By David Wolman
Steve Piskor’s 4-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Zane Burgess with 34 seconds remaining has long lingered in the minds of the 14,000 fans in attendance at John Clark Stadium — a play that shifted the series between the Plano East and Plano football teams.
Plano East had never defeated Plano in their first three meetings as crosstown rivals.
That finally changed in 1985, when the Panthers defeated the Wildcats 21-17 for their first-ever win over Plano in the four-year history of Plano East. Piskor’s touchdown reception proved to be the difference.
But Piskor remembers plenty of other plays made by his teammates — not just his own — that helped Plano East earn the victory.
The eight plays preceding his touchdown reception were part of the most glorious drive in Plano East’s four-year varsity program history. Facing fourth-and-10 at the Plano East 20-yard line with 1:20 remaining, Burgess escaped several would-be tacklers and heaved a 54-yard pass to Tom Cadematori along the sideline at the Plano 25.
“I look at it more as great win for the team,” he said. “That’s how I remember it. Everyone had to play really good for us to win that game. The coaches had a good game plan. We were all focused. We executed the game plan pretty much to a ‘T.’ Plano’s quarterback at the time was Tony Cook. He was a really good player. Good runner, good passer. We were able to keep them in check.
“I just remember the eruption from the crowd after the touchdown. It was so loud. After the game, if you go anywhere in Plano and you had a Plano East jacket, you were treated royally.”
Memories of that game — and that catch — were rekindled Friday night. Piskor, a two-sport standout in football and baseball who graduated with the Class of 1986, was inducted into the Plano East Hall of Honor at Tom Kimbrough Stadium between the first and second quarters.
“It’s something that’s special,” he said. “It’s gratifying, but I’m looking at it more at as a team award. We had a bunch of good guys there. It is a good reflection on the whole group of guys.”
Piskor was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving with his family to Plano in seventh grade. He developed a passion for both baseball and football, playing both sports in middle school and high school, but football had a special way of energizing him.
“In Plano, football becomes part of your blood,” he said. “They’ve made movies about Friday Night Lights, but the movie is not far off what it’s like to play in Plano. I’ve lived in other places, but there is nothing like Texas high school football.”
Piskor also played cornerback, forming a standout defensive backfield duo with Roy Woods.
Highly recruited in both baseball and football, Piskor was selected by the New York Mets in the sixth round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft.
He chose to pursue professional baseball immediately after high school, spending four years in the Mets’ organization before returning to Texas to continue his education and football career at the University of North Texas, where he completed his degree.
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By David Wolman
Plano East head cross country coach Robert Reed felt the Panthers were as prepared as any team heading into the District 7-6A meet.
While some teams competed on flatter courses, Plano East wasn’t focused on chasing faster times. Reed believes that approach can create a false sense of confidence. Instead, the Panthers competed at venues that better prepared them for the hills of Myers Park in McKinney.
In fact, the District 7-6A meet marked Plano East’s second appearance at Myers Park this season. The Panthers previously competed against a much larger field at the McKinney Boyd Bronco Stampede on Sept. 12.
Plano East also raced on similar courses at Hoblitzelle Park in Plano, Pecan Grove Park in Sherman and Oklahoma State University.
That preparation paid off in a big way last week.
Plano East returned to Myers Park and captured its second consecutive district title in the girls’ division while finishing second in the boys’ race. It marked the first time since 2017 that Plano East qualified both its boys’ and girls’ teams for regionals in the same season.
“We were really prepared,” Reed said. “When the day is hot and the footing is tough, it’s about who has a tougher mentality. We did a good job of that. We have run on four of the toughest courses, other than Lubbock. I was trying to get the kids to understand that you can run faster later in the season, but it was about getting ready for district.”
Having conquered the district meet, the Panthers hope their experience on hilly courses will help them tackle another challenging venue: Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock, site of next Monday morning’s Region I-6A meet.
If Plano East competed in a different region, the Panthers might have had a state qualifier last year. Despite finishing 21st at regionals with a time faster than those of several state qualifiers in other regions, alumnus Reagan Noel fell eight seconds short of earning a berth at the state meet.
Noel has since graduated, but other Panthers have the potential to contend for a state berth.
Senior Meena Mulford ran a personal-best 19:20 at last year’s regional meet and has improved on that mark this season. She clocked a personal-best 19:02 at the Coach Marcus T Invite on Sept. 5 before finishing second at the District 7-6A meet in 19:30.
The Lady Panthers also have depth behind Mulford. Junior Sophia Nguyen placed sixth at districts, while senior Brooke Tierney finished seventh. Juniors Louisa Christensen and Reagan Diggs placed 16th and 18th, respectively, while senior Kate Salyer finished 17th and freshman Taylor Chu placed 26th.
