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Oklahoma State football: Sophomore linebacker Justin Phillips is no stranger to the big stage

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State linebacker Justin Phillips is in prime position to become a starter this fall. Impressive, considering he's just a sophomore.

But Phillips was plenty familiar with the big stage before he arrived on campus. Case in point: the 2013 Texas 5A Division-I high school state championship game.

Pearland, Phillips' team, faced Allen at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Attendance was marked at 54,347 -- the largest crowd on record to ever watch a Texas high school football game.

“Ah man," Phillips recalled, "that was crazy."

Allen, led by star quarterback Kyler Murray (a freshman at Texas A&M next season), capped an undefeated season with a convincing 63-28 victory.