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Plano
High School Varsity Football
2005-2006 Year In Review Highlights
By Bill Lidinsky
Football 2005
1) The Best Was Yet To Come
Despite a tough 7-6 defeat to Coal City in week one of the 2005 campaign, the
Plano High School varsity football team was just getting started on what would
prove to be a truly magical season. The loss launched the Reapers into the rarefied
air of gridiron success not seen at Plano since 1980. (August 26, 2005)
2) Nasti Is Nice
Plano junior standout, fullback Nick Nasti, followed up a 35 carry, 330 yard
five touchdown explosion in week two of the 2005 football campaign by toting
the ball 24 times for 203 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-14 week three victory
over arch rival Sandwich. Nasti completed 05 with 1,693 total yards rushing
on 242 carries and 23 touchdowns. (September 9, 2005)
3) Reaper Nation Is Born
Most onlookers believe that Plano’s 27-24 overtime victory at Wilmington
in week five gave birth to a community mindset called Reaper Nation. Junior
quarterback Brook Bott’s patented “17 Keeper” play for a touchdown
in the extra session not only gave Plano their fourth straight victory but they
also broke Wilmington’s 32 game Interstate Eight Conference winning streak.
(September 23, 2005)
4) Feels Like The First Time
With a 39-12 win at Peotone, Plano climbed the mountain to win their eighth
game in a row and secured the title as champions of the Interstate Eight Conference
with an 8-1 mark.
The victory also assured the Reapers of smooth sailing into their first IHSA
playoff birth in 25 years. (October 21, 2005)
5) Second Time Is Even Sweeter
Plano used a stifling defensive effort to defeat Wilmington for the second time
in 2005. This time the score was 21-7 and came in the second round of the IHSA
3A playoffs.
Defensive linemen Jake Wilson, Jacob Goldsmith, and Ben Quintero accounted for
six sacks on the night that saw the Reapers turn the visiting Wildcats into
kittens for the second time in 05. (November 5, 2005)
6) Big Players Make Big Plays In Big Games
Plano senior standout Alex Jensen made Immaculate Conception know which player
stood the largest on this day. Jensen was “electric” in scoring
on a kickoff runback of 75-yards and an interception return of touchdown 67-yards
as the Reapers won their third straight 3A playoff game this time on the road
41-21 against the Knights of I.C. Jensen’s heroics propelled Plano into
the state semifinals just two wins shy of a championship. (November 12, 2005)
7) Reaper Nation Mourns A Loss
Despite leading 20-17 with only one quarter left to a state championship appearance,
Plano wore down in the face of a bigger and stronger opponent at Tolono Unity
High School.
The Rockets blitzed the Reapers for 11 fourth quarter points to win 31-20 and
end Reaper Nation’s dream of a 3A state championship. Plano finished the
year at 11-2. (November 19, 2005)
8) You Will Be Remembered And Missed
Plano 2005 senior football players Jacob Goldsmith, Alex Jensen, Ryan O’Hara,
Kevin Klingberg, Nick Preston, Josh Hamman, Andy Hubbartt, Alex Cadena, Seth
Smith, David Johnson. Tim Helmers, Tony Warren, Forest Jones, Jake Wilson, Matt
Kassinger, Roy Garibay, and Scott Hogan will always be remembered as being a
part of a very special team that defined “Reaper Nation” and gave
the city of Plano something to be proud of. They will be missed in 2006.
Goldsmith, Jensen, Klingberg, O’Hara, and Wilson were selected as unanimous
Interstate Eight All Conference players along with juniors Nick Nasti, Brook
Bott, Victor Diaz, and Ben Quintero. All of the above were honored at a gala
celebrating the achievements of this unforgettable team. (December 3, 2005)
Plano High School Varsity Basketball
2005-06 Year In Review
By Bill Lidinsky
1) Welcome Back
Three days earlier Plano High School head basketball coach Nate Spriggs was
wondering how he would compete during the annual Sandwich Thanksgiving hoop
tourney with eight of his varsity players still competing in the IHSA 3A football
semifinals.
Unfortunately for the Reaper gridiron squad, they failed to advance to the state
championship and were quickly thrust into the role of playing basketball which
proved fortunate for Spriggs and the hoopsters at Sandwich.
Senior Alex Jensen quickly transitioned back to the hardcourt averaging 14 points
during the five game tournament that saw Plano start the year at 2-3 despite
very little practice for most of the team. (November 21-26, 2005)
2) Reapers Shine At The “Classic”
After losing their opening round game, the hosts of the annual 16 team Christmas
Tournament put together three straight wins including a 63-57 victory over arch
rival Sandwich in the Consolation Championship game.
The performance at the Classic would serve as the high point for the Reapers
in 05-06 during a year that was filled with ups and downs. (December 27-30,
2005)
3) No Shame In This Loss
The Reapers concluded their season with a 70-51 loss to Seneca in the IHSA Class
A regional semifinals.
Plano actually hung tough with the eventual 35-0 state champion Irish while
scoring the most points (51) against the powerful squad that hadn’t given
up more than 46 in any one game during their run to the title.
Plano finished their year with a 12-17 overall record and a 5-9 mark in the
Interstate Eight Conference. Senior Alex Jensen was an unanimous choice for
I-8 All Conference honors and along with senior Will Brown represented the Reapers
as the two Plano representatives on the IEC senior All Star team. (February
23, 2006)
Plano
High School Varsity Baseball
2005-06 Year In Review
By Bill Lidinsky
1) Clean Sweep
Plano concluded their year long dominance over powerful Wilmington with two
victories in baseball. The 2-0 and 15-8 wins on the ball diamond over the defending
IHSA Class A champions completed the Reaper’s clean sweep of victories
over the Wildcats in all three major boys sports, football, basketball, and
baseball. (March 31, 2006)
2) Break The Curse
It had been almost four full seasons and eight straight games since the Plano
High School varsity baseball team has tasted victory against their arch rival
and neighbor Sandwich on the ball diamond.
But senior center fielder Matt Priesman put an emphatic end to that. Priesman
was an impressive four-for-four at the plate with three runs scored and five
RBI’s including a fifth inning grand slam that gave the Reapers and head
coach Jim Schmidt a 17-7 triumph for the first time over the Indians since 2002.
(April 20, 2006)
3) Tough Way To Go Out
Plano ended their season with a 10-0 six inning loss to Reed-Custer in the Class
A regional semifinals after rallying for a 8-7 come from behind victory over
Earlville in the regional quarterfinals.
The Reapers closed 2006 out with a 16-21 overall record and a 5-9 seventh place
finish in the Interstate Eight Conference. Senior Matt Priesman and junior Brook
Bott were unanimous choices to be among the top 20 players in the I-8 as All
Conference selections.