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Friday, August 1, 2008
Wildcard Wildcats
Collin County, TX
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Photo(s) By: Louis DeLuca
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Is Plano primed to knock off defending district champ Allen?
Two new teams join the newly numbered district, but two old heavyweights figure to punch it out for the District 8-5A title.
McKinney Boyd makes the move up from Class 4A and Jesuit transfers over to what was formerly known as District 9-5A and they will find the rejuvenated and state-ranked Plano Wildcats and the explosive Allen Eagles who are hungry to put last season’s first-round playoff upset loss behind them. Plano West and Wylie are both hoping to build momentum off last year’s playoff berths. Plano East, meanwhile, is talented enough to fly under the preseason radar and return to the playoffs after a year’s absence.
Allen Eagles
Coach: Tom Westerberg
2007 Record: 10-1, DI bi-district qualifier
Returning Lettermen: 47
Returning Starters: 6 Off./7 Def.
Players to watch: QB Matt Brown, WR Uzoma Nwachukwu, RB Jeremiah Williams, CB Jeremy Reeves, OL Cody Milam, DL Nate Bonsu, DB Steven Terrell, LB Matt McBride, RB Bradlee Waddell, OL Justin Esparza, DL LaChris Anyiam, DL Cory Jackson, LB Jason Butler, DB, Kenon Turner, LB Cheyenne Urban, OL Luke Burleson, OL Taylor Pearson, LB Melvin Spears, OL Brad McNulty
Outlook: The Eagles lost a boatload of talent to graduation but should still contend for the district title and be one of the area’s strongest teams. Brown, who passed for more than 2,400 yards and 25 TDs, and rushed for another 900 yards and 10 TDs as a sophomore quarterback, once again will be the key to Allen’s attack. Brown lost favorite target Dan Buckner to the Texas Longhorns, but will find Nwachukwu (22 rec., 6 TDs) open often. Williams (5-11, 180) also returns, giving Allen’s spread offense a rusher to reckon with having gained more than 800 yards in 2007. The Eagles’ defense returns seven starters including Terrell who will solidify the secondary against what’s turning into a pass-happy district.
Jesuit Rangers
Coach: Bob Wunderlick
2007 Record: 6-5, DII bi-district qualifier
Returning Lettermen: 18
Returning Starters: 8 Off./ 1 Def.
Players to watch: OL Brandon Haynes, QB Brent Miller, OL Eric Tausch, K/P Nick Tausch, DT Patrick Beachner, , DE Chuka Ndulue, WR Matthew Brooks, DB Brian Wetzel, RB Kyle Van de Ven, DT Cole Joiner, TE Jake Allyn, FB Sam Crain, CB C.J. Haley, LB Benn Donnelli, C Patrick Rhatican, WR Jamil Bailey, DT Jacob Blakely, QB Jackson Oliver, OT Sean Harris, LB Jack Percy, OT Bill Vertin, S Reed Brezette
Outlook: The Rangers will rely on experienced offense anchored by all-district performers Haynes and Tausch on the offensive line, making room for Miller and Van de Ven. Miller passed for almost 1,500 yards and 11 TDs last season. Allyn will be one of his top targets. The Rangers’ defense will have to grow up fast, returning only one starter. Beachner (five sacks) and Donnelli (three sacks) can help the group by providing pressure up front.
McKinney Boyd Broncos
Coach: Don Drake
2007 Record: 9-4, 4A DI state quarterfinalist
Returning Lettermen: 30
Returning Starters: 8 Off./5 Def.
Players to watch: QB Daryn Alves, TE Cameron Maser, DB Parker Boleneus, OLB Zack Adamczyk, RB Joseph Robinson, RB Montarius Pittman, OT Brent Wyke, OT William Smalley, DL Keith Owens
Outlook: The Broncos went from the outhouse to penthouse in 2007, following up an 0-10 2006 debut with a 9-4 record and district title in only the school’s second year. The Broncos offense should be up for the Class 5A jump. Alves produced an amazing 3,800 yards of offense and 43 TDs last season as a sophomore. He lost his top receiver, Jeff Fuller, to Texas A&M, but will look often to all-district TE Maser. Boleneus, an all-district pick, Owens and Adamczky will anchor a Broncos defense faced with the task of stopping some outrageous offenses in district play.
Plano Wildcats
Coach: Jaydon McCullough
2007 Record: 13-2, DI semifinalist
Returning Lettermen: 20
Returning Starters: 4 Off./6 Def.
