Tag Archives | Cole Eckeberger

Wildcats 3-0 With 62-21 Domination of Mans. Legacy

By on September 10, 2011 in '11 Fall Season

Plano’s non-district play for the 2011 season ended September 9 with a win that surpassed all expectations.  On film, it looked like the Wildcats would have their hands full containing the Legacy Bronco’s quarterback.  As it turned out, the biggest challenge for the Wildcats coaches seemed to lie in finding ways to run down the clock in the second half without adding to the already disproportionate lead in an unsportsmanlike manner.

The 1st quarter ended with Plano up 21-0.  At the half it was 35-7.

With 4:55 left in the 3rd quarter Plano was up 62-7 and already deep into its roster reserves.  Starting quarterback junior #21 Richard Lagow had turned the reins over to freshman #28 Christian Hutzler early in the quarter.

And in an effort to burn time the plays called in to Hutzler were essentially variations on this simple theme: hand-off to #22 Rakeem Crawford.  For 15

#28 Hutzler hand-off to #22 Crawford was the play for the Wildcats in the second half./Photo by Thad Fenton.

carries in a row.

The result?  Crawford racked up121 yards and 2 TD’s.

Through persistence the Broncos were able to put up 14 points in the 4th quarter, coincidentally both on a pass-play to the TE. Less a threat than a coaching opportunity for the Wildcats on defense at the time.

Which is probably the take-away from this game for the Plano faithful.  This year’s team is talented on both sides of the ball, the talent runs deep, and film from this game will help the players and coaches further improve in advance of the next home game on September 23.

And that September 23 game is unlikely to end with the huge point differential the Wildcats have enjoyed so far this season.

#25 L.J. Ausama holds for a FG, but picks up the ball and scampers into the end zone for a Plano TD./Photo by Thad Fenton.

Offensive highlights from the stands (unofficial)- Passing: QB #21 Lagow was 11 for 18 for 138 yards and no INT’s . . . Receiving: #24 Hunter Gore had 4 catches for 40 yards, #19 Kevin Merrill 3 for 51 yards, #9 Anthony Antwine 2 for 24 yards, #8 Sam Morell 1 for 16 yards, and L.J. Ausama 1 for 7 yards . . . Rushing:#22 Crawford 15 carries for 121 yards and 2 TD’s, #8 Morell 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD, #19 Merrill 6 for 28 yards and 1 TD, #25 Ausama 2 carries for 2 TD’s, #21 Lagow 4 for 16 yards and 1 TD . . . #19 Merrill was 7 for 8 on PAT’s.

Defensive highlights from the stands (unofficial)- Fumbles recovered: one each by #2 Marcus Davis, #88 Dwayne Hicks, and #17 Sean Oliver (returned for TD) . . .  Sacks: one each by #42 Lance Lanier and #4 Tyler Grant . . . Blocked punt by #88 Hicks, recovered in end zone for a TD (plus a pass break-up) . . . Tackles for losses: #32 Cole Eckeberger, #14 David Griffith and #48 Derek Sheldon . . . Tackles by over 20 different Wildcats overloaded our statistician on this metric . . .  freshman #16 Mitchell Hansen punted twice, averaging 37.5 yards a kick.

Odds & Ends: Plano had 381 yards of offense, 138 in the air and 243 rushing (almost half by Crawford) . . . it appeared Plano drew 6 flags for 40 yards in walkoffs.

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Varsity Breaks Tie For 35-14 Win Over Irv. Mac

By on September 2, 2011 in '11 Fall Season

After jumping to a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter, the varsity Wildcats would later endure almost twenty minutes of regulation time deadlocked 14-14 in its September 1 game against the Irving MacArthur Cardinals.

The Wildcats scored first halfway through the 1st quarter with a #22 Richard Lagow pass to #8 Sam Morell who was in the end zone for a TD.  The #19 Kevin Merrill PAT was good, and Plano was up 7-0.