On the boys’ side, Reed has praised the consistency of senior Isaac Updike, who earned All-District 7-6A first-team recognition after placing seventh.
Sophomore Levi Rowe qualified for regionals for the second consecutive year. After a slow start to the season, Rowe made significant progress over the past month, capped by a 12th-place finish at districts.
Sophomore Alex Castillo is peaking at the right time, while junior Trinabh Madadi, senior Michael Sharp and sophomore Grant Updike played key roles in helping the Panthers finish second in the district.
Plano East was without its No. 2 runner, senior Deyan Bhakta, at districts because of a hip injury. Reed is hopeful Bhakta can return for regionals.
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By Seth Dowdle
(Click on the link to view the photo gallery from the game: https://csmediatexas.dotphoto.com/CPViewAlbum.asp?AID=6888001)
Plano East erased an early 10-point deficit Friday night, pulling away in the second half for a 31-17 win over rival Plano.
The Panthers (5-2, 3-1 District 7-6A) were led by Treyce Seldon, who rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Quarterback Josh Gordon completed 14 of 19 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown while also adding 37 rushing yards and another score.
Plano (2-5, 2-2) built a 10-0 lead in the first half before Plano East answered with 24 straight points. Gordon connected with Aidan Forthman for a 58-yard touchdown via a well-timed flea flicker to help give the Panthers momentum heading into halftime. Seldon later scored twice on the ground allowing Plano East to take control.
Plano East now turns its attention to Richardson Berkner next week on Friday, Oct. 23 in yet another crucial district matchup.
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By David Wolman
MCKINNEY — Last year, the Plano East girls cross country team had to wait until after the District 7-6A meet to learn whether it had won the district championship.
Ultimately, Plano East prevailed in a tiebreaker against Prosper to claim its first district title since 2017.
At Monday morning’s district meet, the Lady Panthers faced another close battle, with Plano and Coppell close behind. But as runners crossed the finish line, head coach Robert Reed felt confident that a tiebreaker wouldn’t be necessary this time.
He was right.
Plano East scored 48 points at Myers Park to claim its second consecutive district title. Plano finished second with 59 points, while Coppell placed third with 60 points to also qualify for the Region I-6A meet.
“With us having three in the top 10 and others stepping up, we figured that we had it,” Reed said.
The Plano East boys also qualified for regionals as a team for the first time since 2019. The Panthers secured their spot in Lubbock by finishing second with 72 points, four ahead of Lake Highlands (76), which also qualified for regionals. Coppell won the team title with 36 points.
Monday marked the first time since 2017 that Plano East qualified both its boys and girls teams for the regional meet in the same year.
“It’s been a hot minute, but it was good enough to get both teams out to regionals,” Reed said. “Thankfully, we had enough of a gap today and got a little brave and see what we could make happen. I’m really proud of them.”
Coppell senior Maya Easterwood won the girls’ race in 18:44, but Plano East senior Meena Mulford delivered a strong performance of her own. Mulford finished second in 19:30, 26 seconds ahead of third-place finisher Finleigh Sanders-Burk, a Coppell sophomore who clocked 19:56.
Reed praised the effort of junior Sophia Nguyen, who finished sixth in 20:24. Her familiarity with the course paid off.
Senior Brooke Tierney also contributed to Plano East’s title, placing seventh in 20:34. Like Mulford and Nguyen, Tierney earned a spot on the All-District 7-6A first team by finishing in the top 10.
Juniors Louisa Christensen (16th, 21:05) and Reagan Diggs (18th, 21:08), along with senior Kate Salyer (17th, 21:07), ran as a pack to provide crucial team points for the championship effort. Freshman Taylor Chu placed 26th in 22:00, gaining valuable experience.
Freshman Josie Gryglas was crowned JV district champion.
On the boys’ side, senior Isaac Updike has led Plano East throughout the season and again set the tone Monday, placing sixth overall in 16:38.
Sophomore Levi Rowe continued his late-season push by finishing 12th in 16:48 and qualifying for regionals for the second consecutive year. Sophomore Alex Castillo finished just behind him in 13th in 17:08.
Junior Trinabh Madadi also earned a spot on the All-District 7-6A second team, placing 18th in 17:36.
Senior Michael Sharp finished 23rd in 17:49, while sophomore Grant Updike placed 29th in 18:26.
“Isaac has been really consistent,” Reed said. “Levi has bounced back and ran some better races. Same for Alex. We didn’t have our No. 2 (Deyan Bhakta) because of an injury, but we had other people come in and step up.”
