The Plano East football team (6-4) needed everything to fall into place last week in order to slip in the playoffs. Now, they'll need to work a little more magic if they hope to keep their season alive, as they'll be taking on undefeated Southlake Carroll in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.
The Panthers' record is not a good indicator of how well the team played in the regular season. District 8-5A is considered by many to be one of the strongest districts in the area. Allen High School, one of the top ranked teams in the nation, resides in the district and the rest of the field doesn't stray too far behind. Three teams - Hebron, Plano East and Plano West - finished the season in a three-way tie with 6-4 records and the tiebreaker just barely gave the edge to Hebron and Plano East.
The strength of the Plano East offense is in its prolific passing game, which is helmed by quarterback Corey Wesley. Wesley has racked up stats in 2011, amassing 2,263 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His top two targets - Collin Shaw and Dante' Taylor - have 1,400 combined receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Wesley can also get it done with his legs: he's rushed 94 times for 713 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, the Panthers' rushing game belongs to running back Dante' Taylor, who has rushed 136 times for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns. Taylor averages an impressive 7.71 yards per carry on the season. Nathan Meadors is the second running back behind Taylor and has done well in his own right. Meadors has rushed 124 times for 655 yards and three touchdowns.
The Southlake Carroll Dragons have been a powerhouse in high school football for over the past decade. This year, the Dragons haven't been exceptionally flashy but instead have dominated with a strong, balanced offense. Quarterback Kenny Hill leads the Dragons both through the air and on the ground. He has completed 158 passes for 1,990 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is also the leading rusher with 756 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. His two leading receivers - Sabian Holmes and Peyton Williams - have nearly 1,700 combined receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.
The game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington and kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.