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Plano
Prevails with ‘Sloppy’ Win
Nasti Muds Out 300 Yards Rushing In Playoff Opener
By Bill Lidinsky
After the last few days of consistent rain, the gridiron playing surface at
Plano’s Reaper Stadium was suspect at best. Unfortunately, at times for
the hosts, so was their much heralded play as the Plano High School varsity
football team opened up the initial week of the IHSA Class 3A playoff.
Reaper Nation came into the post season as the No. 1 ranked team in the 32 team
3A field with a 9-0 record and faced a 5-4 squad from Lisle High School that
just barely squeaked into the second season.
Back on Aug. 25, Plano easily defeated Lisle 42-0 during the first week of Interstate
Eight Conference play. But Friday night’s contest against the Lions would
prove to be a much more difficult task for the Reapers.
Behind a monster 29 carry, 307 yard rushing performance by senior running back
Nick Nasti, Plano overcame an overall ‘sloppy’ performance, turnovers,
and a boat load of penalties, to come away with a 31-14 opening round playoff
victory.
“It was a dogfight tonight. We knew they were going to be a much improved
team, over the one we saw back in week one and they proved it,” Nasti
said. “We certainly didn’t play our best game at all, but especially
on defense the field conditions were bad. Our linebackers couldn’t get
any footing. It was hard to shed blocks. That’s no excuse for some of
the mistakes we made tonight, but it was really hard to play on this surface
tonight.”
The Plano defense struggled right out of the box and Lisle actually drew first
blood on the very first series of the game.
With the aid of two big Reaper penalties, the Lions drove the ball 77 yards
in 10 plays and scored on senior Josh McLeod’s 8-yard touchdown run at
7:51 of the first period. The point after kick was good and shockingly Lisle
took a 7-0 lead.
“I told everybody that Lisle would come ready to play tonight and they
proved it on their very first possession,” said Plano head football coach
Jim Green. “They took it right at us and from their we knew we’d
have to respond and wake up.”
And wake up the Reapers did in a hurry on the very next possession. On the second
play from scrimmage, Nasti bounced out around the left side and rambled 71-yards
for the touchdown at 6:56 of the first quarter. Sophomore kicker Kevin Jernigan’s
kick was true and the game was tied at seven.
Plano survived a botched punt and a Lisle fumble recovery to enter the second
quarter deadlocked at seven apiece.
And on their first possession of the second quarter, Reaper Nation put together
a prolonged drive that was capped by Nasti’s 21-yard touchdown run at
7:36. The point after kick was blocked and Plano led 13-7.
After holding Lisle defensively, Plano scored once again off a five play 73-yard
drive that took up only two minutes and 21 seconds.
Senior quarterback Brook Bott gave Nasti a breather and swept out on the right
sideline for a 56-yard touchdown run with 2:06 to go in the first half. The
two-point conversion failed and Plano led 19-7. That would be the score going
into the locker room at the half.
“We didn’t play the best first half, but we were able to score twice
in the second quarter to put us up at the halftime,” said Bott. “On
my touchdown, Matt Smith made one heck of a block. It was one of the best blocks
I’ve seen in awhile and I was able to take it all the way. Just great
blocking by Matt and my teammates. Seemed like we had the momentum going from
there.”
Nasti totaled 158 yards rushing in the first half, but Plano had difficulty
maintain that momentum in the third quarter.
After a Nasti fumble late in the third period in his own territory, Lisle struck
on the very next play. Quarterback Ryan Husch hit wideout Kyle Kovich on a 30-yard
scoring strike at 2:33. The point after kick was good and the Lions had pulled
to within five at 19-14.
But Nasti took over once again in the fourth quarter. At 7:14 of the period
he scored on a six-yard bash through the middle. The two-point conversion failed
and Plano led 25-14.
Then on Lisle’s next series, Nasti recovered a fumble on the Lion 11 yard
line and promptly followed with his fourth touchdown of the night, this time
coming on an 11-yard gallop.
Jernigan’s point after kick missed, but Plano had taken a 31-14 lead with
6:21 left in the game and Lisle couldn’t recover from there. Plano senior
Victor Diaz added an interception on Lisle’s next possession and Reaper
Nation now moves on to the second round of the 3A playoffs despite a somewhat
shaky performance.
“I don’t know if it was a matter of taking them lightly. I’m
not sure whether we had it up their mentally that they were most definitely
going to challenge us,” Green said. “They played awfully well. Hopefully
that wasn’t some wake up call that we needed, because we really need to
be ready now to play our best football each and every week from here on out.”
Nasti’s usual running mate, senior Jared Ferguson, missed the majority
of Friday’s game suffering from a slight case of mononucleosis. Ferguson
will be evaluated as this next week moves on, but his absence against Lisle
deprived Plano of one of their best offensive weapons.
“Fergy just didn’t have it tonight. We’ll try to get him some
rest next week and see what happens,” Green said. “But we have to
be ready to go next week with or without him.”
Plano now moves on to the second round of the 3A playoffs to take on the winner
of Saturday’s opening round matchup between Aurora Christian and Westmont.
If Westmont wins, the Reapers play host to the Sentinels next Friday. If Aurora
Christian is victorious, Plano will travel to Mooseheart Stadium next Saturday
afternoon to take on the Eagles.
“We’d love to get the road game out of the way early because we’d
more than likely host the quarterfinals and the semifinals at Reaper Stadium
if we were to win,” Green said. “But either way we have to come
prepared. We can’t have any sloppy play or take anyone lightly. It’s
playoff time now and everyone will be ready to play us.”
Archive Stories
Lisle Playoff PreGame 10/24/06
Seneca at Plano Preview- 9/14/06
"Reaper Nation Vs Tribe" - 8/30/06
Plano Hires New Bastkball Coach
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