1, 3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Eagle Stadium in Allen.

Check out SBLive's exclusive photo gallery from the game:

PHOTO GALLERY — DENTON GUYER 49, ALLEN 7

All photos by Robbie Rakestraw