Archives > Plano Star-courier > Sports
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
No stopping Plano
By Cory J. Mageors, Staff Writer
Watch VideoMESQUITE—Plano Senior (13-1) tends to be capable of attacking an opponent’s strength, and crippling it in the process.
Saturday at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium in the Region II Finals, the Plano offense exploited Skyline’s (12-2) defense as junior quarterback Carson Meger (19-for-31 for 322 yards) passed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass from junior running back Rex Burkhead as the Wildcats beat the Red Raiders, 41-20, in a dominating performance.
“I think that shows how many threats we have on offense,” Meger said. “We can go from a run defense and pass on them and a pass defense and run on them. We have an incredible amount of athletes. We’ve all bonded like no other team I have ever seen, and it all comes together on the field.”
“I’ll let everybody else talk about how great of a football player he is,” said Gerald Brence, Plano head coach. “I like to talk about how good of a person he is and what a team player he is. I speak for everybody, its fun to watch him play and we’re just glad he’s on our team.”
Junior receiver Kris Lott caught six passes for 126 yards and a touchdown, and senior receiver Grant Davis was the feature receiver with eight receptions for 111 yards and the first Wildcats touchdown.
Much credit was given to the Wildcats receiving corps for taking on a difficult task in Skyline’s secondary and a defense which hadn’t allowed any points in the second half during the playoffs.
Plano scored 20 in the second half.
“I think Gerald did a great because he was real aggressive today,” said Jaydon McCullough, offensive coordinator. “We knew we were going to have to go vertical on them and Nate [Christian, a senior], Kris and Grant executed the plays well. We’re just enjoying this right now and we don’t want it to end.”
On the first drive of the game, the Wildcats showed they would not play a conservative game, as Meger hit Davis for 19 yards on the first two offensive plays of the game. But on the Wildcats first third down, Meger threw an interception, one of three on the day, after receiving pressure from Skyline.
“We never got down on him,” Lott said. “We knew when he threw those interceptions nobody needed to hang our head low. We know each other so well; Carson can throw it to us without looking sometimes and we are going to be there. Our offense is pretty good.”
After the Wildcats defense stifled the Skyline offense for negative yards with a sack by senior Brennan Hardy, Plano got a chance to make up for their first offensive series.
The Wildcats took 4:39 off the clock on a 12-play drive in which they saw only one third down.
On that third down, Meger hit Davis for a 23-yard touchdown putting Plano up, 7-0, with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Skyline was again stuffed on four plays, but on the punt, Plano senior Chris Mendenhall roughed Skyline punter Jose Serrano. The Red Raiders too advantage seven plays later when quarterback Troy Stoudemire hit James White for a 22-yard touchdown. However, Skyline’s point after attempt was blocked and Plano stayed ahead, 7-6.
With 8:10 left in the first half, Burkhead carried the ball four times for 27 yards and Meger hit Lott for 27 yards, putting the Wildcats on the Skyline 4-yard line.
Burkhead then took advantage, bolting to the edge and running through the front pylon to go up, 14-6.
Plano senior cornerback Kenny Watkins followed with an interception, his third of the playoffs, on the Wildcats 29-yard line, giving Plano 3:39 to add to their lead.
On 2nd-and-14 Burkhead ran right, and the holes quickly closed up, but the elusive running back broke back to the left and picked up 20 yards. On that play, Meger stood near the sideline, calling for Burkhead to pass; instead Meger laid a block on a Skyline defender allowing Burkhead to get the first down.
Moments later Meger handed off to Burkhead, who stopped and looked left to find the junior quarterback streaking down the hash marks. Burkhead then tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Meger as Plano went ahead, 21-6.
“A lot of people flood to where Rex is running and over-pursue,” Meger said. “We’ve been working on that play and it worked well.”
But Burkhead had a different, more humorous, take on the play.
“Carson is sick of throwing the ball,” Burkhead said with a smile. “He wants the ball. He is a good receiver.”
Skyline was first to score out in the second half as Stoudemire faked a handoff and broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown run to bring the Red Raiders within eight, 21-13.
Plano was forced to punt on the ensuing possession and Burkhead pinned Skyline at their own 4-yard line with a 35-yard punt.
After a defensive stop from Plano, Burkhead returned a Skyline punt for a 64-yard touchdown and Plano led, 28-13.
“The kicker boomed it,” Burkhead said. “I thought I was going to get hit, but I got some good blocks on the sideline and saw there was some open space.”
On Plano’s next drive, the Wildcats converted five first downs and capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Meger to Lott with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter to make the score 35-13.
Skyline looked lethargic after that as Plano added another long drive on the backs of Burkhead and senior Michael Daniel, who capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown.
Skyline quarterback Kris Frazier hit receiver Michael Davis two times for 80-yards during mop-up time, once for a 35-yard touchdown, but it was too late as Plano rolled to the 41-20 victory.
“We’re going to enjoy this one now,” Brence said. “Then we will look at it and get back to work for next week.”
Plano will face Euless Trinity (13-1), Saturday at Texas Stadium, in the Division I Class 5A State Semifinals.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
pshswildcat19 wrote on Dec 8, 2007 11:03 PM:
" Rule 1: Don't slow Cory down when he's on a roll. (Kevin) Rule #2 Don't pick against Plano. (Kevin) Rule #3 Don't question the Plano fanhood. (Boys) I'll be there waving that flag 3 hours before kickoff as always. 08 to state! "
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Sports «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
