Plano East senior linebacker Caden Straker (7) tackles a Coppell ball carrier on Thursday at Buddy Echols Field. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media
By David Wolman
COPPELL — For much of Thursday night’s regular-season finale, Plano East was within striking distance of Coppell and a home playoff game.
Then the Cowboys took control.
Coppell scored 28 points in the final 5:21, capitalizing on a series of Plano East mistakes to pull away for a 48-15 victory at Buddy Echols Field.
The Panthers committed three of their four turnovers during that closing stretch, including an interception that junior Anthony Lewis returned 98 yards for a touchdown on the game’s final play.
The loss dropped Plano East to 6-4 and gave Coppell (8-2) the No. 1 Class 6A Division I playoff seed from District 7-6A.
Plano East, which had already secured its first postseason berth since 2023, will instead travel to face Euless Trinity in the bi-district round.
Despite the final margin, the Panthers were in contention deep into the fourth quarter.
Trailing 20-9 late in the third, Plano East put together a scoring drive that brought it within five points with more than 10 minutes remaining.
Senior quarterback Josh Gordon opened the possession with a 15-yard completion to senior tight end Aidan Forthman, then connected with sophomore Cristian Clancy for a 41-yard gain into the red zone.
Gordon finished with 188 passing yards on 10 completions for Plano East.
Sophomore Treyce Seldon finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, cutting Coppell’s lead to 20-15 with 10:13 left.
Seldon finished with 155 total yards.
Plano East also missed other opportunities throughout the game. A touchdown reception in the second quarter was wiped out by offensive pass interference, and the Panthers failed to capitalize on favorable field position on several possessions.
The decisive sequence came with just over five minutes remaining.
Plano East had forced Coppell into a third-and-14 situation, but Zinglemann found senior Ishan Mair for a 15-yard completion to extend the drive.
Four plays later, senior Jayden George scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, stretching the Cowboys’ lead to 27-15.
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