By Jake Thompson, Hendricks County Flyer
11/6/2008
PLAINFIELD — The Plainfield Quaker football team has enjoyed some success over the past couple of seasons, however, a sectional title has eluded them. Plainfield reached the sectional finals in each of the past two years but lost each time — in 2006 to Indianapolis Cathedral and in 2007 to Westfield.
It is a trend Quaker coach Brian Woodard wants to change as the team heads to Zionsville at 7 p.m. this Friday for another shot at a title. A resilient senior class may be the key for the Quakers on this attempt.
“A lot of these seniors have been a part of our success in the past,” Woodard said. “This senior group beat Roncalli, the first time in school history, and have been a part of the most incredible victories in recent program history. When you succeed in huge games like that, the team realizes it takes a little extra to get those type of wins.”
A big reason for the Quakers’ success is senior running back Zane Fakes. Fakes has averaged 191.5 yards per game with a 6.6-yard per carry average this season and has 29 touchdowns on the year. He accomplished those impressive numbers while playing both ways, as he also starts at linebacker for Plainfield.
“A majority of our offense is going to run through Zane and his worth to us is immense,” Woodard said. “That is not a mystery and in both the offensive and defensive phases of the game he is extremely important to us.”
Without a strong offensive line, Fakes, like any tailback, would struggle to get anywhere. Linemen James Hurst, Evan Eckert, Bryan Brock, Joey Donovan, Bryce Chambers and Ben Hetrick along with tight ends Jared Cox and Jeremy Parker and fullback Nick Massey are responsible for an offense that has gained 2,948 yards on the ground this season.
“We are an I-formation team and it does not take a rocket scientist to know we need a good tail back but we also have to be strong up front,” Woodard said. “Our guys up front are as good as anybody’s. They are a very well-coached group of young men”
Woodard is impressed with the Eagles and knows his team is in for another challenge.
“Zionsville is probably the best all-around defense that we have seen all year,” Woodard said. “On offense they want to do what we want to do, run it first and throw it second. They are a very physical team with some legitimate Division I talent in a variety of positions.”
It will be a tough task for the Quaker defense, although they have only given up 15 points per contest this season.
Senior linebacker Tyler Foster leads the team with 64 solo tackels, while Fakes has 48 solo tackles.
After beginning the season 1-2, the Quakers have reeled off eight straight wins following a triple-overtime loss to Whiteland on September 12th. Plainfield’s momentum is a big part of why they are in the sectional finals for the third consecutive year.
“These kids had never lost two games in-a-row,” Woodard said. “To come back and stare down the barrel of playing Roncalli that next week and finding a way to beat them, it became a huge rallying point in our season. I thought we capitalized on the momentum of that game and went on do some pretty good things.”
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