Plano struck again with 13 seconds left in the quarter with another Lagow pass into the end zone, this time to #24 Hunter Gore.  Again, Merrill’s PAT kick was good, and Plano ended the 1st quarter up 14-0.  The game began to look like a replay of the prior week’s blowout of Lakeview Centennial.

But the Cardinals had more moxie than the Patriots. At 2:23 into the 2nd quarter the Cardinals put the ball into the end zone with a good PAT, and repeated this two and half minutes later on the clock, tieing the game 14-14 with 7:19 left in the 2nd quarter.

The teams would go to the locker room at half tied, and remain in a deadlock throughout the 3rd quarter.

With the passing attack failing to gel after the 1st quarter, the second half showcased the Wildcats running game, and after a full 3rd quarter of smash-mouth rushing Plano broke the deadlock 21 seconds into the 4th quarter with a Merrill TD and PAT, putting the Wildcats up 21-14.  The 1st quarter vigor returned, and the Wildcats never looked back.

Merrill scored 7 again with 8:14 left in the game, putting Plano up 28-14, and Sam Morell ended Plano’s scoring for the night with a bookend TD and Merrill PAT.  With 5:31 left in the game, the final score was set, Plano 35, Irving MacArthur 14.

Defensive highlights from the stands (unofficial)- Critical fumble recovery by #88 Dwayne Hicks in the 3rd quarter . . . notable tackles for losses by #69 Steven Murray and #12 Xavier Harbert . . . Harbert appeared to have led tackles with 5 . . . #81 Benton Grant had 3 special teams tackles on kick returns inside the 20 . . . #32 Cole Eckeberger punted 3 times for an average of 44 yards per kick.

Offensive highlights from the stands (unofficial)- QB #22 Richard Lagow went 16 for 28 passing with no Int’s . . Receiving: #19 Kevin Merrill 4 for 105 yards and 1 TD, #25 L.J. Ausama 3 for 54 yards, #9 Anthony Antwine 4 for 39 yards, #8 Sam Morell 2 for 19 yards and 1 TD, #24 Hunter Gore 3 for 31 yards and 1 TD . . . Rushing: #19 Merrill ran 17 times for 160 yards and 1 TD, #25 Ausama once for 5 yards, #8 Morell 5 for 13 yards and 1 TD, #22 Rakeem Crawford 7 for 25 yards, and #21 Lagow 4 for -13 yards . . . #19 Merrill was 5 for 5 on PAT’ for the evening.

Odds & Ends- It appeared the Wildcats offense moved the ball 444 yards, 248 in the air and 196 rushing . . .  they had 22 first downs. . .  3 team penalties for 15 yards . . . 1 fumble, but recovered.

Running Score: Q1- Plano 14, IrvMac 0; Q2- Plano 14, IrvMac 14; Q3- Plano 14, IrvMac 14; Final- Plano 35, IrvMac 14.

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Plano Up In Ranking; Eckeberger Honorable Mention

By on August 29, 2011 in '11 Fall Season

The Dallas Morning News noticed Plano’s performance on Friday night and moved the Wildcats up from #16 to #13 in its Area Top 20 Ranking. Plano continues to be the sole PISD school in the DMN Top 20.

The Dallas Morning News also recognized Plano linebacker/kicker/punter Cole Eckeberger with an Honorable Mention – Defensive Player Of The Week for his 53-yard interception for a touchdown and his 3 tackles against Garland Lakeview Centennial.

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56-0: An Embarrassment Of Riches

By on August 27, 2011 in '11 Fall Season

One of the Wildcat varsity player goals for the August 26 game against Garland Lakeview Centennial was to exceed Plano JV’s 43-0 winning margin earned the previous day. Mission accomplished.

In the debut game for the 2011 varsity season the Wildcats were relentless on both sides of the ball, proving early in the first quarter the team can field a stifling defense and versatile offense. With 6 penalties for 60 yards, you can’t say they were flawless (someone will be running extra on Monday) but you can feel good about this 2011 team and the play-calling from the coaches.

