Plano Wildcats
8-5A
Coach: Jaydon McCullough.
Lettermen R/L: 23/36.
2009: 5-7 DI area finalist/3-3 district.
Starters returning O/D: 5/6.
Players to watch: LB Ben Laures (6-1, 215, 4.6), CB Blair Burns (5-11, 185, 4.5).
Top juniors: LB Xavier Harbert (6-2, 215, 4.8), ATH Kevin Merrill (5-10, 185, 4.5).
Top sophomores: QB Richard Lagow (6-4, 180).
Other prospects: S Collin Brence, DT Arthur Skinner, LB Zach Laures, QB Connor Michelsen, OL Lee Skinner, OL Clayton Bennett, ATH Murat Kuzu, LB Matt Johnson.
2010 notes: Though Plano finished an uncharacteristic two games below .500, the fight the Wildcats showed at the end of 2009 bodes well for 2010. Plano upset Duncanville in the first round, then nearly stunned eventual champ Trinity in the second round, losing by three points. Third-year coach McCullough said that experience is key to the team's improvement. LB Ben Laures (111 tackles, 3 INTs) headlines the six returning starters from a defense that held seven opponents to 20 points or less. He earned first-team all-district last year, as did DT Skinner and LB Zach Laures, while LB Harbert (48 tackles, INT) was named the district's top sophomore. Offensively, ATH Merrill (600-plus all-purpose yards) fills a number of roles and is the top returning rusher (69-321, 4 TDs). Expect Michelsen (1,968 yards, 13 TDs) to take the reins at QB after starting eight games last year, though he'll get a good push in practice from up-and-coming sophomore QB Lagow. The OL returns Skinner and Bennett but will use the offseason to incorporate new starters.
