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West misses playoffs, but makes progress in 2011
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@acnpapers.com
The slogan on the Plano West football posters this season was "Beyond All Expectations."
And after a season in which the Wolves posted their best regular season record (6-4) in four years and were in the mix for a playoff spot after most picked West to finish seventh or eighth in the district, the team truly did go beyond all expectations.
Everyone's but their own.
The Wolves did that in 2011, including a 24-10 triumph over Plano Senior in the season finale. That gave West a 4-3 district record, but the team missed the playoffs after falling one point short of Plano East in the tiebreaker.
"It's not good a sign when you beat Plano and you're not feeling good about it," Hughes said. "But you can't depend on other teams and we put ourselves in that spot."
That West would be in such a spot was surprising given how the year started.
The Wolves opened with a 45-7 loss to Arlington Martin.
"Arlington Martin is a good team, but that game didn't go the way we wanted," Hughes said. "We had a bye after that though and I think that bye came at the perfect time for us because it gave us the chance to evaluate what we were doing."
That evaluation started with the defense.
New coordinator John Bandy switched the team from a 3-4 to 4-3 over the summer and the team adjusted quickly by allowing 27 combined points in wins over South Garland and North Mesquite.
"We didn't have a lot of time to work on our new defensive scheme before the season," Hughes said. "I think the kids were a little reluctant to buy into the system at first, but after those South Garland and North Mesquite games, they really started to believe."
Leading the team's resurgence was a stout front seven.
Seniors Ike Egege and Bryce Cottrell, an Oregon commit, lined up at defensive end with seniors Blair Edwards and Avery Heanu, both originally in the system as running backs, at tackle. That quartet was backed up by the linebacker trio of senior Jordan Robinson, juniors Jake Wodka and Mike Mitchell.
"This is one of the best linebacking corps we've ever has at West," Hughes said.
While the defense gelled, injuries forced West to make changes at running back and quarterback.
Both paid off.
With junior running back Tim Okposin out the majority of the season, West moved senior Carlos Wiggins from wide receiver to the backfield. Wiggins eventually posted five straight 100-plus-yard games, ending the season with 1,353 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns en route to being named the district's Offensive Player of the Year.
"Carlos had an unbelievable year," Hughes said. "When he touches the ball, things happen; but he also learned how to get the tough yards for us."
Wiggins was aided by his offensive line, which stayed strong even after losing senior Chase Thomas to a broken leg against Allen.
"Our offensive line wasn't huge this season," Hughes said, "but they were very athletic and really good at staying on their block."
West saw another key component go out in its district-opening win against Lewisville as senior quarterback Carson Smith injured his knee. Junior Travis Korry, a junior varsity transfer, won that game and the ensuing contest against East, a 44-36 quadruple overtime affair, to give the Wolves four straight victories and a 2-0 start in 8-5A. Korry threw for 699 yards and five touchdowns this season to go with 602 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
"No one wants to go into 8-5A with their quarterback getting hurt," Hughes said, "but luckily for us we had a backup we felt could come in and help us win games."
The East game was a highlight as West won the first four-overtime game in program history. The next one came one week later against Flower Mound Marcus.
"We always say play all four quarters, but this season it seemed like we needed to tell the kids to play all eight quarters," Hughes said. "That's just the level of competition you go up against."
Marcus defeated West, 51-48, thanks in large part to the 53-yard field goal Drew Hamrick hit to force overtime.
"That 53-yard field goal was a kick to the gut," Hughes said. "I mean ... gosh. But that's how close it is in this district."
That was evident by the final standings as West finished in a three-way tie for third place with Hebron and East with the Hawks and Panthers advancing to the playoffs.
"Things didn't end how we wanted, but I was still really proud of the kids and the coaches this season," Hughes said. "We hung in there, battled adversity and displayed great team chemistry."
Offensive line coach Joey McCullough was quick to agree.
"This is the most fun I can remember our team having in the film room," he said. "All the kids were always bragging on one another."
West will no doubt look to replicate that next year.
But it will do so with a largely different cast.
The most carry over comes on the offensive line with juniors Parker Murry, Stephan Randall and sophomore Zach White, who took over for Thomas, set to return.
"I think we will be better next year on the offensive line," McCullough said. "And deeper."
West will need to be solid up front if it goes more run-centric with sophomore Auston Anderson (330 yards and four touchdowns) returning and freshman Sotonye Jamabo moving up to varsity.
"We are ready to give those two the rock," Hughes said.
West must replace its defensive line, but has more continuity in the backfield with juniors Collin Eberle, Davis Roeschke and Logan Caillouet returning in 2012.
And 2012 is the focus as West attempts to do what it hasn't since 2009: reach the playoffs.
"We're competitors; we wanted to make the playoffs and we didn't, so that's disappointing," Hughes said. "We'll take a little time to let everything settle and then we will crank it all back up."
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