Leading 34-0 going into the third quarter, astute fans could see that the coaching staff was expanding playtime deep into the depth chart, including the first varsity play for freshman quarterback Christian Hutzler, wearing #28 on varsity. But reaching deep and broadly into the roster didn’t stop the offense nor dilute the defense.

QB #21 Richard Lagow looks to the ref for confirmation of his TD on a QB-keeper./Photo by Thad Fenton.

Plano’s starting offense under junior #21 Richard Lagow as quarterback made big plays on the ground and in the air, with Lagow himself scoring a TD on a short QB keeper. Senior #19 Kevin Merrill showed his versatility, keeping busy receiving, rushing, kicking and punting. As did senior #32 Cole Eckeberger who, on defense, turned an interception into a TD and also took turns kicking and punting.

The Wildcats defense put the Patriots offense back on its heels early in the first quarter, then scored later in the game with Eckeberger’s interception for

#32 Cole Eckeberger intercepts, then runs it in for a TD./Photo by Thad Fenton.

TD and a punt return for a TD by senior #25 L.J. Ausama.

You can’t say Centennial didn’t try.

The end of the second quarter was capped by an effective drive by the Patriots deep into the red zone, but they couldn’t get the ball across the goal line despite a pass interference call against Plano as the buzzer sounded, giving Centennial an un-timed but unsuccessful second try to complete a pass into the end zone.

Centennial also made headway with a fake punt play that salvaged a drive. And their replacement quarterback began to connect successfully with some regularity in the second half. But it was too little, much too late.

Offensive highlights from the stands (unofficial)- QB’s on passing, #21 Richard Lagow was 8 of 15 for 106 yards, 0 Int; #28 Christian Hutzler was 1 for 1

#19 Kevin Merrill scored on offense & on special teams./Photo by Thad Fenton.

for 7 yards, 0 Int . . . Receiving: #25 L.J. Ausama 3 for 61 and a TD, #19 Kevin Merrill 1 for 24 and a TD, freshman #16 Mitchell Hansen 2 for 16 and a TD, senior #24 Hunter Gore 1 for 4, senior #5 Jake DiNucci 1 for 7, and senior #22 Rakeem Crawford 1 for 1 . . . Rushing: senior #22 Rakeem Crawford 13 for 125 yards and a TD, #19 Kevin Merrill 9 for 93 and a TD, #21 Richard Lagow 3 for 1 and a TD.

Defensive highlights from the stands (unofficial)- –SHUTOUT– . . . Interceptions: #32 Cole Eckeberger 1 for 45 yards and a TD, senior #4 Tyler Grant 1 for 39, and #5 Jake DiNucci 1 with no extra yards . . . #25 L.J. Ausama 46 yard punt return for a TD, #4 Tyler Grant with a 30 yard punt return . . . Tackles for loss by junior #36 Brandon Laures, #32 Cole Eckeberger, senior #15 Sam Parks, senior #43 Dylan Rich, junior #Matt Hintz, #5 Jake DiNucci, and senior #11 Blake Hutzler . . . Sacks – it appeared senior #12 Xavier Harbert got one and shared one with senior #88 Dwayne Hicks.

Final Score- Plano Wildcats – 56, Garland Lakeview Centennial Patriots – 0.
How our neighbors fared - Plano East lost to Arlington in OT, 49-42; Plano West lost to Arlington Martin 45-7.

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Pre-Season Interview: Defensive Coordinator Chris Fisher

By on August 18, 2011 in '11 Fall Season

In addition to talking with the Head Coach on August 15, we also had the opportunity to talk with Chris Fisher, Wildcats football Defensive Coordinator.

Coach Fisher stepped into this role last May when Clint Stewart stepped down from all coaching duties to focus on his health. Since that time, Coach Fisher has expanded his coaching scope from defensive backs to the entire defensive squad. We wanted to hear from Coach Fisher about this change and challenge. The following is an excerpt from that interview.

