Plano shakes out of early funk

Updated: October 1, 2011 7:16PM

With homecoming festivities this week and a matchup with rival Sandwich waiting Friday, it would have been understandable for Plano to overlook a 1-4 Peotone team in an Interstate Eight Large matchup Saturday.

While the Reapers didn’t put on one of their more stellar performances, some big plays and a workmanlike effort was enough to put away a 34-13 win and make Plano playoff eligible with a 5-1 record (3-1 in league play).

“We had to get focused, that was our main thing all week,” said running back Eloy Carrera, who had 153 total yards and two scores. “It took us a little bit, but we kept our heads and just pounded it.”

Plano used big plays, good defense and special teams to shake out of an early funk that saw them locked in a 7-all tie with the Blue Devils at the end of the first quarter. Plano popped four plays of 25 yards or more and the defense picked off three Nick Ahlborn passes (two by Devin Haws), while Jordan Greenbush blocked a punt that led to a score, as well as a Peotone (1-5, 0-4) extra point attempt.

All of that added up to 28 unanswered points that gave the Reapers some much needed breathing room. Then they did what they do best, piling up 258 rushing yards and winding the clock. Add in 111 yards passing and a score by Trevor Rea and Plano had a 369-267 advantage in total yards.

“We threw the ball better and hopefully that keeps teams off balance and will free up our running game,” Plano coach Jim Green said. “Hopefully we will continue to get better and that is our goal, to get better.”

Weslye Brown led Plano with 116 yards rushing and scored a touchdown, while Kelby Gann hauled in a 25-yard pass from Rea for a score and Rilando Nunez capped the scoring with a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter. Ahlborn had 185 yards through the air for Peotone, with John Osborne rushing for 69 yards on 13 carries.

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