Tag Archives | Texas State 7 On 7 Football Championship Tournament

Plano Quarterback Senior Richard Lagow demonstrated poise and accuracy at the 2012 State Championship Tournament./Photo by Thad Fenton.

After winning all three games in their pool on Friday, the Wildcats didn’t miss a beat on Saturday as they defeated each team that stood between them and the first-ever 7-on-7 football State Championship for Plano Senior High.

Starting the morning against perennial fall football powerhouse Katy, the Wildcats opened up a cushion in the first half, going into the break up 20-7.   Katy came out with more offensive intensity in the second half and closed the gap, but not all the way.  The Wildcats walked from field 4A with a 33-26 victory and advanced to the next level against Cinco Ranch.

Cinco Ranch showed intensity in the first half, down by only 8 to the Wildcats at the half (Plano 21-CR 13). But the Wildcats defense played up a notch in the second half , and the offense continued to be in the groove, and Plano advanced with a 39-19 win.  This win advanced Plano to the Texas A&M football closed practice fields adjacent to Kyle Statium where the final 8 tournament teams met.

Plano’s next opponent was Terry, a relative unknown team to the Wildcats and a worthy opponent.  Both teams slugged it out the first half, scrapping to put points on the board.  At the half Plano lead 14-6.  Both teams adjusted and the second half saw more offensive success for both teams, but the Wildcats were more effective.  At the final horn Plano had a cushion with a 34-20 victory.  And with that victory the Wildcats advanced to the tournament’s final four.  A quick poll of the coaches and Plano faithful produced a consensus that this Plano team had just re-set the bar for Plano performance at a varsity 7-0n-7 state tournament.

The team and fans moved one field to the west, still in the closed practice area, to take on Arlington Bowie, a school that always plays deep at the state tournaments.  The sun was scalding at the 2:00 p.m. game start and the fans were withering.  But the Plano Wildcats were not, and they came out strong in the first half, setting Bowie back on its heals with a 25-14 lead going into the half.  Bowie adjusted and stepped up on both sides of the ball and closed the gap, holding Plano to just one TD and point-after in the second half.  But that was all the offense Plano needed, as the Wildcats defense would bend but not break.  At the final horn Plano won 32-28, and with that win earned the right to play one more game, this time on Kyle Field.

 Plano fans filtered into the stadium and climbed to the very top rows of the first level of the stadium where a narrow margin of shade could be found in the otherwise sun-bathed venue. 

The consolation bracket final game and related post-game activities pushed back the championship start time, further challenging the conditioning and stamina of the Wildcats and their opponents, Manvel.    The grass playing field in Kyle Field is surrounded by black rubber which absorbed and radiated back the sun’s energy.  It was noticably cooler on the field’s grass field, and the players for both teams were relieved when they could move to the grass at the end of the prior game.

 Plano was the visiting team for the championship game, and took the first snap.  The Wildcats offense resumed the methodical pace of play that had served them so well in the prior games, and with a well-timed interception by the Plano defense Manvel was put in a hole in the first half, going to break down to Plano 26-14.   In the second half both teams saw more success on offense, but Plano’s offense continued to “nickel and dime” Manvel’s defense, and Plano extended its lead even as Manvel’s offense put up another 14 points.  At the final horn Plano finished with a commanding 45-28 lead.

Plano players pour onto the field in jubilation as the final horn blows, sealing their 45-28 championship victory./Photo by Thad Fenton.

And with that win, the 2012 Plano Wildcats varsity 7-on-7 team goes into the record books.  Plano Senior High’s winning heritage continues.