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The
Nation Is Witness To Prime Time Magic
Reapers Perform Unbelievable Escape Act To Remain Undefeated
By Bill Lidinsky
Legendary magician Harry Houdini had his fair share of death defying escapes.
Lately, we’ve been witness to current magical maven David Blaine and his
uncanny self extrication from what seems inescapable situations.
On Saturday afternoon at Reaper Stadium these two guys had nothing on the prime
time magic act that the Plano High School varsity football team pulled off.
So unlikely was their escape from almost sure defeat at the hands of the visiting
Coal City Coalers, that many of Reaper Nation had already started for the exits
instead of bare witness to one of the most unbelievable comebacks in Plano football
history.
Reaper senior quarterback Brook Bott’s 9-yard touchdown pass to senior
wideout Josh O’Hara with 12 seconds left in the game capped an inconceivable
three minute and three second drive that saw Plano escape from almost certain
defeat twice and go on to defeat Coal City 24-20 staying undefeated at 7-0.
“This is my 20th year of coaching and fourth as head coach,” said
Plano head football coach Jim Green. “We were part of a pretty unbelievable
comeback against Reed-Custer two years ago when we were on the other end up
22 with two and half minutes left and ended up losing in triple overtime. But
this one was our biggest comeback and one of the most improbable wins that we’ve
been apart of in a long time.”
The beautiful sunny Homecoming afternoon contest started off calmly enough with
Plano taking an early 7-0 lead at 2:55 of the first period. Bott’s five-yard
touchdown run concluded an 11 play 68 yard drive that chewed up 6:23 seconds
on the clock. Sophomore kicker Kevin Jernigan’s point after kick was good
and the Reapers were in business in usual fashion.
But the unusual would start to appear on the Reaper Nation stage the very next
series with the Coalers entering the second quarter.
For the first time this season an opponents offense seemed to knife through
the Plano defense rather easily. The stunned faithful laid witness to Coal City’s
8 play 3 minute drive that culminated in Zach Smith’s 13-yard touchdown
run on the first play from scrimmage in the second period. It tied the score
at seven after the point after kick.
An almost uncomfortable feeling was setting in on that comfy warm feeling Reaper
Nation had only minutes ago.
But things seemed back on the uptick minutes later as senior Jared Ferguson
returned a punt for big yardage and Plano was in business deep in Coal City
territory. After three rather frustrating offensive plays from the Coaler 23,
the Reapers still had managed to move the ball to the 14 and faced fourth-and-one
.
But then came an early turning point in the contest that totally shifted momentum
in Coal City’s favor. Unbelievably, senior standout running back Nick
Nasti was stopped for no gain on the fourth down rushing call and the Coalers
went back to performing magic of their own on the change of possession.
Ripping off huge chunks of yardage, Coal City shredded the Plano defense and
in seven played scored on a controversial 12-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback
Jordan Agamy eyed wideout Brian Goff, who seemingly pushed off on Reaper defensive
back Josh O’Hara in the end zone, knocking him away from what likely would
have been an interception to secure the Coaler score.
“I definitely would have had the pick on that pass,” O’Hara
said. “I read the route and knew it was going to be a hitch and go. I
sat and waited for it and then got pushed right before the ball got to me. It
went inches over my hands and the guy who pushed me caught it. I wasn’t
very happy.”
Neither was coach Green or anyone else for that matter on the Reaper sidelines,
as all erupted in protest, but to no avail.
Coal City’s extra point kick was good with 46 seconds to go in the first
half and for the first time this season the Reapers trailed going into the locker
room at the half 14-7.
Inexplicably the defense that has proven so staunch so far in 2006, struggled
to find answers as to why the Coalers were moving the ball so successfully against
them.
“I can’t understand it,” Nasti said. “All I know is
that Robbie (LeMaster) and I were getting double teamed at linebacker all day.
We couldn’t find the seems and it was very frustrating. Every adjustment
we tried to make wasn’t working and they were able to put up some big
yardage.”
Coal City continued to move the ball well on their first possession of the second
half and the magical Reapers dodged a bullet when a Coaler field goal attempt
missed at 6:09 of the third quarter.
From there, Plano capitalized on a 48-yard run from scrimmage by Bott and tallied
on Jernigan’s 28-yard field goal at 3:30 to cut the Coal City lead to
14-10.
But once again, the Coalers quickly tore off huge yardage and scored on their
next possession. It took Coal City only 2 minutes and six seconds to score on
a three play drive that ended in Smiths 39-yard touchdown scamper. Nasti blocked
the point after kick, but the Nation was on the ropes trailing 20-10 as the
third quarter ended shortly thereafter.
In the fourth period, with the Coalers driving once again, things looked bleak
for Plano as Coal City mounted a time consuming drive that brought them inside
the Reaper 30 yard line. The Coalers were poised to deliver the knockout punch
and dash Plano’s hopes of an undefeated season.
But on the very next play the magical air started to fill Reaper Stadium. On
first-and-10 from the Plano 25, the first purple and white rabbit was pulled
from the Nation’s hat.