Wildcats football Defensive Coordinator Chris Fisher gathers the defense for instruction./Photo by Thad Fenton.

Coach Fisher, this is your first season as Defensive Coordinator – what’s your philosophy coming into this?

Well, really, it’s going to be ‘Don’t fix something that isn’t broken.’ Our defense has been tremendous ever since I’ve been at Plano, and this is my ninth year. Scott Smith laid the foundation and Clint Stewart took it to a whole new level. For me, it’s to make sure we’re true to what we’re built on. We’re going to be a defense that lines up right, we’re going to play hard, and we’re going to play fundamentally sound. And if I can get the kids to do that, that’s going to be successful because we have very talented athletes on our team. If we can get them lined up and get them where they’re supposed to be, their talent and ability will take care of the rest.

You’ve only had one week of formal practice, and had a little opportunity to see them at 7-on7. With the little time that you have had to observe and coach them, do you see areas that need filling?

Sure, at linebacker and defensive back. Those are the questions that have to be answered first. We do not have any starters who are returning in those positions, and I think what we’ve seen at camp is the older players come to the front, saying kind of ‘This is my time, I’m going to win this job.’

We’ve got three potential senior starting linebackers in Sam Parks, Cole Eckeberger and Bobby Geibler, and potentially they could do it. Now, they’ve got young kids breathing down their necks and if the young kids are ready first, well, then they’re going to play.

In the back half, Marcus Davis is a player that really intrigues me. His athleticism is something we haven’t had in that position for a real long time. He’s a ball-hawk and a real go-getter. I think at corner we’re very athletic and physical with Tyler Grant and Sean Oliver. I think they’re going to give us a lot of benefits where we can mix-up coverages. Also, I think sophomores Austin Connell and David Griffith, they’re going to play and they’re going to have to acclimate quickly. As you know, in this district, at the level of competition we play in, they don’t give you chance to get your feet wet. You have to jump in with both feet and you’re going to sink or swim. But I have all the confidence in the world in these guys.

With the current changes in coaching staff, and changes in coaching assignments, do you see any change in the way the team will play style-wise this season from past years?

I can see it already, especially in the secondary. I’m very fortunate that I have an offensive coordinator and a wide receivers coach coaching our secondary. Half the job of a defensive coordinator is to stop the pass. Well, I have two offensive-minds that know how to give offenses fits because they’ve seen it and had to adapt to defenses themselves. Coach Richardson, Coach Purcell, what a tremendous gift to have on the defensive side of the ball because I think their insight is going to give us a different look, a different view of how you attack offenses. And of then course, Coach May and Coach Thomas, what a wealth of information out of those two guys. Coach Thomas has seen and done it all, literally. Coach May learned under Sam Shields, learned how to coach defensive ends. I couldn’t be more fortunate coming into this position with these guys around me. Those guys are the nuts and bolts of this thing, and we’re going to be successful because of them.

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West blanks JV, 26-0

By on November 5, 2010 in '10 Fall Season

Plano West scored touchdowns in each quarter Thursday and shut down Plano’s offense as the junior varsity season came to a close on the Wildcats 26-0 loss at John Clark Stadium.

Luke Cashman hit Connor Doyle on a touchdown pass with 5:38 left in the first quarter and it was all Plano West would need to seal a win in its season finale, as Plano’s offense was unable to reach the end zone.

That inability to get going helped set up the second Plano West score when off a short punt the team scored on a Sean Sodjie run on the first play of the series with 7:31 left in the first half. But, a missed field goal at the end of second quarter left Plano with a chance to rally in the second half, down 14-0.

Plano West put the game away with rushing scores in the third and fourth quarter.

Of specific note, Greg Peterson was given an opportunity to demonstrate his versatility in the season finale. He took snaps at quarterback, but also punted and returned a kickoff. The team played the final game without the services of punter/kicker Cole Eckeberger.

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