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Trial by fire: Short on vets, new blood looks to send East north
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
Plano East is one of the largest high schools in the state and annually, fields a football team of around 75 players.
That should help put into context the turnover the Panthers are prepping to weather for the 2012 season with just 15 lettermen retained from last season.
"We've got a lot of young kids who we think will be good," said Johnny Ringo, East head coach, "but them actually getting that Friday night experience will be critical. It'll be very interesting when that Garland game rolls around."
Four of those preside on the defensive side of the ball, where the Panthers hope health can keep them from any drastic schematic adjustments like last season.
"Last year we were an odd (front) and then went to an even front as the year went along because of injuries," said Ty Pattrick, East defensive coordinator. "This year, we'll still be that odd front just to see how that works out for us."
The centerpiece of the East defense resides in the middle, with 2011's leading tackler (senior Jackson Garrey) making the move from safety to linebacker and headlining a unit that includes sophomore Austin Corbett and, according to Pattrick, could be among the program's most athletic linebacker corps in years.
Occupying Garrey's former post is senior Zack Mueller and junior Jameal Hampton at safety, the latter possessing the versatility to act as a hybrid defensive back.
Anchoring the secondary will be senior cornerback Nimoy Tennison, who returns as one of the Panthers' most experienced defenders, while senior Devin Tanner also projects for lengthy reps at corner. Senior Nicholas Pressley returns to bolster the defensive line, while senior Juan Barajas will get acclimated to a spot up front after spending the bulk of his East career at linebacker. Sophomore Landis Durham rounds out the group.
"We have very high expectations for ourselves," Garrey said. "Defensively, we expect to be one of the best and fastest groups in the state."
Speed has typified the East defense in recent years, with the same applying to the offense.
Reigniting that spark in 2012 will prove a bit trickier, with the Panthers slim on experience at the skill positions and breaking in senior Mario Smalls at quarterback.
A second-year member on varsity, Smalls logged just one pass for 26 yards as a junior, although the Panthers' system has proven passer-friendly in the past with East quarterbacks logging at least 2,000 yards through the air five of the past six seasons.
The highest total during that period: the 2,989 yards thrown by Smalls' brother, and East alum, Riko during the 2007 season.
"Being the brother of Riko, Mario has high expectations of himself," said Mark Humble, East offensive coordinator. "Mario's got to understand he's Mario and that he's different from his brother. He's been in the system for four years so even though he doesn't have any starts under his belt, he's still very comfortable running our system."
Should Smalls look to approach the figures of his predecessors, a big season from senior Collin Shaw will likely be key.
"Collin was one of our most improved players last year and one of the big surprises in that district," Humble said. "He'll have a big year and will move around a bunch this year; inside, out and maybe even some tight end."
Shaw returns as the Panthers' leading receiver from 2011 at 755 yards and six touchdowns, pacing a group with just two others having logged receptions last season in seniors Cody Verhulst (63 yards, two touchdowns) and Brooks Roberts (56 yards). That was because East shifted much of its focus to the running game, towing the rock 69 percent of the time -- the team's highest output since 2004. Last year, alums Dante Taylor, Nathan Meadors and Corey Wesley each logged more than 100 carries. And while the Panthers' 2012 edition lacks experience, the committee approach remains.
This year, the running duties will be split between senior Ricky Ilodianya, juniors Lionel Wills and Anthony Maioriello, with all three rushers on fairly even ground early.
"[Who gets the bulk of the carries] will just depend on game plan and who has the hot hand," Humble said.
Where the Panthers perhaps have the most to prove is up front after graduating all five of their starting offensive linemen. Easily the most tenured of the returners is senior Blake Pyatt, who served as East's backup center last season. He'll be complemented by senior Jordan Lingenfelter and junior Connor Lingenfelter, both of whom are 6-foot-5 and fit in line with a unit Humble said will be bigger than last year.
Whether the Panthers' offense scratches the surface of what last year's bunch accomplished -- ranking third in the area with 485.6 yards per game -- remains to be seen, but the team will have plenty of chances to round into form before the District 10-5A schedule takes form.
Thursday's kickoff is the first of four -- maybe five -- non-district games, should East sort out its conundrum for a final tune-up before the 10-5A opener Oct. 12 against Allen.
"It makes every game count even more," Garrey said. "Last year, we lost our first three district games and had to win out to make the playoffs. We can't afford to do that this year."
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