News

Team Preview: Plano East Panthers

by
Adam Ogburn
August 11

Plano East Panthers

Head Coach: Tony Benedetto (2^nd Season)

Last Season: 3-7; 0-7 in district

Plano East Key Players and Storylines

The Panthers got off to a hot 3-0 start a year ago before coming up empty in district play.

If Plano East is to find more success in District 6-6A action this year, Head Coach Tony Benedetto said his team will have to play more disciplined football. He believes that will be the key for the Panthers in getting over the hump in close ball games.

Heading into this fall, Plano East brings back six starters on each side of the ball.

Offensively, not only is Rice commit quarterback Drew Devillier (2,210 passing yards and 18 touchdowns) back but so are two of his key protectors up front in senior offensive linemen Corbin Glass and Ralee Jackson. Elsewhere, the Panthers will need a couple of skill players to step up after graduating their leading rusher and top two receivers from a year ago.

Plano 21, Plano East 14 @ 1:00/2Q

Panthers scramble the Plano secondary (and my camera) on this one. Drew Devillier finds Bryce Dixon all alone for an 18yd TD and East is right back in it late in the half. pic.twitter.com/BbcXDN2tBK

— Matt Welch (@MWelchSLM) September 24, 2022

On the other side of the ball, Benedetto will be hoping for improvement on a unit that surrendered over 37 points per game a year ago.

The Panthers must replace their four leading tacklers from a year ago, but Benedetto is confident that junior defensive back Andrew Earls (32 tackles), senior linebacker Excel Oleru (28 tackles), and three-star defensive lineman Chima Chineke (31 tackles) are prepared to lead each of the three levels of the Plano East defense.

Over the past four seasons, Plano East has won just two district games. However, the Panthers showed progress under Benedetto in how they opened the 2022 season. Now the question remains whether they can find that same success in district play this year.