Eddie Dupre
December 2, 2015
Newsies soars and delivers at the Saenger
December 3, 2015
South Lafourche senior athlete Harvey Allen made good on his promise.
After sustaining several injuries that left his career in doubt, Allen has overcome the odds and will continue his football career at Nicholls State University – just like he promised he’d do when the injury took place.
Allen, a standout quarterback for the Tarpons, missed his entire senior season this past fall after suffering a fractured pelvis and punctured bladder as a passenger in a one-car wreck on the Bourg-Larose Highway in August.
Just a few days after the crash, Allen gave an exclusive interview to The Times while still in the hospital in which he vowed he’d play football again – even before hearing an official diagnosis from his doctors and surgeons.
That return didn’t come in a high school uniform, but Nicholls’ faith in a comeback never wavered.
Allen said Colonels coach Tim Rebowe offered him a scholarship in early 2015 and never pulled it away – even after the crash. That loyalty and family-like feel are why the Tarpon is headed to Thibodaux to play his college ball – a verbal commitment he made on Monday morning, but privately announced on Wednesday afternoon in an exclusive text message, then phone call to The Times.
“I’m totally blessed to be in this position,” Allen said. “After that accident, things have been rough and not being able to play my last year of high school football was devastating. When I heard that Coach Rebowe was keeping the offer he gave me before the injury, I knew that was going to be the place for me to go. He checked on me (when I was hurt) like a family member would. He believed in me and had faith in me that I would still have the abilities like I had before. I want to repay that loyalty and play for him for these next four years.”
When 100 percent healthy, Allen is one heck of an athlete – the kind of guy who could potentially change the dynamic of the Nicholls offense.
The Tarpons senior was a force under center for South Lafourche in 2014 as a junior – one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the state.
Allen battled ankle injuries in the back-end of the season, but still accumulated more than 700 yards rushing and passing to go along with 21 combined touchdowns – all while leading South Lafourche to the Class 5A State Playoffs.
As a sophomore, Allen played in the South Lafourche defensive backfield and also at offensive skill positions.
That versatility and explosive athletic ability are all huge facets to Allen’s game, according to South Lafourche head football coach Dennis Skains, who called the Nicholls-bound Tarpon a “game-changer” following the Tarpons 2015 season.
Allen is elusive and quick, but also has high-end speed – all of which can benefit him with the Colonels.
“Harvey is a game-changer out there,” Skains said. “He can do so many things to help your team win at so many different positions. Not having him out there was definitely something that affected us. It was definitely something that we had to overcome, because he’s not an easy player to try and replace.”
And the eye test says he’s still got it, too.
Allen missed the 2015 season on the gridiron, but he’s recently been cleared to compete and is playing for the Tarpons basketball team.
In South Lafourche’s season-opening game on Tuesday against H.L. Bourgeois, Allen looked a tad rusty at times, but was still incredibly athletic. He showcased his high-end speed, leaping ability and ability to change gears well enough to catch the attention of Braves coach Andrew Caillouet, who said after the game that Allen’s return was “huge” for the Tarpons hopes.
Those same attributes are the things Rebowe said he liked about Allen on the gridiron. The South Lafourche senior said he’s going to play offense at Nicholls – likely as a slot receiver or scat halfback.
“Coach Rebowe said he loves my aggressiveness,” Allen said. “He likes my explosiveness, my awareness and my ability to be a playmaker when I’m on the field. He thinks I’m going to be a major part of his team.”
For any collegiate coach to be saying that about Allen after the summer he’s gone through is somewhat of a miracle and a dream come true for the local athlete.
Allen said he’s inspired to reward Rebowe’s loyalty, adding that it’ll be a dream come true to play college football in front of his friends and family at a program on the rise.
Allen added he plans to major in engineering as a Colonel.
“It feels great,” Allen said. “It isn’t far away from home and they have a nice program that’s starting to build up and I’d like to be a part of it. … I’m proud to be committed to playing my future football at Nicholls State University.”
Promise fulfilled. The comeback is soon to be complete.
Harvey told us this was going to happen all along.
