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Captain's call sparks Cats as search for first 8-5A win continues
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@acnpapers.com
After a pair of narrowly-contested losses to Flower Mound and Flower Mound Marcus, the Plano Senior football team is still in search of its first District 8-5A win.
The Wildcats' 0-4 district ledger has put the team's postseason aspirations on life support with Friday's 7:30 p.m. road tilt against Lewisville a chance to get the sour taste of defeat out of their mouths.
"I know the kids are disappointed," said Jaydon McCullough, Plano head coach, "but I don't think they're defeated and that they're going to quit. I think they're enjoying the moment and the time we have left together."
A tooth-and-nail battle, the scars of battle bore across the Wildcats afterward, most notably with the loss of senior and team captain Bobby Giebler.
Injured and requiring 10 pins and a plate in his leg and ankle, Giebler spoke to his teammates Monday to rally the troops with three games left in the regular season.
"It helped put things in perspective," McCullough said. "You always hear about last plays, but he said Friday night was the last play that he'll ever play in football. He said I think we all take it for granted until it's not there and I think that sent a very good message to the team."
Giebler's words hit home on not just the importance of the final three games in regards to the standings, but the importance of the players' time left on varsity.
"It was pretty emotional," McCullough said. "Just talking to the kids about how much he missed it and how a lot of the stuff he was saying earlier at meetings and such, he now understands what it all meant. He wanted everybody to know, especially the seniors, not to take what we have here for granted.
"To me, that's what high school football is all about."
The Wildcats will look to embrace that call to arms in preparation for a Farmers team that, like Plano, is searching for an 8-5A win.
With just one district victory under its belt since 2007, Lewisville is chugging along at 2-5 this season while giving a number of teams fits.
"I think [Lewisville is] a very athletic team and that they're very well-coached," McCullough said. "I do think they're struggling with their confidence, but they've definitely got some players you have to pay attention to."
One week removed from going blow for blow with Flower Mound for a half, the Farmers are in the process of working in a new face under center after losing quarterback Corey Duran to injury. In his place, Matt McDougal has taken the reins of a balanced Farmer attack, complemented by the rushing tandem of Rodrick Williams and DeAndre Brown.
Williams is Lewisville's leading receiver with 364 yards, with Brown and Quay Bradford also active in the passing game.
The offense's 36 points against the Jaguars marked a season high, but the defense surrendered a season-high 59 points in return. A unit giving up just a shade under 30 points per game, the Farmers defense is built on physicality up front behind the likes of Kobe Osei-Boten, Scott Ekpe and Caleb Hughes.
It's a front the Wildcats will aim to puncture with the probable return of senior Kevin Merrill, who sustained a shoulder injury Oct. 7 against Flower Mound. Plano will also enjoy the return of senior Skyler Purcell up front, junior lineman Joseph Noteboom and senior utility threat Sam Morell.
With the chance to fire on all cylinders, Plano's latest crack at erasing a four-week losing drought will take form.
"We've got to try and find a way to win this next game and things will feel a lot better," McCullough said. "Then it's about winning the next two, but No. 1, we have to relish every second that we have to play football and play this season.
"We've got to relish the moment and appreciate it. These times don't come around too often."
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