The Plano High Wildcats pounced on their first two opponents in 2016 as they made quick work of the opening portion of their non-district schedule. Momentum soon came to a screeching halt however as the hunters soon became the hunted when Plano met Rowlett. The lopsided 31-7 loss for Plano then became a precursor for what was to come the remainder of the season.
The rest of district play was rough as Plano would drop the next five before squeaking out back-to-back wins in the final weeks. They finished their season in frustrating fashion with a one-point loss to crosstown rival Plano East.
It gave the Wildcats a 4-6 record on the year, putting Plano on the outside looking in and for the first time since 2002-04, they missed the playoffs in consecutive years.
Heading into the 2017 campaign, the premise of bouncing back and getting into the playoffs will be the same. The question remains: Who will be leading the charge once Plano Hight takes the field?
Key Losses
QB Aaron Ragas, QB/ATH Brendon Palmer, WR Dylan Sternitzky, DB CJ Wall, LB Jacoree Sanders
Plano losing these athletes among a talented senior class will perhaps add some additional pressure to the upcoming position personnel. Ragas who took the majority of the snaps threw for 998 yards and nine touchdowns. Palmer when he wasn’t pulling quarterback duty lined up at running back, receiver and defensive back and ran for five touchdowns. Sternitzky had 24 receptions and three touchdowns as one of the senior wide receivers.
Defensively, CJ Wall and Jacoree Sanders had outstanding athletic prowess and leadership roles that will need to filled.
Key Returners
RB Kyron Cumby, WR Kaleb Macaway, LB Seagol Mbua, DL Marsalis Upshaw
Cumby heads into his junior year with the potential to break out into a dynamic player in the district after posting 1,099 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. His presence should allow for receiver Kaleb Macaway to get plenty of looks in his third and final season at the varsity level.
Mbua and Upshaw are two starters returning on defense that will be the leaders within the front seven.
Verdict
The quarterback position remains to be seen how it will pan out but Plano will have a potent rushing attack with Cumby coming out of the backfield for their favored rushing strategy. Allen, Denton Guyer and Plano East’s rising stock are going to keep this an interesting race for a playoff berth in District 6-6A.
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