Bill Lidinsky Web Page
Reapers Rumble Through Amboy
Defense Keys 3A Quarterfinals
By Bill Lidinsky
For the past couple of weeks during the IHSA Class 3A playoffs the big question in regards to the top ranked Plano High School football team was where’s the ‘D’?
Uncharacteristically through the opening two rounds of the playoffs, the Reapers had given up a total of 51 points. During nine weeks of the regular season Plano had allowed only 69.
So something seemed amiss in Reaper Nation going into Saturday afternoon’s 3A quarterfinal clash at Amboy.
But the Plano defense most definitively put to rest any notion they might be ailing. Limiting the Clippers to just 108 yards in total offense and capitalizing on two fumble recoveries and three interceptions the Reaper Nation defenders re emerged with their usual ‘Doberman’ like tenacity during a 49-0 destruction of Amboy.
Next up on Plano’s march to a 3A title game is a semifinal matchup Saturday at home against defending champion Bureau Valley (12-0) who was also a quarterfinal winner 28-0 at Hamilton-Hancock County.
“Coming off a week like we had last week when we gave up 37 points to Westmont we knew we were going to have to rededicate ourselves,” said Plano senior standout Nick Nasti. “We knew we’d have to be ready to play Amboy who had averaged 46 points through their first two playoff games. We were ready and stepped up our game to where it should be defensively.”
This week it was Plano’s offensive side that didn’t start so well turning the ball over twice in the first quarter on a Nasti fumble and quarterback Brook Bott’s interception. But the defense was electric and held Amboy without a first down in the opening period while rendering Clipper star running back Daniel Saunders virtually useless with bone crushing hit after hit.
“Brook did a great job coming up from the safety spot today with some great shots. But our linebackers were outstanding this afternoon and when they are on like they were today, we’re tough to run against,” said Plano head football coach Jim Green.
Amboy could only muster 46 rushing yards on the game, while Saunders was stymied with only 25 on 17 carries.
The Reaper Nation rushing engine finally got started up at the end of the first quarter on Nasti’s six-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 with 52 seconds left. Plano then followed that with junior Luis Alvarado’s 11-yard run at 11:38 of the second period on the first play following senior defensive lineman Ben Quintero’s punt block that stunned the Clippers and gave Plano and Alvarado the offensive opportunity.
“I got in there real quick. I didn’t know what was going on but had the right angle,” Quintero said. “It (the ball) hit me in the face mask. I saw it and probably would have picked it up but I didn’t know if anyone was around.”
With the Reapers up 14-0 another defensive gem as senior defensive back Josh O’Hara picked off Amboy quarterback Derek Lovgren. The Reapers then turned it into another score courtesy of Nasti’s one-yard plunge at 4:35 to make the score 21-0.
Senior running back Jared Ferguson then added the final Plano touchdown of the first half on a five-yard run with :26 seconds to go before halftime and the Reapers were rolling up 28-0. It was Ferguson’s first game back after missing the first two weeks of the playoffs with mononucleosis.
“I’m back and I feel better than ever,” Ferguson said. “We took it up a notch today and once we got rolling there was no stopping us.”
After another O’Hara interception on Amboy’s first series of the second half, Ferguson scored his second touchdown on a 22-yard gallop to make the score 35-0 at 10:09.
And just a couple of minutes later after the Reaper defense again stiffened, Nasti registered his third touchdown of the afternoon on a 39-yard rumble at 7:37 to go up 42-0.
The running clock then ensued as Plano was on cruise control. Senior Josh Wright chipped in with a pick that set up the Reapers final score which came on a 46-yard touchdown run by junior Jared Schimandle on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Reaper Nation the 49-point win.
Plano (12-0) piled up 432 yards in offense all on the ground. Nasti led the way with 126 yards on 18 carries, while Ferguson notched 91 on 10 totes. But it was the defense that really set the tone on the day,
“We committed ourselves to a great defensive effort this week and it paid off big time,” Bott said. “Now we’re ready for Bureau Valley at our place next week in the semis where we lost last year down at Tolono. We won’t lose at home. It’s just not going to happen. We remember how bad it felt last season. We want to be playing in Champaign the day after Thanksgiving. We’re going to make that a reality this year.”
Archive Stories
Westmont Playoff PreGame 11/2/06
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
This site is NOT affiliated with Plano High School,
it's Administrators, Faculty, Coaches or Athlete's, nor is it an expression
of their thoughts, views, ideas or opinions. This unoffical site is independently
maintained soley by a 1980 Alumni who happens to believe that if you are
a true Reaper Fan you do bleed Purple and White! This site is for enjoyment
only!