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Friday, August 1, 2008
Zero Week Fireworks
Collin County, TX
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Photo(s) By: Kyle Danztler/MyActionPortraits.com
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The Tom Landry Classic will kick off the 2008 season with a bang
In the spirit of its namesake, this year’s Tom Landry Classic will showcase four of the area’s best teams kicking off the 2008 Texas high school football season. Class 5A’s Plano West Wolves will face off against the Highland Park Scots in the first game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus at SMU, followed by a Class 4A showdown between Highland Park and Red Oak.
Entering its ninth year, the Landry Classic and its corporate sponsors have awarded more than $340,000 in scholarships and assistance to game-day participants including players, trainers, band and spirit members from participating schools.
The Landry Classic has developed a reputation for producing offensive fireworks and down-to-the-wire finishes. Here’s a preview of this year’s featured matchups:
Plano West vs. Southlake Carroll, 4:30 p.m.
Plano West Wolves
Coach Mike Hughes and his Plano West program are used to taking on tough opponents in pressure games, having played in one of the toughest football districts in the state. The Wolves finished 6-5 last season, but only lost one game to a non-playoff team. Such has been the life in District 9-5A – newly renumbered as District 8-5A this season. The Wolves earned a playoff berth with a last-minute touchdown pass and hope that momentum carries over in 2008.
On Offense: The Wolves are looking for a new quarterback. Senior Travis Wilson, a senior, is slotted to be the Wolves’ starter, but juniors John Peloza and Michael Pruneau could see some action early on. D.J. Cohen returns at running back having rushed for more than 500 yards and 4 TDs last season.
On Defense: Junior Jackson Jeffcoat has entrenched himself as one of the area’s most dominating defenders. The defensive end earned second-team All-State honors as a sophomore and will supply pressure in the pocket and against the run. At 6-2, 260, defensive tackle Ameer Behbahani has the size and quickness to clog any line of scrimmage.
Southlake Carroll Dragons
The legendary Carroll program suffered a gut-wrenching end to the 2007 season with a loss to Abilene in the region finals. Coach Hal Wasson has the Dragons looking to get back to the state finals where they had won three straight championships from 2004 through 2006. The Dragons have won seven state championships in all.
On Offense: Riley Dodge has graduated to the University of North Texas, so senior Kyle Padron takes over the high-powered Dragons offense. He’ll work with a new group of receivers including Ryan Blair, Dillon Powell, Ryan Walker and Josh Popkin. Running back Tommy Ayers is expected to step into the void left by Tre Newton who now plays at Texas.
On Defense: Often overshadowed by the glitz of the Carroll offense, defense is not a four-letter word in Southlake. The Dragons should be strong up front with senior tackles Brayden Burnett and Jackson Richards. Michael Bankston and Ben Perry will work into the rotation of defensive ends.
Wolves-Dragons Notes: Carroll fans are hoping this year’s visit to Gerald J. Ford Stadium turns out better than their last game there. The Dragons had their 49-game winning streak ended by Miami Northwestern, 29-21, in front of 31,896 spectators last season…The Wolves and Dragons could face each again early in the playoffs now that the latest UIL realignment moved West’s district from Region II to Region I, which the Dragons still reside…Realignment also altered West’s district schedule, making it even tougher. The Richardson schools are gone, but the Wolves will face two more 2007 playoff teams in McKinney Boyd and Jesuit.
Highland Park vs. Red Oak, 7:30 p.m.
Highland Park Scots
Highland Park is reloading after narrowly missing out on a state title in 2007. Another deep playoff run might ease the pain of the 36-34 heartbreaking los to Lake Travis in the Class 4A state finals. Coach Randy Allen will get his first look at several newcomers anxious to step in and lead the Scots back to the postseason.
On Offense: Quarterback William Gamso may be on the Ford Stadium turf come Aug. 30, but he won’t be wearing an HP uniform. Gamso is now flinging the ball for SMU. The Scots are looking for his heir apparent from among Luke Woodley, Jake Howeth and Dillon Zweifel. Bryan Dickenson is Highland Park’s top returning running back. Austin Mai is the Scots’ most experienced receiver.
On Defense: The Scots return just two starters on defense, strong safety Jeffrey Howeth and cornerback Matt Bonano.
Red Oak Hawks
Red Oak became one of the state’s best Cinderella stories in 2007. Coach Mike Shields led the Hawks to a 10-3 season and the DII region finals. The Hawks not only won their first district game in four years, but also ended a 23-year-old playoff drought. While the Hawks have graduated 27 seniors, they are still predicted to return to the playoffs.
On Offense: Running back Nic Boyd established himself as one of the area’s big-time playmakers, rushing for more than 1,500 yards and 19 TDs, and adding another 218 receiving yards and three TD catches. Grady Latimer gained valuable experience quarterbacking the Hawks in the playoffs. Seth Rushing (27 rec., 303 yards, two TDs) also returns to a receiving corps that should be boosted by talented sophomore wideout Ishmael Harrison.
On Defense: Defensive end Chris Ellison provided pressure in the pocket recording five sacks and earning first-team All-District honors. All-District free safety Victor Cooper will anchor the Hawks’ defensive backfield.
Scots-Hawks Notes: Highland Park is looking for the 700th victory in its football history…The Scots are 5-1 in past Landry Classic appearances. Highland Park outscored Stephenville, 55-42, in a 2002 shootout, and again in 2003, 45-27. The Scots narrowly lost to a loaded Denton Ryan team, 21-18, in 2005. The Scots avenged that loss the following season with a 40-14 win over Ryan and have beaten Waxahachie in each of the following two years at the Landry Classic…The Landry Classic seems to bring out the best in the Highland Park offense, having scored an average of 42 points per game…Red Oak’s dream season included several upsets of longtime rivals such as Ennis and Midlothian, a feat the Hawks won’t be allowed to repeat in 2007. UIL realignment shifted the Hawks to District 15-4A where they will play old foe Lancaster as well as West Mesquite, the team that ended their 2007 playoff run.
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