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Collision Course: Series lead, playoff possibility at stake for Plano, East
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@acnpapers.com
With two games remaining on the District 8-5A calendar, the final playoff spot is up for grabs, making the ramifications of the regular season's final two weeks all the more pivotal.
Friday's latest edition of the Plano East-Plano Senior rivalry is no different, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. from Clark Stadium.
"It's a lot of pressure," said Jaydon McCullough, Plano head coach, "because there's so much riding on these last two games for all three (Plano) schools. Ultimately, it's probably for that fourth playoff spot, which makes it even more intense."
"Plano is a bit like us in that I think they feel that their district record should be a lot better," said Johnny Ringo, East head coach. "I think Plano has a really good football team that's doing plenty well, but they've just fallen short in a few of these games."
Winning out is a must for Plano and no easy task against a Panther squad that is playing as well as anyone in 8-5A these days.
"They're playing with a lot of confidence and I don't think they've been the same team since they played Allen," McCullough said.
For East, Friday is a crack at redemption after last season's 38-0 loss to the Wildcats spelled the end of the Panthers' playoff hopes.
"These kids have played each other for years now at every level," Ringo said. "They know each other so well and have grown up around each other and last year was a different year for both teams.
"It's about what Plano has this year."
A win Friday can not only continue East's crusade toward a possible playoff berth but pull the victor ahead in the all-time series, which is currently gridlocked at 14-14-1.
And if the Panthers' victory over the Jaguars is any indication, establishing a threat on the ground comes first and foremost.
The Flower Mound game marked the third time this season East has featured multiple rushers exceeding 90 yards; a clip that reached new heights with seniors Corey Wesley, Nathan Meadors and Dante Taylor all eclipsing the 120-yard barrier against the Jaguars. There are also threats on the ground from seniors Tre Jones and Corey Bassett.
"They've got lots of depth so they can keep those running backs fresh," McCullough said. "They do a good job schematically, running a lot of different formations that get you thinking. And on top of all that, that coaching staff does a great job."
The Panthers' multiplicity also manifests itself through the air with Wesley developing a steadfast connection with junior Collin Shaw to complement the added receiving threat of Taylor, who is the district's fifth-leading rusher (666 yards) and receiver (533 yards).
Plano possesses its own skill-position threat in senior Kevin Merrill, who returned from injury against the Farmers and accounted for 139 yards of offense -- 118 on the ground. Those rushing yards came on 14 carries, a number shared by senior Rakeem Crawford who, despite his slot as Plano's back-up running back for the bulk of the year, leads the Wildcats with 565 rushing yards.
And then there's junior quarterback Richard Lagow and his array of targets from seniors Hunter Gore to Sam Morell and L.J. Ausama.
"They've got so many different weapons that they can attack you with," Ringo said.
Taming the pass is something the Panthers got plenty of exercise in last week, holding the area's leading passer in Flower Mound quarterback Marshall Williams to 277 yards; his second-lowest output of the season.
Credit a speedy ensemble of seniors Brandon Lee, Toby Obumseli, Kylon Higgins and Bassett for that.
"Defensively, they've got a lot of talent and they play hard," McCullough said. "That middle linebacker (Obumseli) is really good. They've got a good scheme and they're playing confident."
The Wildcats gained a measure of confidence in holding Lewisville to just 248 yards of offense last week; a positive shift in a season that has teetered between limiting Flower Mound Marcus rusher Harvey Giddens to just 4 yards per carry to surrendering 551 yards to Flower Mound.
"They're a talented defense," Ringo said. "They've had some injuries, which could be where part of the inconsistency comes from, but they've got two very good defensive ends in (senior Dwayne) Hicks and (senior Xavier) Harbert who have great athleticism."
The gift and curse of a young defense, Plano enjoyed the former against Lewisville with the play of freshman Mitchell Hansen, sophomore David Griffith and junior Troy Propes.
Matched with the veteran presence of Harbert and Hicks, Plano eyes its best win of the season thus far against the surging Panthers with the ramifications high as usual.
"We know what's at stake and they know what's at stake," McCullough said. "It's one of those games that as a player, you love to be in. It's great to have it this late in district too because no matter what the situation is, it keeps everybody focused and ready to go."
Ringo agreed.
"I think this rivalry is one of the best in the state," he said. "It's two tradition-rich programs and I think it's tied up now. I think you can throw records out each year and you're left with two teams who play hard and the one who makes the fewest mistakes usually wins."
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