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Top 10 Frisco and Little Elm Sports Stories of 2012: 7. Making history: Rangers earn first-ever playoff berth
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
CARROLLTON – It was only a matter of time until Lone Star earned its first playoff berth.
That time came Thursday night after the Rangers (7-3, 2-2) defeated Carrollton Ranchview, 35-7, from Standridge Stadium.
"When you're a new program, you're going to take your lumps for a while," said Phil Fuller, Lone Star head coach. "These kids have been through a lot to get here so it's a big deal for them."
Harris finished the game with a team-high 81 yards on 17 carries after missing extended time earlier this season with an injured ankle.
"[Harris] is getting close to 100 percent," Fuller said.
Although the game looked destined for a shootout after the opening two possessions, both teams buckled down on defense for a majority of the half and limited the number of extended drives.
The 7-7 score held until the second quarter, when senior quarterback Will Campbell found sophomore receiver Jordan Jones for a 24-yard touchdown strike to give Lone Star its first lead of the night.
The play was the first of three receiving touchdowns for Jones, who finished the game with nine catches for 138 yards.
Jones' first score made it 14-7 with 11:32 left in the opening half and the Rangers would carry that advantage into the locker room after both teams failed to score for a remainder of the quarter.
"We missed on some key plays on [Ranchview's] first drive," Fuller said. "After that, the kids picked up the intensity and played a lot better on defense."
Lone Star had a chance to extend its lead early in the second half after marching into field goal range on the team's opening drive of the third quarter. However, sophomore kicker Cameron Scott couldn't nail a 36-yard attempt and the drive ended with no Lone Star points.
Matters got worse for Ranchview when Wadley was shaken up soon after and left the game without returning.
Sophomore Raghib Ismail filled in for Wadley under center and had a tough time solving the Lone Star defense. Ismail and the Wolves were forced to punt on their opening drive of the third before Campbell found Jones once again, hooking up on a 64-yard pass to go ahead 21-7 with 6:45 left in the frame.
"[Campbell] had a good game," Fuller said. "He was under a lot of pressure at some times but still made some good throws."
Campbell finished with 274 yards and four touchdowns after completing 18-of-22 attempts.
The senior signal caller would take advantage of an Ismail interception later in the third after sophomore Corey Craddock brought the pick out to the Ranchview 48-yard line. It took Campbell only two plays to find senior receiver Jordan Ruby for a 50-yard touchdown pass that gave the Rangers a 28-7 advantage heading into the fourth.
"Those long passes were huge," Fuller said. "[Ranchview] was in the game until those throws."
The Wolves had a chance at their first score since the opening drive of the game in the fourth quarter when junior cornerback Torey Sessoms picked Ismail off in the end zone for a touchback. Ismail completed just 2-of-11 pass attempts for 9 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns.
The sophomore's second turnover allowed the Rangers to build an insurmountable lead after Campbell threw his fourth touchdown of the night by hitting Jones from 7 yards out.
Jones' third touchdown made it a 35-7 contest and neither team was able to add to that score, giving Lone Star the victory and its first-ever playoff berth.
The Rangers also have the luxury of a bye during the final week of the regular season.
"It should give us a chance to heal and get some players back," Fuller said.
Specifics of Lone Star's first-round playoff game were not known as of press time.
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