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The visiting Reapers and Aurora Central Catholic exchanged the lead five times on a rainy Friday evening. Jimmy Eul's 2-yard touchdown run with 5:47 left in regulation provided the decisive score in the Chargers' 22-20 win in the season opener for both teams. "We went up, they responded. We went up, they responded," Plano coach Brad Kunz said. "They scored last." Bryson Schmidt's 44-yard touchdown pass to Demetri Coker with 7:18 left in the third quarter gave the Reapers their last lead, 20-16. The two-point conversion failed, setting the stage for ACC's late score. (Photo provided)
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Coker, who ran for 87 yards on 19 carries, earlier took in a two-point conversion run after Gabriel Rodriguez's 75-yard punt return for a TD. But Schmidt was just 4-for-14 for 63 yards, all four completions on screen passes, in the inclement conditions. Schmidt scored Plano's first touchdown, on a 12-yard run. "We couldn't throw as much as we'd like to," Kunz said. "Our defense kept us in the game. Our two inside linebackers and our two safeties made a lot of plays, and that starts up front." (Photo provided)
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Connor Kensel indeed had a huge night, with 10 solo tackles and 10 assists. Omar Nunez had 10 solos and seven assists. "They were put into bad field position a lot," Kunz said. "They made a lot of plays." The Reapers' defense was twice victims of misfortune. In the first quarter Plano recovered a fumble, but ACC was allowed to replay a down after an inadvertant whistle was called. The Chargers scored two plays later on Euhl's 7-yard touchdown pass to Danny Kuttner. (Photo provided)
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With seconds left in the first half, a bad snap on a Plano punt set up ACC. Euhl's 2-yard touchdown run, and the two-point conversion, pushed the Chargers ahead 14-8 at the half. Eul was 10-for-20 for 91 yards and Jeffrey Albert ran for 126 yards for ACC. "Our kids stay composed throughout, and never let up," Kunz said. "Our kids trusted each other. They were not going to fold. That was a good thing for us." The Reapers return to action next Friday at home against Marengo, a 46-8 loser to Sterling on Friday. (Photo provided)