Players to watch: RB Rex Burkhead, QB Carson Meger, WR Kris Lott, OL/DL Hanur Kim, RB/DB LaRon Kelly, RB/DB Jared Kirchmier, RB/DB Brandon McCalister, RB/DB Darryl Ferguson, OL/DL Jordan Talley, OL/DL Justin Boyde, WR/DB Justin Collins, WR/DB, Andrew Caufman, TE/DE, Preston Leahy, WR/DB Spencer Umoh, WR/LB Holt Hoetger, QB/LB Reid Lyness.
Outlook: The Wildcats return much of the talented core that fought eventual Class 5A DI champion Trinity into overtime before falling in the semifinals. Longtime assistant coach Jaydon McCullough takes over from Gerald Brence, now PISD athletic director, and figures to continue pumping up the passing game. Meger, who passed for 3,342 yards and 23 TDs, and Burkhead transformed into one of the area’s most explosive 1-2 punches on the ground and in the air. Lott (69 rec., 1,127 yards, 9 TDs) also returns as a clutch receiver. Six starters return from a defense that was underrated last season.
Plano East Panthers
Coach: Johnny Ringo
2007 Record: 6-4
Returning Lettermen: 16
Returning Starters: 6 Off./3 Def.
Players to watch: RB Toben Opurum, DB Josh Peprah, OT Chase Howland, OT Clark Cregg, WR/DB Rodney Thompson, LB/TE Logan Renau, LB Conrad Bongo, RB D’Lyle Washington, DB Lyndell Johnson, DL Jacob Brendel, OLB Alex Broom, OL Brogan Halloran, DE Cody Scherer, DL Blake Shuler, OL Jack Ivers, OL T.C. Riley, LB Brandon Green, WR Derrick Johnson
Outlook: The Panthers success story will come from the offensive backfield where they must find a replacement for quarterback Riko Smalls who graduated to the Virginia Cavaliers. East featured three quarterbacks with no varsity experience in the spring – Ryan Foster, Jake Montgomery and Brandon Wesley. Foster may have the edge heading into preseason scrimmages. Whoever quarterbacks East will benefit from all-district performer Opurum, who combined for more than 1,000 rushing and receiving yards and 10 TDs last season. The East defense will feature district newcomer of the year Brendel, Peprah and Bongo.
Plano West Wolves
Coach: Mike Hughes
2007 Record: 6-5, DII bi-district qualifier
Returning Lettermen: 14
Returning Starters: 3 Off./4 Def.
Players to watch: DE Jackson Jeffcoat, QB Travis Wilson, RB D.J. Cohen, FS J.T. Thomas, C Andrew Mack, DT Ameer Behbahani, K/P Chase Hover, OL Chase White, LB Nathan Broussard, WR Denzel Love, QB John Peloza, QB Michael Pruneau
Outlook: Plano’s Westside is also looking for a new quarterback. Wilson, a senior, will be the Wolves’ starter in August, but juniors Peloza and Pruneau could see some action early on. Cohen is projected to get the majority of the carries out of the backfield, having rushed for more than 500 yards and 4 TDs last season. Mack (6-3, 270) will anchor the offensive line. Jeffcoat (6-4, 230, 4.7), one of the district’s dominating defenders as a sophomore, and Behbahani (6-2, 260) return to a defense adept at stopping the run.
Wylie Pirates
Coach: Bill Howard
2007 Record: 5-6, DII bi-district qualifier
Returning Lettermen: 19
Returning Starters: 5 Off./8 Def.
Players to watch: QB Jerod Monk, NT Nikita Whitlock, OL Michael Boyefio, OL Heath Smith, DB Daniel Jordan, DB Alan Menchaca, DT John Pittman, RB/TE Noah Cheshier, DB Derek Love, LB Toby Ball, WR Justin Thompson, WR Colby Harper, DT Colton Whitehead, LB Izzy Eziakor, K Zac Ohannesian
Outlook: The Pirates experienced a breakthrough season in 2007, upsetting their way to a playoff berth in a very tough district and the return of two of 8-5A’s best players has Wylie fans wanting more. Monk passed for more than 1,800 yards and nine TDs, and rushed for another 3904 yards and 8 TDs last season. Harper, Thompson and Cheshier also provide multiple options in the Pirates’ spread offense. Boyefio (6-2, 285, 5.1) and Smith (6-2, 294, 5.2) anchor the offensive line. District defensive player of the year Whitlock (5-11, 235 4.8), often dominates the line of scrimmage. Pittman and Whitehead round out what should be a formidble D-line. Top district newcomer Ball could help make the Wylie defense one of the district’s most surprising units.
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