Unfortunately for Temple, Plano star Rex Burkhead outscored the host Wildcats all by himself and got plenty of help from his offensive mates.
Temple hung around and didn’t let Plano get too comfortable, but Burkhead ran for 215 yards and four touchdowns and scored on a reception and a punt return as the visiting Wildcats recorded their 700th win in program history by beating Temple 49-29 at Wildcat Stadium.
It was the teams’ first meeting since 1983, the last of their four memorable playoff clashes in a six-year span.
Temple junior Lache Seastrunk ran for 147 yards, highlighted by an 84-yard score, Marcus Jones rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Tevin Reese caught six passes for 87 yards.
However, their production couldn’t match that of Plano (4-0) - which got 268 passing yards from Carson Meger - as Temple finished its pre-District 12-5A schedule at 0-3 going into its opener at College Station A&M Consolidated.
“Plano is a very good team and offensively they executed very well with some very talented kids,” Temple coach Bryce Monsen said after his Wildcats allowed 504 yards total offense. “We’re just proud that our kids did not give in. That’s why you play those folks.
“We know this game could’ve been closer. We need to take this game and use it as a learning tool that will help us down the road.”
Plano first-year head coach Jaydon McCullough admitted that this victory - which put the Wildcats in the 700 club along with Dallas Highland Park and Amarillo - had extra meaning for his program.
“I grew up in Plano, so I’m very proud of it,” he said. “Of all those wins, I only have four of them (as head coach). I’ve had great mentors in (former Plano coaches) John Clark, Tom Kimbrough and Gerald Brence, and to carry on the tradition means the world.”
Although highly recruited senior Burkhead - who ran for 33 touchdowns last year for 13-2 Plano - was the big star, McCullough credited those who complemented him.
“Rex had a great night, but Carson Meger had a great night, (receivers) Kris Lott and Robert Robinson had a great night and our offensive line had a great night,” he said.
The 6-foot, 205-pound Burkhead - a polished blend of speed, power, agility and instincts - dominated the game’s first quarter.
On its first possession, Plano went for it on fourth-and-10 from Temple’s 30-yard line and made the gamble pay off when Burkhead snared Meger’s crossing pass and sliced through the secondary for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with three minutes gone.
Temple quickly responded, with Seastrunk’s 20-yard run and Daniel Carr’s 56-yard dash setting up Jones’ 4-yard scoring rumble for a 7-6 game.
But Plano came right back, with Lott’s 36-yard reception leading to Burkhead’s 7-yard touchdown burst up the middle to make it 14-6 midway through the opening period.
Plano’s defense then forced a Temple three-and-out, and again Burkhead produced a dynamic play. He fielded a punt at the Temple 49, ran toward the right side, then took off and cut back to the middle for another touchdown to extend the lead to 21-6.
“Burkhead is what everybody said he is. He’s a great player,” Monsen said. “That punt return got us off rhythm, and you can’t do that in big ballgames.”
Temple managed to stay within striking distance, helped greatly by Meger’s fumble that D.J. Daniels scooped up at the Temple 5 and returned to the Plano 9 early in the second quarter. That led to a 3-yard Jones TD, making it 21-13.
After Meger connected with a sprawling Cameron Swiney for a 14-yard touchdown pass two minutes before halftime for a 28-13 game, Temple’s Chris Winkler kicked a 29-yard field goal to pull the host Wildcats to within 28-16 at the break.
“At halftime, I told our kids, ‘You’ve got to be ready for Temple in the second half,’” McCullough said. “And I was very happy with the way our kids responded.”
Plano started the second half with a six-minute drive capped by Burkhead’s 3-yard scoring run, but on the next snap Seastrunk blazed down the right sideline for an 84-yard TD to keep it close at 35-23.
However, Burkhead’s 63-yard sprint set up his 7-yard score later in the third, and he added an easy 5-yard TD run early in the fourth to make it 49-23 before Temple capped the scoring with Kevin Lock’s 2-yard pass to A.J. Coulter.
“We played a tremendous pre-district schedule, so we don’t hang our heads at all,” Monsen said. “You’d always like to win, but we’ve got to look forward to district. Now it’s a whole new season.”
gwille@temple-telegram.com
