In Texas Stadium's final year, it is fitting that an old acquaintance returns.

Odessa Permian plays Allen on Friday in a Class 5A Division I Region I semifinal. Permian last played a playoff game at Texas Stadium exactly 10 years ago.

Allen, ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll released two weeks ago, seeks its first state title.

Permian, ranked No. 4, counts six state championships, two mythical national titles, a controversial book and a movie that grossed more than $61 million.

"They've got great history," Allen coach Tom Westerberg said. "We're trying to build great history."

Former Permian and Rockwall-Heath coach Tam Hollingshead, now SMU's director of high school relations, won a state title at Texas Stadium with Permian in 1991, defeating San Antonio Marshall.

"We kind of looked at Texas Stadium as a second home," Hollingshead said.

Permian last played an area team at Texas Stadium on Nov. 28, 1998, when it lost to Duncanville in a 5A Division I Region I quarterfinal.

That Permian team featured Cowboys receiver Roy Williams, then a playmaking junior.

Permian and Allen will play each other for the third time. Permian beat Allen, 36-9, at Eagle Stadium in 1998. Allen beat Permian, 28-7, at Ratliff Stadium in 1999.

Today's meeting will be the first in the postseason.

"The difference now is the attitude is either win or go home," said Allen WR Uzoma Nwachukwu. "It's the playoffs, and we're not ready to go home yet."

So how treasured is Permian football in West Texas?

"They had their ups and downs a couple of years ago, but they've rebounded well," Hollingshead said. "The community is proud and always excited about its team."

Friday Night Lights didn't hurt Permian's legacy. Movie buffs from around the country were introduced to Permian stars such as Boobie Miles, Mike Winchell and Ivory Christian.

Media attention on the program has always been intense.

"When sports came on TV on Tuesday and Wednesday, you knew they would talk about Mojo," said Lewisville athletic director Randy Mayes, who coached Permian to the Division I state finals in 1995.

"People here can't grasp that the Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars and Rangers would take a back seat to high school football out there."

Permian has the Hollywood pedigree, but don't expect Allen to be starstruck.

"Everyone's seen Friday Night Lights, but we don't want to make this more than what it is," Nwachukwu said.

Westerberg said the Mojo mystique may not have the intimidating appeal with his current players that it had with the older generation.

Some of Westerberg's players weren't born when Permian last won a state title in 1991.

Today will determine if Permian's success at Texas Stadium returns or if Allen reaches a higher plateau.

"Both teams have great programs. This should be one of the games everybody is excited about this weekend," Hollingshead said

Playoff road: d. S. Grand Prairie, 27-14; d. Coppell, 56-28.

Players to watch: RB Jeremiah Williams (884 rushing yards, 10 TDs), WR Dakarai Pecikonis (32 rec., 567 yards, 12 TDs), WR Uzoma Nwachukwu (30-289 yards, 4 TDs), WR Bradlee Waddell (32-491 yards, 3 TDs)

Notable: Allen coach Tom Westerberg is tight-lipped about the health of QB Matt Brown, who suffered a collarbone injury last week. Brown is the team's leading passer (1,973 yards, 27 TDs) and rusher (1,125 yards, 13 TDs).

Playoff road: d. EP El Dorado, 62-14; d. Burleson, 56-21.

Players to watch: RB Sherard Ray (1,976 rushing yards, 16 TDs), QB Trevor Adams (2,526 passing yards, 5 TDs, 10 INTs), WR Ryan Rumbaugh (66 rec., 1,127 yards), LB Jerome Leija (8.8 tackles per game)

Notable: Permian's offense has scored 46 points or more seven times this season. It will need to play good defense to beat an Allen team that had 562 yards of total offense last week against Coppell.