The deepest playoff run in Plano West's school history lives on for another week thanks to the Wolves' remarkable 55-52 victory over Lufkin Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.
And even if
Plano West coach Mike Hughes' hair got a little grayer, that's not a high price to pay, right coach?
"My hair is already gray. It was falling out after that,'' Hughes said. "That was one of the wildest games ever.''
Mike Hughes, Plano West head coach
Photo by Neil Fonville
For pushing the right buttons in the Class 5A Division II regional playoff victory and keeping a storybook season alive, Hughes was selected as the Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.
The highs and lows on the Wolves sideline were dramatic.
Twice in the game, Plano West owned a 24-point lead, the last time two minutes into the third quarter at 48-24.
But Lufkin reeled off four consecutive touchdowns to go in front, 52-48, with 3:28 remaining.
"It looked about as bleak as it could get,'' Hughes said. "Our offense had two bad series and both were in the fourth quarter.''
Lufkin's defensive adjustments at halftime were causing difficulty. Trailing for the first time, Hughes said the Wolves "got on the same page'' with adjustments of their own.
The result, with the season on the line, the Wolves drove 75 yards to retake the lead. Outstanding sophomore running back
Sotonya Jamabo scored on a 1-yard run with 1:12 remaining.
But it still wasn't over. Lufkin moved smartly into field goal range at the Plano West 12 with three seconds remaining. A field goal would send the game into overtime.
Twice Lufkin lined up for the field goal. Each time, Hughes burned a time out.
"I was trying to freeze the kicker,'' said Hughes, "but I think I froze the holder because he bobbled the snap a little.''
The timing was disrupted enough for the 29-yard attempt to miss wide right, setting off a Plano West celebration.
Hughes, in his 11th year at Plano West, deflects the credit to his players and his coaching staff for a playoff run that few could have predicted.
After seven games, Plano West was 3-4 overall and 0-2 in District 10-5A. But the Wolves (9-4) haven't lost since. Their winning streak is at six.
"We are peaking at the right time,'' Hughes said. "The guys get along well, they enjoy practicing, it just seems like everything came together at the right time.''
Hughes has coached his team to a six-game
winning streak.
Photo by Neil Fonville
Hughes said his players realized they could play with anybody after a 49-35 loss to Mesquite in the fourth non-district game.
"We've grown up a lot,'' Hughes said. "I can see the improvement every day in practice.''
Jamabo gets a lot of the credit, and for good reason. After a 162-yard, three touchdown rushing day against Lufkin, his season total has grown to 1,620 yards and 24 touchdowns.
"I tell people by the time he's a senior, Jamabo has a chance to be the best running back in the country,'' said Hughes. "He's 6-2 and 195 pounds and is an Eric Dickerson- or an Adrian Peterson-type runner.''
Jamabo has good company in the Wolves backfield. Quarterback
Travis Korry has thrown for over 2,000 yards and running back
Auston Anderson has surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Korry threw for 250 yards and Anderson rushed for 145 yards and two scores against Lufkin.
The Wolves are averaging 38.6 points and 481 yards per game.
Plano West is making its sixth playoff excursion under Hughes. The deepest previous run was the area round by the 2004 team that went 10-2. Once in the playoffs, the Wolves have been unlucky with first-round draws, twice being paired against Cedar Hill. Four of their playoff eliminations have been decided by four points or less.
"We've been close to getting over the hump,'' said Hughes, coaching in his 31st year in Plano. "We've worked really hard at it.''
The Wolves this season finished in a tie for second place in District 10-5A with Boyd (McKinney), a district won by Allen. They avenged an earlier loss to Lake Highlands (Dallas) with a 42-35 victory in the bi-district round and followed it up with a second 10-point victory over South Garland this season in an area playoff triumph, 37-27. Jamabo scored five touchdowns in that game.
Racing to the field to give Hughes a hug after Plano West's latest playoff success was wife Carolyn. One of the assistant coaches on the Plano West staff is Blake Hughes, the younger of Mike and Carolyn‘s two sons. Blake, who played for his dad at Plano West, coaches the safeties.
Plano West meets Westlake (Austin) for the Region II title in Class 5A Division II. Game time is 2 p.m. Saturday in a return trip to Waco ISD Stadium.
"Westlake is a lot like us,'' said Hughes. "They are 9-4, just like we are, and they seem to be peaking at the right time. Defensively, they are really good.''
Hughes receives a congratulatory hug from his wife Carolyn after the big playoff victory.
Photo by Neil Fonville
