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Plano Perfection Part Two

Reapers Hoist Second Straight 3A Trophy

By Bill Lidinsky

  The taste of winning a championship never gets sour. And what Plano High School football fans now realize is that it may even be sweeter tasting the second time around.

  Twice now within 365 days, the Reapers have hoisted the IHSA Class 3A State Championship football trophy to the delight of their many faithful followers.

  Plano’s (13-1) latest gridiron triumph came on Friday November 23 with a sparkling 32-7 victory over Columbia (12-2) in the 3A title contest at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium.

  The win not only marked the schools second State Championship of any kind, but it also marked the first ‘back to back’ 3A football crowns since Kaneland High School accomplished the feat in 1997-98.

  “When people would say after last year’s championship, it was probably once in a lifetime. I thought to myself, I sure hope not. We had a lot of fun and I was thankful for what we accomplished,” said Plano head football coach Jim Green. “But I knew in my heart that these kids believed they could do it again. I’m so proud of them. What a ride and what a special and rare accomplishment having done this two years in a row.”

  The Reapers strong belief that they could repeat showed right from the opening kickoff as they took the game’s initial possession and marched 61 yards on 10 plays for a score.

  Senior quarterback Brian Green capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run at 7:03. Kevin Jernigan's point after kick was good and Plano was off and running literally with all 10 of their offensive plays coming on the ground.

  “The first drive was big. They (Columbia) were really keying on the outside, so we played it a little different and cut it up in,” Brain Green said. “The tight end gave me a great block and I was able to score up the middle. It was a nice way to start the game.”

  So just as in 06, the Reapers got on the board first, but Columbia seemed unphased. On their first series of the game, the Eagles put together their own 10 play drive mixing the run and the pass.

  At 2:46 of the opening period Columbia running back John Heineken scored on a 1-yard plunge. Tyler Truttman’s point after kick was true and the game was tied at seven.

  “It took us a series or two defensively to get up to speed with their offense because we don’t run anything near what they run,” said Plano defensive coordinator Steve Lucas. “But as soon as we settled in we did a great job of adjusting.”

  Indeed they did, holding Columbia to three-and-out on their next possession to end the first quarter tied at seven after the Reapers had stalled offensively on their second chance with the ball.

  The Plano defense then came up even bigger in the second period. At 8:02 sophomore defensive back Jeremy Cannon read Columbia’s quarterback Truttman perfectly, stepping in front of his pass and outracing a host of Eagles 63-yards to the end zone. Jernigan's kick again was good and the Reapers were up 14-7 after the key interception.

  “Their receivers crossed right away off the line. I saw one guy coming in, then I went to the flat and just jumped him,” Cannon said. “I was trying hard no to look back and just focus on getting to the end zone and I did.”

  Cannon’s heroics only seemed to fuel the Plano fire and the Reapers capitalized on another big Columbia mistake on the Eagles very next series.

  After the Plano defense pinned Columbia on downs deep in their own territory, the Eagles were forced to punt. But almost unbelievably, Columbia punter Brian Winters decided to fake the kick and attempt a pass from his own end zone. The throw sailed incomplete and Plano was now in business at the Eagles eight yard line after the gigantic miscue.

  After a holding call on the Reapers, Cannon scampered 17-yards for a touchdown at 6:08 of the second quarter and just like that Plano led 20-7 after their two-point conversion failed. Quite a big momentum swing for the Reapers with Cannon as the recipient of two scores after the Columbia errors.

  “It was a gutsy call by Columbia. It looks bad now, but had they completed it, it’s probably 14-14 instead of 20-7,” Jim Green said. “It was just something that got us more momentum after the pick and now we’re up two scores. It was just a big momentum changer.”

  The first half ended with the same 20-7 score, but the momentum most definitely was on Plano’s side going into the third quarter.

  Once again, the Reapers defense locked down on Columbia during the Eagles first possession of the second half. That enabled the Plano offense to get the ball early and capitalize on another big series. On fourth-and-goal from the Columbia four yard line, junior halfback Kevin Day took a pitch from Brian Green and rolled to his right. Day then pulled up and found tight end Chris Martinez wide open in the end zone for a 4-yard scoring strike off the halfback option pass. The two-point conversion once again failed for Plano, but the Reapers were in command 26-7 at 5:52 of the third quarter.

  “It was a 38 sweep pass. I could’ve either run it or passed it, whichever was open,” Day said. “Chris did a nice job getting to an open spot and I was able to see him.”

  Plano took the 19 point advantage into the fourth quarter where they would continue the ‘mother’ of all drives that started at 3:53 of the third period. A remarkable 12 minutes and six seconds later, the Reapers scored on the 19 th play off their drive as senior running back Alec Haws scampered in from 7-yards out with 3:47 to go in the game. Jose Lopez extra point kick missed, but Plano was on the brink of their second state title with an 32-7 lead.

  “It was a heck of a drive for us and I was really glad I could score a touchdown to cap off such a great drive,” Haws said. “I scored it for my dad. He never got a chance to play in the playoffs. He wanted me to get a touchdown for him tonight and I was so glad I was able to do it for him and my team. It really means a lot to me and hopefully for him too.”

  The Reapers defense then put the final nail in the Columbia coffin on the Eagles next drive as Plano all-state senior linebacker Dan Peruski picked off Truttman on first down and put an exclamation point on the 25 point win and second straight Reaper 3A title.

  “I’d been looking for that pick all game. Two or three times it had been out of my reach on my pass drop,” Peruski said. “It was the best feeling of my life right there getting an interception in the state title game.”

  As it was the best feeling for all of Reaper Nation to be State Champions once again as Plano dominated Columbia unlike last year’s close call in the title matchup with St. Joseph-Ogden.

  The Reapers outrushed the Eagles 242 yards to 91 and totally dominated time of possession 31:56 to 16:04. Senior Luis Alvarado led Plano on the ground carrying the ball 22 times for 138 yards. Alvarado now has rushed for over 300 yards combined in the two straight championship contests.

  “What a great feeling it is to have done this two years in a row,” Alvarado said. “I knew and I believed after last year that we could do it again and here we are. I just couldn’t be happier.”

  Happiness is probably too small a word to indicate the sheer jubilation that existed once again in Champaign for the fans of Plano’s purple and white.

  With two straight state crowns proudly standing in the Reapers trophy case, the question now will be “Can Plano win three in a row?”

  “There nothing sweeter than a three-peater,” Jim Green said. “You never know. Our sophomores went 8-1 and had a great year. When it comes June of next year and time to get going again. We’ll see how bad they want it. These kids wanted it this year that’s for sure. Outstanding, just outstanding.”