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The Searchers: East finds plenty of positives in summer, but still seeking 10th game
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Unlike Plano Senior and Plano West, Plano East did not have a team in College Station last weekend for the FOX Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Tournament.
The Panthers did, however, make progress on that front as the summer went on.
East was winless at its first event, the Colleyville Heritage State Qualifying Tournament, but enjoyed a solid June with a combined 7-2 record at the NIKE Invitational and Wylie SQT.
The NIKE event in McKinney incorporated a quarterback challenge, lineman challenge, wide receiver best hands competition, SPARQ challenge (vertical jump, power ball toss, 40-yard dash and the 5x10x5) and place kicker challenge. Parker Hunt was a standout in the best hands competition as he caught 35-of-38 passes from a JUGS machine before transitioning to 7-on-7 and teaming with Collin Shaw to catch passes from Taylor McGehee and Anthony Maioriello.
Those combinations were effective as the Panthers defeated Irving MacArthur, Melissa, Denton and Austin Westlake.
"That event was a little different," Ringo said. "But it was a lot of fun because we got the whole squad involved, especially the linemen since they don't usually get to take part in these types of events."
Still seeking a state berth, East moved on to the Wylie SQT.
Mario Smalls was at the helm of the offense and effectively distributed the ball to Maioriello, Hunt, Ricky Ilodianya and Christian Sandlin while Devin Tanner and Mike Miller snagged interceptions during an undefeated pool play run (West Mesquite, Mesquite Poteet and Arlington Martin).
The Panthers lost to Mesquite in the semifinals.
"Obviously the boys were a little disappointed to not make it to state," Ringo said. "But that's not the end all, be all of this process. Our quarterbacks got to work on their timing with receivers and the defensive backs got to work on route recognition, so those things serve a great purpose for us."
Roles were reassured during this time as Shaw further entrenched himself as the team's top receiver and Smalls tightened his grip on the starting QB spot.
"Mario was our No. 1 in the spring, but I think he has settled into that role as the guy and gotten more comfortable," Ringo said. "And Collin is a big part of that; having his experience means a lot to the quarterback and Collin has gotten bigger, stronger and faster since last season."
Similar experience exists on defense with Jackson Garrey, who is shifting to inside linebacker.
That experience will be necessary as East returns only 16 lettermen.
"To a certain extent you get used to the turnover," Ringo said. "But this season we will be putting kids out there that have never competed at the varsity level before."
How much competing the Panthers do is still up in the air as the team continues its quest to find a 10th game. East had a scrimmage lined up as well as Week 0, 1, 2 and 3 games, but being realigned into a six-team district created a hole the team has yet to fill.
"What the UIL does works in theory," Ringo said. "There are two six-team districts in the Metroplex and in San Antonio, so if they are playing each other in non-district it all works, but if someone goes off and schedules other teams then it's a problem and that's where we're at right now."
East has sought several remedies to the situation.
The Panthers were close to games against Tyler John Tyler, Stephenville, Texas High, The Woodlands College Park, Cibolo Steele and Jenks (Oklahoma).
"We've tried, we really have," Ringo said. "We've been close and had a couple agreements we thought were in place, but they fell through. I don't know if it's our size that scares people off sometimes or what, but we haven't turned anyone down and we want to play that 10th game."
East also considered running a multi-quarter intra-squad scrimmage in Week 4, but both Clark and Kimbrough Stadium are booked that night. Now, the Panthers are using a firm to find another game, with a school in Pensacola (Florida) and a pair in Tennessee the current frontrunners.
If none of those work, Class 3A Jasper is another possibility.
East is seeking that game as it would otherwise wrap up its non-district slate Sept. 21 against Flower Mound Marcus before opening 10-5A against Allen on Oct. 12.
"Obviously you have a concern then about not being sharp," Ringo said, "especially going up against a team as good as Allen."
That hasn't been the only scheduling problem for East as it was originally set to open the season at Garland on Aug. 31, but had to shift to Thursday, Aug. 30, at Kimbrough.
Scheduling snafus aside, Ringo is pleased with the team's offseason.
"It's been a great summer," he said. "The guys have improved their strength and speed, and we feel good going into the season, which is important seeing as how we will be in another tough district."
East players are off the next couple weeks before fall practice begins Aug. 13.
"The guys haven't had too much down time this summer, so now they have a little time to themselves," Ringo said. "But we still have the weight rooms available if they want to lift and each guy has a group to stay in touch with so they can continue to mentor the younger players and let them know what's coming."
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