West stops run, Plano, 30-20
Posted on 09. Oct, 2009 by Brian Porter in Varsity
Holt Hoetger and Robert Robinson each scored a touchdown and combined for 245 yards receiving but, behind four touchdown passes to three different receivers from Michael Pruneau, Plano West defeated Plano, 30-20, Friday at John Clark Stadium.
Holt Hoetger (9) and Robert Robinson each eclipsed 100 yards receiving Friday. It was the first time this season Plano has had two 100-yard receivers.
Plano West (4-3, 2-1 in District 8-5A) evened the series between the teams at 5-5 and with the win moved into sole possession of second place in District 8-5A. Plano (2-5, 1-2) is locked in third place in the district.
Robinson had 137 yards on six receptions and Hoetger had 108 yards on four catches and for the first time this season Plano had a pair of 100-yard receivers.
“We lost the game because of the battle up front,” Plano coach Jaydon McCullough said. “We are very disappointed because we couldn’t get our running game going.”
Plano entered off a district win engineered by a spread-option offense behind running quarterback Murat Kuzu. But Friday, Plano West got consistent penetration and contained the Plano rushing game for 54 yards on 25 carries.
Plano West put the finishing touches on the win across less than six minutes of the second half. Its second drive of the third quarter was capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Pruneau with 5:26 left. Pruneau came back and hit Carson Smith for his second score on a 22-yard pass with six seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter to stake a 30-13 lead.
Plano’s comeback bid had hope after Holt Hoetger scored on a 49-yard pass from Kuzu with 8:04 left in the game. But the next possession beginning at Plano’s 5 stalled and with precious seconds ticking away inside the final two minutes of regulation Grant Cooper intercepted a Plano pass. Plano West finished with three interceptions, two by Justin Bass.
Kelton Reed (22) gathered this fumble for Plano's 11th takeaway of the season and to get a stop near Plano's 30-yard line.
Ryan Solano converted a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to cap what turned out to be a shootout in the second quarter after a quiet first quarter.
It began when Robinson, who was mostly covered up during the first quarter, broke loose and behind the secondary where he caught a perfectly-timed pass from Kuzu in stride and sprinted 84 yards into the end zone to tie the game with 1:41 elapsed in the second quarter.
It wouldn’t take Plano West long to respond. Pruneau passed for first downs on consecutive plays and then hit Sean Ballard for a 48-yard touchdown pass.
Kuzu responded by completing four consecutive passes on the ensuing drive. He faced a heavy blitz on a key third down deep in Plano West territory, but hung in the pocket just long enough to find an open Ashton Williams sitting down in coverage inside the five and Williams did the rest on a 16-yard touchdown pass to trim the lead to 14-13 with 4:16 left.
Plano West’s offense is noted for its quick strike ability. But the ensuing drive proved it can get the hard yards, as it converted three third downs on the drive and only the clock it seemed could keep the Wolves out of the end zone. The clock ticked down and Solano converted his 32-yarder with time expired to give Plano West a 17-13 halftime lead.
But the difference at halftime may have been the way Plano West opened the game. While Plano twice answered, it couldn’t gain a lead. After getting a stop with a Justin Bass interception to start the game, Plano West drove 55 yards in five plays and Carson Smith’s 42-yard reception from Pruneau just 2:45 into the game gave the Wolves a lead it would carry to the second quarter. For the seventh time this season in a Plano game, the team to score first won.
| Plano West 30, Plano 20 | ||||||
| Plano West | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | – | 30 |
| Plano | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | – | 20 |
| Scoring Summary | ||||||
| First Quarter | ||||||
| W – Carson Smith 42 pass from Michael Pruneau (Ryan Solano kick), 9:15 | ||||||
| Second Quarter | ||||||
| P – Robert Robinson 84 pass from Murat Kuzu (Grant Pierce kick), 10:19 | ||||||
| W – Sean Ballard 48 pass from Pruneau (Solano kick), 8:54 | ||||||
| P – Ashton Williams 16 pass from Kuzu (kick blocked), 4:16 | ||||||
| W – Solano 32 FG, 0:00 | ||||||
| Third Quarter | ||||||
| W – John Peloza 10 pass from Pruneau (Solano kick), 5:26 | ||||||
| Fourth Quarter | ||||||
| W – Carson Smith 22 pass from Pruneau (kick failed), 11:54 | ||||||
| P – Holt Hoetger 49 pass from Murat Kuzu (Pierce kick), 8:04 | ||||||
| W | TEAM STATS | P |
| 25 | First downs | 14 |
| 37-171 | Rushes-yards | 25-54 |
| 293 | Passing yards | 293 |
| 464 | Total yards | 347 |
| 19-37-0 | Passing | 15-32-3 |
| 3-112 | Total punting | 4-148 |
| 8-90 | Penalties-yds. | 6-65 |
| 2-1 | Fumbles-lost | 0-0 |