The Region II-6A meet is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock.
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By David Wolman
At 6-foot-4, wide receiver Tim Wilson Jr., a 2016 graduate of Plano East, was a highly utilized weapon in the Panthers’ aerial attack.
Wilson used his height advantage to win contested catches along the sideline and in one-on-one coverage in the end zone.
His efforts powered an explosive Plano East offense that averaged 31.3 points per game during the 2015 season, helping lead the Panthers to a 7-4 overall record and their second playoff appearance in three years.
Wilson finished with 341 receiving yards and a team-high seven touchdown catches as a senior, earning a spot on the All-District 6-6A first team.
Wilson’s playmaking ability is still a memory that Panther fans continue to relive more than 10 years later.
Those memories were rekindled last Friday night when Wilson was inducted into the Plano East Hall of Honor between the first and second quarters of the Panthers’ home game against Richardson at Tom Kimbrough Stadium.
“After all this time, it was not on my mind that this would ever be happening to me,” he said. “Usually, you have guys from 30 years ago go into a hall of fame. I only graduated 10 years ago, but this is still a great honor.”
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By Seth Dowdle
(Click on the link for a photo gallery from the game: https://www.dotphoto.com/viewalbum.asp?AID=6889506)
Treyce Seldon delivered when Plano East needed him most Friday night.
Seldon scored on a 15-yard touchdown run with 1:21 remaining to give the Panthers a 39-35 comeback victory over Richardson at Tom Kimbrough Stadium. The score capped a huge night for Seldon, who rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns while also leading Plano East with five catches for 85 yards.
Richardson controlled much of the first half and led 29-21 at halftime, but Plano East (4-2, 2-1 District 7-6A) kept chipping away. Seldon’s 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter helped push the Panthers in front before Richardson briefly reclaimed the lead in the fourth.
Plano East’s defense then got the final stop, forcing an incomplete pass on the game’s last play.
Quarterback Josh Gordon finished with 204 passing yards and a touchdown, while Richardson’s Kingstin McAdams rushed for 237 yards and two scores.
Plano East will battle Plano at Tom Kimbrough Stadium next Friday.
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By David Wolman
Last year, Plano East’s girls team was in a unique situation. Plano East and Prosper tied for first place in the team standings, but the Lady Panthers won the tiebreaker for their first district title since 2017.
Plano East will look to win a second consecutive district title next Monday at Myers Park in McKinney.
The Lady Panthers lost their top runner to graduation, but senior Meena Mulford has excelled in the No. 1 role. Mulford battled an illness in the middle of the season but is ready to improve on her season-best time of 19:02.
Experience could help lead Plano East to a second straight district title.
Seniors Brooke Tierney and Kate Salyer, along with junior Louisa Christensen, were also key contributors for the Lady Panthers’ district-title team.
Plano East’s boys team is ranked in the top three in District 7-6A and should be in the mix to qualify for regionals.
Senior Isaac Updike, who placed 14th in last year’s district meet, has led the way for the Panthers this fall. Sophomore Levi Rowe seeks a second straight regional qualification after earning sixth last season in District 6-6A.
Senior Deyan Bhakta ran a personal-best time of 16:21 at the Coach T Marcus Invitational.
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By David Wolman
Plano East traveled to Oklahoma on Saturday for the prestigious Cowboy Jamboree.
Senior Meena Mulford finished 19th in 19:36.1 to pace the Lady Panthers in the large-school girls 5K race.
Senior Brooke Tierney took 75th in 20:57.7, junior Louisa Christensen was 76th in 20:57.8, junior Reagan Diggs placed 120th in 21:45.2, senior Kate Salyer was 127th in 21:49.8, junior Sophia Nguyen captured 136th in 21:57.4, freshman Taylor Chu took 218th in 23:17, freshman Josie Gryglas placed 219th in 23:17.1, freshman Evelyn Felipe was 243rd in 23:47.4, freshman Jordan Grant captured 244th in 23:47.8 and sophomore Emma Sahni was 284th in 25:01.9.
Leading the way for the Plano East boys was senior Isaac Updike, who finished 30th in the large-school boys 5K in 16:43.9.
Sophomore Alex Castillo (53rd, 17:09.3), sophomore Levi Rowe (61st, 17:15.6), senior Michael Sharp (71st, 17:23.2), sophomore Grant Updike (82nd, 17:31), sophomore Aiden Allen (116th, 17:52), junior Trinabh Madadi (120th, 17:54.1), sophomore Joshua Cruz (201st, 18:32.9), freshman Mohammad Raslan (212th, 18:38), senior Ryder Glenn (241st, 18:53.7) and junior Samuel Powell (270th, 19:11.3) rounded out the efforts for Plano East.
