Plano City Champs: West returning to playoffs after 47-28 win over East

Plano West and Plano East entered Friday's regular season finale with a myriad of playoff possibilities and tiebreakers in front of them.

The Wolves (6-4, 3-2), who fell one point short in such a scenario last year and missed the postseason, no doubt wanted to avoid any potential tiebreakers and focused on the easiest road to the playoffs: win and you're in.

West did just that by picking up a 47-28 win over East (5-4, 1-4).

"I think last year we were thinking too much about what all had to happen and what could happen," said Travis Korry, West senior quarterback. "So tonight, all we focused on was winning."

Korry had a big hand in that.

While the quarterback completed just 9-of-13 passes for 72 yards and was picked off by East senior Jackson Garrey, it was on the ground where Korry made an impact. Korry ran the ball 17 times for 128 yards and four touchdowns, including the first two of the night to give the Wolves a 16-0 lead with 3:55 remaining in the first frame.

"I have to credit the offensive line," Korry said. "Whether we need 5 yards, 3 yards or its third- or fourth-and-inches, we can count on them to get it for us."

Similar sentiments were shared by West sophomore running back Sotonye Jamabo, who carried the ball 24 times for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

"As usual, the offensive line was digging up holes and I was able to climb into them," he said. "I felt like I played pretty well tonight, but none of that would've been possible without the offensive line."

West ran for more than 200 yards in both halves en route to 428 total rushing yards.

"Our offensive line has been playing really well as of late," said Mike Hughes, West head coach. "And we've got two of the best backs in the state and a quarterback that can run it too."

West only had one of those backs most of the night though as junior Auston Anderson left the game in the first series.

Anderson, who was on crutches afterward, said he would be ready for the playoffs.

"When we lost Auston, that was a tough blow," Jamabo said. "But he came over to me and said I had to step up, so I think we all did that."

After Korry's opening two touchdowns and Jamabo's pair of two-point conversions made it 16-0, East wouldn't get closer than nine points the rest of the evening.

"I don't know if I would say I was comfortable," Hughes said. "That East quarterback (senior Mario Smalls) is a heck of a player and [senior wideout Collin Shaw] is pretty scary too."

If it weren't for the relentless West ground attack, the night would have belonged to Smalls and Shaw. The former completed 27-of-47 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns with the latter catching 12 of those passes for 190 yards and two scores. Those touchdowns represented the Panthers' first and last scores with the first one a 26-yard connection to make it 16-6 with 10:48 remaining in the second quarter and the last one going for 38 yards to pull East within 47-28 with 3:54 left in the game.

West held a 26-14 lead at the break thanks to Korry's third touchdown and a 20-yard field goal from senior Zakk Myer while East countered with a 1-yard scoring run from senior Ricky Ilodianya, who caught six passes for 46 yards and ran for another 47.

Much like West took control of the game in the first two possessions of the first half, the Wolves put the game away with the first two possessions of the second half.

"I don't know what it is," Korry said, "but we really seem to pick our game up in the second half."

Friday was no different.

West's defense forced a three-and-out on East's first possession and then senior Logan Caillouet made an interception on the next drive. It was West's second forced turnover after a fumble recovery by senior Reggie Howard in the first half.

"Our defense always plays so hard," Jamabo said. "And they were just flying around and having fun tonight."

West took advantage by scoring two touchdowns, a 32-yard scamper by Jamabo and an 8-yard run by Korry, to take a 40-14 lead with 5:48 remaining in the third.

East couldn't make a sizable dent in that advantage, despite a 36-yard touchdown reception by junior Shawn Franks. The Panthers also got 48 yards rushing from senior Lionel Wills and five catches for 60 yards from senior Parker Hunt in the 47-28 defeat.

After losing two games to start 10-5A, West won three straight for a postseason berth.

"The coaches weren't going to give up and I knew the players weren't either," Hughes said. "We kept fighting these last three weeks and now we want to keep going."

Because of that, for the first time since 2009, the Wolves are headed to the playoffs.

"That sounds great," Korry said, "and it's especially rewarding with this group of guys."

"I'm so happy right now," Jamabo said. "This is such a sweet feeling."

West opens the playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Friday from Coppell against Lake Highlands. The Wolves lost to the Wildcats, 34-19, in Week 1.

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