Plano East wants to claw its way back into the playoff conversation.

To do that, the Panthers (1-3, 2-5) must win their first home game of the year against Plano (0-4, 1-6). The Wildcats sit in last place of the District 6-6A standings and represent a good opportunity for the Panthers.

The game represents a chance to improve its standing and also present some bragging rights for Plano East. After beating Plano West earlier in the season, East can defeat the other two Plano ISD schools.

With the motivation and the stakes high, here are the three keys to Plano East defeating Plano at Kimbrough Stadium this Friday.

1. Do what you do best

The Panthers are one of the top running teams in the district. Led by Ismail Mahdi’s 1,359 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, Plano East runs the ball well and uses the play-action passing game effectively.

The Wildcats have had solid success in stopping the run, but the Panthers aren’t built to throw the ball a lot. They’ll need to establish the running game early to open up passing lanes for quarterback Drew DeVillier.

Expect the Panthers to use their ‘Wildcat’ formation early in the game, with Mahdi taking direct snaps with Xavier Franco in the backfield. If they run the ball well, they can control the clock and win the game.

For the complete story, see the Oct. 21 edition of the Murphy Monitor. Support your community newspaper for less than $40 a year.

By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]