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Late bloomers: Unbeaten Rockwall run qualifies Wildcats for 7-on-7 state tourney
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
The Plano Senior football team looked like anything but a squad competing in just its second 7-on-7 State Qualifying Tournament Saturday in Rockwall.
While inclement weather has had its say in marring much of Plano's 7-on-7 activity this summer, the Wildcats were in full control of their destiny Saturday and, as a result, have yet another spot in the Division I FOX Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Championship Tournament.
"It's a big deal to qualify for state," said Tim Stallings, Plano 7-on-7 head coach. "I was obviously very happy for the guys who put in a lot of hard work at practice last week leading up to the Rockwall tournament."
However, what little experience the Wildcats had paid plenty of dividends Saturday.
"I think the biggest thing was that we were able to practice together," Stallings said. "We were able to get some of our league night games in last week and were able to play a doubleheader. That was our first league night game we've played all year and that experience helped a ton."
Garland Naaman Forest can attest, squared opposite the Wildcats in the tournament semifinals and winding up on the wrong end of a 59-18 drubbing.
"Our offense was gelling by the fourth game," Stallings said. "We were on fire. Everybody on [Naaman] had a tough time stopping them; the receivers and the quarterback were clicking, and the defense played extremely well."
That Plano defense accounted for three interceptions opposite the Rangers; turnovers which turned into points. It meant unleashing Richard Lagow and his arsenal of targets, with productive afternoons chipped in by Anthony Antwine, Corbin Whitehair and Tanner Garfat.
Defensively, Stalling praised the efforts of Grant Lyness and Brian Hanks.
Fusing strong showings on both sides of the ball, the outcome paced Plano to a 34-6 advantage over Naaman by halftime and the team didn't look back in cruising to another state tournament berth.
The Wildcats were able to maintain the fever pitch set after an unblemished run through pool play that netted equally favorable outcomes. Bludgeoning pool play foes in Rockwall B (62-0) and Richardson Berkner (47-12), Plano received its stiffest challenge from a team it will grow quite familiar with in the coming years as it outlasted upcoming District 10-5A bunkmate McKinney, 48-33.
"The McKinney game was our toughest competition for the day," Stallings said. "That was a great game. It was a tight game that went back and forth until the last five minutes or so when we went up by two scores."
The battle between future district opponents typified the expected nature between the two, despite the Wildcats standing tall in the end.
"There was a bit of jawing going on back and forth," Stallings said. "It's football and the guys are emotional out there and I think knowing they'd see [McKinney] down the road had them a bit more fired up."
Plano got the last laugh Saturday and will continue its 7-on-7 pursuits into College Station for yet another summer, competing July 20-21 from Texas A&M.
"It's a huge thing," Stallings said. "It's big for the guys and big for continuing to get better through the summer. Our No. 1 goal for 7-on-7 is always to get to state and it's very exciting for the team."
Before that trip, Plano will return to action Friday afternoon at Jesuit for the Dallas qualifying leg of the Red Bull Gamebreakers tournament.
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