Offensive-Minded Lufkin Looks to Keep It Rolling Against Plano West

Class 5A Division II Region II
Semifinal

Lufkin Panthers (9-3)
vs.
Plano West Wolves (8-4)

2 p.m. Saturday
Waco ISD Stadium

Coaches
Lufkin: Todd Quick
Plano West: Mike Hughes

Road to Regionals

Lufkin

• Bi-district: def. Spring Dekaney, 35-20
• Area: def. Pflugerville, 56-43

Plano West

• Bi-district: def. Richardson Lake Highlands, 42-35
• Area: def. South Garland, 37-27

Next week: Winner plays Longview or Austin Westlake in a 5A Division II Region II final.

Playmakers

Lufkin

• QB Tyler Stubblefield, Sr. (179 of 288, 3,125 yards, 35 TDs, 14 INTs; 91 carries, 176 yards, 7 TDs)
• WR JaBryce Taylor, Sr. (78 catches, 1,391 yards, 13 TDs; committed to SMU)
• RB Kendrick Mapp, Sr. (170 carries, 1,186 yards, 14 TDs; 14 catches, 288 yards, 3 TDs)
• ATH Key'vantanie Coutee, Soph. (56 catches, 768 yards, 10 TDs; 24 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Jamal Jeffery, Jr. (31 catches, 613 yards, 9 TDs)
• DE Demontrai Lewis, Sr.
• DT D.J. Williams, Jr.

Plano West

• QB Travis Korry, Sr. (113 of 182, 1,911 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs; 144 carries, 839 yards, 14 TDs)
• RB Sotoyne Jamabo, Soph. (189 carries, 1,458 yards, 21 TDs; 17 catches, 431 yards, 4 TDs)
• WR Connor Doyle, Sr. (29 catches, 606 yards, 5 TDs)
• RB Auston Anderson, Jr. (130 carries, 860 yards, 10 TDs; 12 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD)
• WR Austin Copeland, Sr. (36 catches, 598 yards, 2 TDs)
• WR Zac Gideo, Sr. (31 catches, 514 yards, 2 TDs)

Just the facts

• Lufkin is in the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005 when the Panthers finished 14-1 and reached the state semifinals.
• Since 1998, Lufkin is among the winningest Class 5A programs in the state, compiling a record of 154-37 record (.806 winning percentage).
• The Panthers are averaging 39.2 points and 428.6 yards per game on offense. During Lufkin's current six-game winning streak, the Panthers are averaging 42.8 points.
• The combined record of the three teams that defeated Lufkin this season (John Tyler, Longview, The Woodlands) is 28-8.
• Plano West's offense averages 37.3 points and 472 yards per game. The Wolves' defense, however, gives up an average of 33.3 points and 432.8 yards.
• The combined record of the four teams team that defeated Plano West this season (Lake Highlands, Mesquite, McKinney Boyd, Allen) is 36-10.

Key matchup: Lufkin passing game vs. Plano West secondary. The Panthers offense is on quite the roll, especially in the passing department. In last week's win over Pflugerville, Lufkin quarterback Tyler Stubblefield passed for 376 yards and seven touchdowns and it was spread out to his three primary weapons -- JaBryce Taylor, Key'vantanie Coutee and Jamal Jeffery. Coutee had eight catches for 112 yards, Jeffery had six for 115 and four touchdowns and Taylor had three receptions for 96 yards and a score. That's a lot for an opposing defense to prepare for, but that's the task that awaits Plano West, which has struggled all season long on

defense. The Wolves allow more than 400 yards per game, 231.8 of which is through the air. Plano West allowed 371 passing yards to Mesquite, 405 against McKinney and 421 versus Plano East. If Lufkin can replicate its recent success with the aerial attack, the Panthers will be in good shape.

Don't be surprised if: There are ton of points scored in this one. Plano West averages more yards and just about the same amount of points per game as Lufkin. The Wolves put up more than 500 yards in a game on three separate occasions this season, including a 718-yard effort against McKinney. The Panthers defense struggled early, but has come on of late. Lufkin switched to a 4-3 midway through the season after struggling to stop the run in blowout losses to Longview and The Woodlands. The Panthers have been better much since getting out of the 3-4 and 4-2-5 alignment. That could come in handy on Saturday against a Plano West offense that averages 273 rushing yards per game.