Smith took the handoff from Agamy and was hit by LeMaster and Plano senior Victor
Diaz causing a fumble which Diaz recovered but ultimately ended up in the arms
of LeMaster.
“I was right their with Robbie. I had it first and he dove on me in the
pile. He kept telling me to give it to him underneath everyone so I did. Thank
God we were there for that one,” Diaz said.
Plano’s comeback march then started. It took only a minute and 22 seconds
for the Reapers to travel 76 yards in five plays as the Nation capitalized on
a big 31 yard pass play from Bott to Ferguson that set up Fergy’s four-yard
touchdown run at 5:32 of the final period. Jernigan’s kick again was good
and Plano trailed 20-17.
On the ensuing kickoff, Coal City returned Jernigan’s boot deep into Reaper
territory. After a penalty on the Coalers, Plano defense stiffened and forced
a punt. The Nation was now poised for their ultimate magic act to unfold.
With 3:15 left in the game the Reapers took over at their own 27.
Three plays later, Plano faced a do or die fourth-and-12 still at the 27. Bott
faded back and under pressure threw an interception to Coal City defensive back
Noah Roseland who promptly returned the errant pass for a touchdown. Game over,
end of story, Coalers win!
Not quite yet! Purple and white rabbit number two was seen running across the
field just by the yellow penalty hankie the referee had thrown to signify roughing
the passer on Bott by Coal City.
Ah, new life at the Plano 41 after the Coaler miscue.
Then Bott to Fergy 12 yards to the Coaler 47 and a first down.
Three plays later another fourth down situation with 10 yards to go for more
new life with just over a minute to play.
Bott once again faded back and heaved a long pass toward O’Hara who was
heavily covered by Goff and the ball sailed incomplete. Game over, end of story,
Coalers win!
Not quite yet, as the third purple and white rabbit escaped from the Nations
sideline magic hat and scampered just feet from another of the referee’s
yellow flags.
Pass interference was the call on Goff and unbelievably Plano had once again
stared doom in the eye and won.
With 59 seconds left the penalty gave the Reapers a first-and-10 from the Coal
City 31.
On third-and-seven from the Coaler 27, Bott hit O’Hara with an 18-yard
strike that gave the Nation a first down at the Coal City nine yard line with
only 25 ticks left on the clock.
“I knew Josh was coming underneath and he snuck in right under the safety
and I hit him in stride down to the nine yard line,” Bott said. “We
knew we were going to at least tie it from their, but we didn’t want that
and went for their throats.”
Three plays later on third-and-goal from the nine, Bott rolled to his left and
under tough pressure tossed up one of the ugliest passes that seemed to go end
over end instead of in a spiral. Rabbit number four appeared and guided the
floppy aerial into O’Hara’s arms for the winning score. It proved
to be the encore to the Nation’s magic act and remarkable comeback.
“I knew two of my receivers would be to my left. I was rolling that way
and it was probably the ugliest pass I’ve ever thrown, but Josh came down
with it and we somehow came out with a win,” Bott said.
Houdini and Blaine couldn’t have scripted a better escape as the Reapers
moved their overall record to 7-0 and 4-0 in the Interstate Eight Small Division.
With their heartbreaking loss Coal City moves to 3-4 and 1-3 in the I-8 Small.
Bott led Plano with 103 yards rushing on 12 carries, while Smith headed Coal
City with 130 yards and a whopping 26 totes. The overall statistics were pretty
even, but the Nation knows that their magical escape on Saturday was truly something
that was unexplainable.
“I know I don’t have ant words to explain it,” Nasti said.
“We got beat on both sides of the ball and still found a way to win. I
guess that’s what championship teams do, but I sure don’t want to
do this again and hopefully we’ll learn from it.”
And if you don’t believe in magic, maybe you believe in faith and who’s
watching down on the Nation from above.
Most all know about our departed friend T.J. Holt. Could he have been the guiding
light during the magical final six or so minutes? Who’s to say?
Faith ultimately is often times much stronger than magic. One quarterback doesn’t
discount the possibility.
“It sure seemed like he was with us in the end. That last series and my
last pass wasn’t very pretty,” Bott said. “Maybe T.J. had
something to do with it. Hopefully he did and he’ll stay by our side the
rest of the season and into the playoffs.”
Up next for the Reapers is a road game at Dwight on Friday. The Trojans are
a surprising 4-3 overall and own a 3-1 record in the I-8 Small with big victories
over Wilmington and Coal City. So the Nation needs to be ready to learn from
the near miss against the Coalers and rebound as they move toward the ultimate
goal of a State Championship.
“Dwight will be ready to go. They’ve won three in a row, impressively,”
Green said. “Hopefully we’ve learned a lesson in this close win
and we can become a better team as we move on. Good teams have to win games
like this and we did it. Now we need to improve on our mistakes and take our
game to the next level.”
A little Magic or faith thrown in the mix never hurts either on the road to
glory!
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