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Where no Wolf has gone before: West beats South Garland, 37-27, for historic victory
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
ALLEN - With less than three minutes remaining, facing a fourth down from the 28-yard line of South Garland (7-5) and the game on the line, Plano West (8-4) turned to sophomore running back Soso Jamabo.
It was remarkably similar to what Jamabo faced a week prior against Lake Highlands.
"I was lot more nervous this week," Jamabo said.
After scoring his fifth touchdown of the night on a fourth down last week to give West the lead over Lake Highlands, Jamabo scored his fifth touchdown Friday from 28 yards out on fourth-and-5 to set the eventual final of 37-27 as the Wolves defeated the Colonels in an area playoff game from Eagle Stadium.
"Everyone knew what we had to do," Jamabo said. "The hole was where it was supposed to be and I hit it and then ... it felt great, just so much adrenaline and ... I don't know what all I was feeling."
As was the case a week earlier, West still needed a defense stop to seal the win.
That came courtesy of senior linebacker Jake Wodka, who made an interception with less than a minute remaining as South Garland was driving.
"Wodka is just a football player," said Mike Hughes, West head coach. "He is one of our leaders and he makes plays when you need them."
Wodka had been on the sideline for several plays not long before his interception.
"This is all surreal ... just a crazy feeling," he said. "I'm still in disbelief."
That feeling is appropriate considering no West football team had ever advanced to the third round. Prior to this season, the Wolves' only other playoff victory came after winning district in 2004. West was eliminated in the area round that season.
"This win feels great right now," Hughes said. "We started to play better and better each week as the season went along and I think what you are seeing is us peaking at the right time, which is obviously what you want. When you're at your best in the playoffs, anything can happen."
West wasn't necessarily at its best in the first half Friday.
"I thought we came out a little flat," Hughes said, "but then we turned it up in the second half."
West still held a 15-14 halftime advantage thanks to touchdown runs of 7 and 4 yards from Jamabo on drives that were aided by pass interference calls. South Garland was flagged 10 times for 104 yards, with one of the penalties negating a 69-yard touchdown pass in the second half.
The Colonels followed both Wolves' scores with their own touchdowns.
Trey Porter ran it in from 16 yards and then followed with a 21-yard touchdown completion to Jerminic Smith with 2:29 remaining in the half. Porter completed 13-of-28 passes for 132 yards with Smith and Branden Moore each making four receptions. West's passing game wasn't as proficient with senior quarterback Travis Korry completing just 3-of-9 passes for 55 yards. Seniors Austin Copeland, Zac Gideo and Jamabo each made a reception.
But West had a different offensive focus.
As has been the case during its now five-game winning streak, the Wolves ran the ball, this time piling up 313 yards behind an ever-improving offensive line.
"Coach always says, 'it starts with the offensive line and ends with the offensive line,'" said Stephan Randall, West senior lineman.
Korry ran for 42 yards, Jamabo had 170 yards to go with his five touchdowns on 18 carries and junior Auston Anderson (who missed last week's playoff opener with an injury) amassed 101 yards on 15 carries.
"Having AA back makes a huge difference," Jamabo said. "He's a great blocker and a great runner."
Even with those numbers, West briefly relinquished the lead.
Marquel McNac, this area's second-leading rusher entering Friday's game, was responsible for that as he scored from 4 yards to make it 20-15 South Garland.
That lead lasted 108 seconds.
West responded with a 15-yard touchdown from Jamabo to go back in front, 23-20, with 5:53 left in the third. The Wolves kept the momentum from there as a tackle for loss by senior Nick Green and pass breakup from senior Collin Eberle stalled South Garland's ensuing drive. West also got its first takeaway early in the fourth when senior Davis Roeschke recovered a kickoff.
West's defense stepped in the final two quarters as McNac ran for 99 yards on 23 carries and Porter put up 70 yards on 18 carries, but the Colonels managed only 63 yards rushing in the second half after posting 111 in the first.
"I thought maybe our tackling was a little lackadaisical in the first half," Wodka said. "But we did better in the second; we were stepping up to the ball and really wrapping up."
Porter would get his third touchdown with 5:14 to go, but that was sandwiched between Jamabo's fourth and fifth rushing touchdowns. The former featured five broken tackles and went for 34 yards to give West its largest lead up to that point at 30-20 while the latter went for 28 yards, matched that cushion and gave the Wolves the 37-27 win.
"You want guys on your team that want the ball in their hands," Hughes said. "Soso is one of those guys."
Next up for West is either Lufkin or Pflugerville, with that regional semifinal set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.
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