Raiders-Bills pits two QBs who excelled in the Valley
Plenty of eyes from the central San Joaquin Valley will be watching Sunday as the Las Vegas Raiders host the unbeaten Buffalo Bills.
That is because for the first time, Fresnoarea quarterbacks Derek Carr and Josh Allen will match up.
Kickoff between the Raiders (2-1) and Bills (3-0) is set for 1:25 p.m.
Allen, who starred at Firebaugh High and Reedley College, is in his third season with Buffalo and is off to a fast start, completing 81 of 114 for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns against one interception. He can also do it on the ground, rushing for two scores.
Allen was named Thursday the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.
His early season success has caught the eye of the former Fresno State star.
“He is having a great year,” Carr said. “A hot start to the season. But anytime someone comes from the Central Valley, there is a connection, no matter what. Just from coming from that area you always keep up with each other, you’re always rooting for each other and so I’ve always rooted for him unless he’s playing Fresno State or unless he’s playing the Raiders, I always root for the best for him.”
Even Raiders coach Jon Gruden is complimentary of Allen, comparing him to a Hall of Famer.
“The quarterback is eye-opening,” he said Monday. “He is a fun guy to watch, man. He can really throw the ball. He’s got a great playing style. He’s got a lot of John Elway playing style.”
Both quarterbacks had success at their respective schools.
Carr led Fresno State to a Mountain West Conference championship in 2013 and set 27 school records and 21 conference records.
Allen set his mark at Firebaugh High, where he finished with 5,269 yards and 59 touchdowns. He didn’t get any college offers, so he continued his football career at Reedley College and compiled 2,055 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Tigers.
He picked up offers from Wyoming and Eastern Michigan. He chose to go to Laramie.
After a stellar two-year career at Wyoming, Allen was drafted in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Bills.
Carr, listed at 6-foot-3, remembers taking a picture with the young Allen many years ago. Allen is now 6-5.
“He was just coming up,” Carr said. “And I think that’s the last time I was taller than him. He sprouted up, he went on to Wyoming and did fantastic things. We don’t text each other all the time or anything like that. I got too many kids running around. But everything I know about him, he’s a great person. He’s a heck of a competitor. He’s a heck of a player and I’m really proud of him.
“To see where he’s come from. He’s worked his tail off to get to where he’s at and he deserves every bit of success.”