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By David Wolman
(Click on the link to view a photo gallery from the game: https://csmediatexas.dotphoto.com/CPViewAlbum.asp?AID=6889194)
PLANO — Although it was a Week 5 regular-season game with no serious playoff implications, Plano East treated last Friday as a must-win game.
Knowing that a loss would drop the Panthers to 0-2 in a highly competitive district, they made sure they didn’t head into their bye week having dropped further in the District 7-6A standings.
Senior quarterback Josh Gordon connected with senior wide receiver Cody Warner on a 19-yard touchdown pass, senior Logan Watkins made a 25-yard field goal and senior Jordan Stafford had a blocked field goal return for a touchdown with 1:48 remaining to seal a 24-6 win for Plano East over Plano West at John Clark Stadium on Friday.
All three scoring plays helped the Panthers (3-2 overall, 1-1 district) turn a 7-6 lead at the end of the third quarter into an eventual 18-point win.
Read the full story in the October 1st edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.
By David Wolman
Jeff Savage was always destined to be a Plano East Panther.
He grew up down the street from the school, and the band hall can be seen from his parents’ current house.
Also, his sister was part of Plano East’s first graduating class in 1982.
But what Savage always valued most about playing for the Panthers was the “Do your job, and I’ll do mine” mentality. There was never jealousy. Savage described the team camaraderie as a “brotherhood,” and there was always a “Not me, but us” mentality.
That’s why Savage, a 1990 Plano East graduate, made sure he paid tribute to each of his teammates prior to his induction into Plano East’s Hall of Honor last Friday evening at Tom Kimbrough Stadium.
Savage called each of his teammates in the weeks leading up to the ceremony.
Although he took a knee in the end zone to give thanks to God, waved to the crowd and was presented with a plaque, the former Plano East standout running back acknowledged the teammates who helped him earn recognition as an Associated Press Preseason All-American, Honorable Mention Parade All-American, a member of the National Top 100 Team and the Associated Press Super Prep Team, as well as a No. 7 ranking on the Dallas Times Herald’s Blue Chippers list.
Savage said Plano East’s offensive line of PJ Brooks, Alan Saviano, Joey Allen, Randall Harjo, Jason Wood and John LuBow was the reason he had as much individual success as he did.
“I had a great line,” Savage said. “They weren’t the biggest players, but they never gave up.”
Savage praised Allen, the Panthers’ starting center, for his blocking.
“He was little in stature but big in heart,” Savage said. “He was a 5-foot-8, 180-pound center, but he never missed a block. Even when we went up against larger schools, he didn’t give up. It was his grit and will to win.”
SMU had the “Pony Express,” the legendary 1980s backfield tandem of running backs Craig James and Eric Dickerson. Plano East had its own version of the “Pony Express,” with Savage, Mike Kennedy and Shane Haynes in the backfield and Chad Dousharm at quarterback.
“Those guys made it so much easier for me,” Savage said. “They took all the punishment. They ran for the short yards, let me run for the long yards.
“Chad was one of the most underrated quarterbacks in our area. I’ll never forget those guys. I’ll never forget those times. I never had as much fun playing football than I did at Plano East.”
Winning was something Savage did plenty of growing up. From the second grade until his senior year, he lost a total of five games. During his junior season in 1988, Plano East lost two games, against Newman Smith during the regular season and eventual state champion Dallas Carter in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
His claim to fame is that he helped lead Plano East to two wins over rival Plano, by scores of 26-0 and 31-8.
Savage grew up watching Tony Dorsett and O.J. Simpson, but it was Dickerson who really sparked his interest in playing running back.
“I patterned myself after Eric because he was taller like me,” Savage said.
Savage got to watch Dorsett play and practice live with regularity. Before the Savage family moved to Plano, they lived across the street from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility. His father, Jeff II, held his son on top of a fence to allow him to watch the Cowboys practice.
“I owe everything to my daddy,” Savage said. “I have the greatest mom, but my dad is my best friend. He was running me in the hot sun and pushing me to do better.
“I saw how hard we worked and how tired he was, but he didn’t make excuses. He made sure that I went to the Cowboys football games, to a Texas A&M camp and University of Houston camp.”
After graduating from Plano East, Savage played college football at the University of Arkansas and then professionally with the Milwaukee Mustangs’ arena football team.
Savage currently works as a maintenance department manager at an oil refinery in southern Arkansas, and he traces his leadership skills to his days of playing football for Plano East.
“It taught me about safety, teamwork and being a brother’s keeper,” he said. “I have 140 guys that look up to me. Those are things that I picked up at Plano East.”
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