Plano East Snatches 28-24 Victory Over Varsity Wildcats

With the Wildcats leading 17-0 at halftime Friday night, many Plano fans were wondering if the 2011 match against Plano East would be a repeat of 2010′s 38-0 shut-out.  Others cautioned that this season’s Plano East team, which went toe-to-toe with Allen all four quarters, should not be counted out even with this half-time deficit.

The caution was warranted.  Plano East snatched the lead for the first time of the night, and the win, with a touchdown and PAT with only 47 seconds remaining on the clock.

The game started on a sour note for the Wildcats on their first punt when a penalty was assessed because the Wildcats hammered the Panther player who apparently indicated a fair catch.  4:02 into the 1st quarter Plano got a break when East’s field goal kick went wide to the left, leaving both teams scoreless.  With 3:15 left in the quarter Plano gave East a break with a fumble on the East 9 yard line, stalling what had been a solid Plano drive.  The 1st quarter ended 0-0.

#12 Xavier Harbert pulls down the pass from L.J. Ausama on a fake punt play. Harbert's TD was called back by a penalty./Photo by Thad Fenton.

2:52 into the second quarter Plano set up for a field goal attempt by #32 Cole Eckeberger with #25 L.J. Ausama holding.   The snap bounced off the turf and was captured by Ausama, who rolled to the right, spotted #12 Xavier Harbert in the open, and lobbed the ball.  Harbert pulled it in and rushed into the end zone amid the stunned Panthers as the ref indicated a touchdown.  But flags on the field for ineligible receiver down field spoiled the play and the touchdown.  After assessment of the penalty, Eckeberger made good on his field goal attempt and Plano was on the board, 3-0.

Eight minutes later, #22 Rakeem Crawford crossed the goal line for a touchdown, and with the PAT Plano went up 10-0.  But Plano didn’t let the 2nd quarter close without scoring again.  As East began its offensive drive to get out of its half of the field, #4 Tyler Grant dashed in front of a Panther receiver to intercept, and a flat-footed Panther offense couldn’t stop him as he rushed to the end zone for a touchdown and another Eckeberger PAT.  With 20 seconds left in the half, Plano was now up 17-0, and the Wildcats went to the locker room with a notable lead.

The Panthers struck the first blow of their comeback 3:52 into the 3rd quarter with a touchdown and PAT, followed by another touchdown and PAT less than six minutes later.  The 3rd quarter ended with the Wildcats lead whittled down, 17-14.

#4 Tyler Grant intercepts with 20 sec. in the half and rushes into the end zone to put Plano up 17-0./Photo by Thad Fenton.

The 4th quarter opened with promise for Plano as #8 Sam Morell won the wrestling match with the East defensive back in the end zone for #21 Richard Lagow’s pass, and with a PAT Plano regained some lead cushion, 24-14.  The game seemed to be back on track for Plano two and a half minutes later when #14 David Griffith intercepted and put the ball back into the hands of Plano’s offense.  Two minutes later the offense stalled out, and on 4th down Plano called on Ausama once again to make magic in punt formation as the holder.  And he did, taking a good snap and scampering to the left side for an easy 1st down.

But the magic ran out for Plano after that play as the offense wasn’t able to capitalize on the fresh set of downs, and East scored a touchdown and PAT  with 4:11 remaining in the game.  On its next offensive drive, with 3:43 left in the game Plano quarterback Lagow went down, but was able to limp off the field.  Then, driving off a short Plano punt, East banged into the end zone with 47 seconds left in the game to take a 28-24 lead, giving Plano scant time to retake a lead with a touchdown.

Freshman back-up quarterback #28 Christian Hutzler took the remaining snaps for the Wildcats, but with his back against the goal line due to a series of penalties called against the Wildcats, the team wasn’t able to advance down field within striking distance of the goal line.  With just eight seconds left, Hutzler took a knee and put the game into the record book.

#22 Rakeem Crawford had 94 yds rushing, 12 yds receiving, and 1 TD for the night./Photo by Thad Fenton.

Offensive highlights from the stands (Unofficial)- Passing: #21 Lagow was 10 for 19 for 123 yards, no INT’s, and #28 Hutzler was 2 for 5 for 10 yards . . .Receiving: # 8 Morell had 3 catches for 72 yards and 1 TD, #24 Hunter Gore had 4 for 52 yards, #25 Ausama had 2 for 25 yards, #22 Crawford had 2 for 12 yards, and #9 Anthony Antwine had 1 for 5 yards . . . Rushing: #22 Crawford had 20 carries for 94 yards, #25 Ausama had 4 for 42 yards, and #21 Lagow had 11 for net -3 yards . . . #32 Eckeberger scored 1 FG, 3 PAT’s, and punted 4 times for a 27 yard average.

Official defensive stats – see below.

Odds & Ends: Plano had 133 passing yards and 136 yards rushing . . . was penalized 10 times for 70 yards . . . Lagow appeared to have been sacked 6 times . . . Plano fumbled twice, recovered once. . . Intercepted East twice, once for a TD.