Kenny McEntyre, Class of 1989 Plano East graduate, holds up the picture frame that was given to him for being inducted into the Plano East High School Football Hall of Fame during last Friday night’s game against Royse City. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Brotherhood was the first word that Kenny McEntyre, Class of 1989 Plano East graduate, used to describe the 1988 Panthers’ football team.
“We were a very close-knit team,” he said. “There were a lot of good players that we looked up to. The juniors on that team were awesome. We had so many guys on that team that were good guys and good football players.”
McEntyre, a defensive back, described running back Mike Kenney as “awesome.”
Of all the players on the team, McEntyre had the closest friendship with defensive end Elton Drake. They became friends in the fourth grade, started playing football together in the sixth grade, and went on to play two years of college basketball together at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas.
“If it was not for Elton, I would not be in this position,” McEntyre said. “He was my best friend. He should be in the (Plano East) Hall of Fame next week.”
Plano East was a force during the 1988 season, advancing to the playoffs before falling 21-7 to eventual state champion Dallas Carter. McEntyre believed the Cowboys should have been forced to forfeit because of an ineligible player. Still, the Panthers didn’t let the loss or the controversy around Carter’s football team ruin what was otherwise a great season.
McEntyre is thrilled the 1988 squad is finally being recognized. During a timeout between the first and second quarter of last Friday’s season opener against Royse City, he was enshrined into the Plano East Football Hall of Fame.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s hard to be honored like that because football is the ultimate team sport. I’m thankful to Plano East for considering me for such a huge honor.”
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