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IHSA Class 3A Semifinal Playoff
Bureau Valley Storm at Plano Reapers
Records: Plano 12-0 overall (5-0, 1 st in I-8 Small)
Bureau Valley 12-0 overall (9-0, 1 st in Big Rivers)
Last Week: Plano 49 Amboy 0 (3A quarterfinals)
Bureau Valley 28 Hamilton 0 (3A quarterfinals)
Player To Watch: Plano all State running back Nick Nasti has 701 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns in the Reapers first three playoff games. Bureau Valley All State quarterback Garrett Barnas has rushed for more than 1,800 yards in 2006 along with 1,500 yards passing.
Plano Keys: Contain Barnas defensively in the pocket. Use ball control offense to limit his times touching the ball. Establish running game early.
Bureau Valley Keys: Shut down Nasti and Plano’s vaunted running attack. Use big plays to counter Reapers home field advantage. Keep Barnas on the field with the ball offensively as much as possible.
Plano Looks To Earn A Trip To Champaign
Reapers Hope To Weather ‘The Storm’ For Title Shot
By Bill Lidinsky
It’s been almost one year since the Plano High School varsity football team stood on the brink of a championship appearance.
On November 19, 2005, Reaper Nation was poised to take that final step into the IHSA Class 3A championship game. Leading 20-17 going into the fourth quarter of play, Plano faded down the stretch at Tolono Unity High School and saw their dreams of a state title dashed with a 31-20 loss.
The host Rockets moved on to Champaign and lost to Bureau Valley High School in the championship matchup while the Reapers started the difficult process of building toward another title march in 2006.
Once again this year Plano (12-0) stands on the precipice of yet another state championship berth. But this time they will play host to defending state champion Bureau Valley (12-0) in a titanic battle of the two top ranked teams in the 3A division in 2006. Game time is 5 p.m. at Reaper Stadium on Saturday for one of two semifinal matchups to determine who will battle for 3A gold next Friday evening at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois. The other semifinal game will see Anna-Jonesboro (12-0) travel to St. Joseph-Ogden (12-0) for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday afternoon.
“I guarantee you the kids will be reminded of how it felt to lose in the semi’s at Tolono last season. They have a little bit already and I reminded the seniors that this could be it for them and it certainly is on their home field no matter what,” said Plano head football coach Jim Green. “I told them that they have a chance to play in the semifinals of the 3A division for the second year in a row. Many football players never get that opportunity once let alone twice back to back. We could have that opportunity to play for the championship in front of the whole State of Illinois and that’s what should be their motivating factor in preparing for this game against the team that won it last year.”
In fact, Bureau Valley has played in the last two 3A championships losing to Addison-Driscoll in 2004 before capturing the crown last season. They are a perfect 26-0 since their defeat in the 04 title game, and own an awe inspiring 39-1 record over the past three seasons.
The Storm are led by 6’2” senior All State quarterback Garret Barnas who is a double threat offensively rushing for over 1,800 yards and passing for more than 1,500. Barnas is generally considered one of the best 3A college prospects in Illinois and will be the main challenge of the tough Reaper Nation defense.
“We just have to keep him from making the big play. If we can keep him from doing that, I think we’ll be in good shape,” Green said. “He’s very impressive that’s for sure. But if we play disciplined and everyone follows their assignments, I like our chances with the defensive game plan coach (defensive coordinator Steve) Lucas has put together. If we don’t we could be in trouble.”
Barnas’s efforts are bolstered by 6’1” senior running back Nathan Black who has rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 2006. Barnas also likes to find 6’0” senior wideout Brett Monson on pass plays so the Reapers need to be multifaceted on defense.
But the Storm have proved vulnerable on defense. In week one of the playoffs, Wilmington was able to run well before succumbing in the second half. Then in week two, Bureau Valley barely escaped elimination when a two-point conversion was missed by Reed-Custer in the waning moments of the ballgame as the Storm survived 35-34.
The Reapers have compiled an amazing 1,324 yards of total offense during the first three weeks of the playoffs. Senior running back Nick Nasti has been a load accounting for 701 of that total along with eleven touchdown. The Reapers rushing attack has yet to be stopped by any opponent all season long.
“We’ve got to find a way to stop Plano’s offense. And that’s a very tall task,” said Bureau Valley head coach Dave Moore. “Nasti is unbelievable and if you can somehow manage to stop him then you’ve got (Jared) Ferguson and (Luis) Alvarado to deal with. I really am very impressed. Plano runs the football extremely well and we’ll have to find a way to stop them if we’re to be successful.”
With two very strong offensive attacks, it would seem that whichever team plays the best defensively should end up prevailing in this battle of undefeated squads. Will it be the defending champs of Bureau Valley, or the men of Reaper Nation who will once again be presented with the same task some 355 days after their first crack at potential glory in Champaign.
“Thanksgiving is less than a week away. I can only imagine having practice that day, then watching some NFL football, stuffing my face, and getting ready for the big trip south on Friday,” Green said. “That’s what you play for and we’re going to be pumped up and ready to go this Saturday. It should be an unbelievable atmosphere at Reaper Stadium.”
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