Plano, Trinity bring the power

The best thing for Plano to keep in mind Saturday at Texas Stadium in the Class 5A State Semifinals is patience; with a sense of urgency of course.

Euless Trinity is going to run the ball; plain and simple. They will try to extend drives to third down and execute for a first down conversion.

If Plano stands a chance of keeping their legs through the entire game, the Wildcats will have to limit those drives, if not eliminating them altogether.

“Every down is important now,” said Gerald Brence, Plano head coach. “On first down you have to keep them from picking up five or six yards to set up. Then second down is just as important because you are trying to keep them from a third-and-short situation. Then on third down it’s a possession down. We have to make a play on third down and stop the drive.”

The Trojans have collected 61 first downs in these playoffs, running the ball an average of 41 times per game.

Earlier in the season, Euless Trinity was taken to the woodshed by Odessa Permian in the second game of the season. From that point on, the Trojans decided the running game would be their lifeline this year.

In that 30-3 loss, their only loss of the season, Euless Trinity coughed up the ball three times, losing it twice and threw three interceptions. Permian also held Euless Trinity to only 66 yards passing.

However, in the rematch, Baker rushed for 241 yards against Permian, while the Trojans posted 333 rushing yards.

Running the ball has been the Trojans calling card, while maintaining an efficient and frugal passing game.

Rushing for 1,749 more yards than they have passed for, Euless Trinity utilizes an offensive line which averages 277 lbs., without tight ends, and a running back, in Samir Baker, who averages 7.0 yards per carry.

Plano is lean and quick, averaging around 220 lbs. on the defensive line.

“When you line up right and use your technique the right way you would be surprised what you can do,” said Brence. “It’s when you try to line up and run right over your opponent on every play. That’s when you get in trouble.”

The last time Plano played an opponent similar to Trinity, the Wildcats forced Spring Westfield to go strictly to the air. Though Westfield threw for 325 yards, they were taken out of their game, rushing for only 96 yards.

And Berkner a team who built a rapport piling up rushing yards against their opponent was held to 185 yards and only seven points early this season against the Wildcats.

Plano is capable of stifling this offensive ground game, but at this point in the season, everybody has 11 players who are solid, strong players who have been through adversity on each side of the ball.

“Everybody is good when you get this deep in the playoffs,” Brence said. “We are trying to play an 11-on-11 football. All of those basic things I talk about in football camps, those are the things I am still preaching as we head into the State semifinals, because they are that important to the game.”

Brence also points out that Euless Trinity will pass the ball on occasion, effectively when necessary.

Considering the Trojans have an average of 14 passes per game, and completed 80 percent of their passes, the Wildcats will need to deter that number to effectively keep the Trojans off the field.

On the other side of the ball, the Trojans have been prudent defensively as well. Only one team has scored in the first quarter in the playoffs. Plano has scored in the first quarter of every game this year except against Plano West, and they still won 14-9.

Euless Trinity has held every opponent scoreless in at least two quarters in every playoff game as well, giving up an average of 11.25 points per game.

Over the Trojans entire regular season, aside from the Permian game, they allowed only 4.4 yards per game and have 5 shutouts overall.

“There will be opportunities to make plays,” Brence said. “But you have to recognize the opportunity and then execute it.”

Though the Trojans are stingy, Plano is not your typical offense. Finesse wouldn’t be their style, even though junior quarterback Carson Meger has thrown for 3,160 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Brute power wouldn’t be their calling card, simply because they have converted to a spread style offense.

Quite possibly the best example of who the Wildcats are as an offense would be junior running back Rex Burkhead.

While he sits behind Baker by 181 yards gained, Burkhead leads in some rather important categories. Burkhead is the No. 1 overall scorer in the Metroplex with 33 all-purpose touchdowns, and 200 points scored.

Baker on the other hand is No. 10 with 104 points scored, and 17 overall touchdowns.

Burkhead also has scored 29 rushing touchdowns. Plano and simple, this offense just wants to score, no matter how they have to do it.

“We’ve got to get everybody the ball,” Brence said. “We are going to give the ball to Rex, but we have to get it to Nate[Chistian], and Grant [Davis] and [Kris Lott]. Anytime we can get off to a good start we can get some momentum going. If a guy can make an outstanding play, then the crowd will get into it and we will start to get some momentum.”

Speaking of the crowd.

While the players feed off the energy of the crowd, the fans tend to give it right back to the players. Players and coaches alike feel that while they know the crowd will show up, just as the Trinity crowd will, they will rely heavily on the maroon sea to consume Texas Stadium.

“I know the crowd will effect this game,” Brence said. “Our crowd is like another player. I can say this for sure. It’s going to be a great atmosphere for high school football. The weather is going to be cold and there is going to be little wind. It’s just going to be great football.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and in Class 5A State Semifinals play, expect elite football to be played.

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