Little Elm completes comeback win over Plano West behind strong performance from QB John Mateer - The Dallas Morning News

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PLANO — Watching an early 13-point lead melt away into an 11-point fourth quarter deficit would have been the end for some teams.

“That’s the kind of game we wouldn’t have won last year,’’ said Little Elm’s John Mateer.

But the senior quarterback orally committed to Central Arkansas drove his team to a pair of touchdowns in the final seven minutes and the Little Elm defense stopped a desperation Plano West threat in the final seconds for a thrilling 35-31 victory Friday night at John Clark Stadium.

Mateer completed 19 of 27 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns and called it the most competitive game of his career.

Little Elm (3-0), No. 18 in SportsDay’s Class 6A area ranking, is off to its best start since 2017.

Plano West (2-1), No. 19 in the area, rallied from an early 14-point deficit to lead 31-20 and still had a chance at the end until its final possession was stopped on downs at the Little Elm 11.

“Our kids stayed together and stayed poised,’’ said Little Elm coach Kendrick Brown. “They don’t get rattled. And kudos to our defense on that last stop.’’

The Lobos’ hurry-up offense is built for situations like the 31-20 deficit it faced with eight minutes remaining. Mateer’s 41-yard connection with Air Force pledge Dylan Evans set up the touchdown and clicked again for a two-point conversion that brought Little Elm within three. The scoring drive ended a Wolves’ 24-point run.

Plano West lost 14 yards on its following possession, setting the stage for Little Elm’s 55-yard winning drive capped by Mateer’s 10-yard throw rolling to his right to Vashawn Thomas II, parked just inside the goal line.

Dermot White, who entered Week 3 as the No. 2 area rusher in Class 6A, gave Plano West hope with a 47-yard run on its final possession. The 5-9, 180-pound junior finished with 25 carries for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He also was the leading receiver with four catches for 61 yards. The Little Elm defense stopped a fourth-down keeper by Plano West’s Vance Feuerbacher to clinch the victory.

“We knew we were playing a really good team,’’ said Plano West third-year head coach Tyler Soukup, who has the program on the upswing with a playoff appearance last year after winning only two games in the prior four seasons. “We had our chances at the end.’’

Little Elm cashed in with its quick tempo attack for touchdowns on its first three possessions to open a 20-7 lead.

Mateer found Cameran Taylor-Butler (nine catches, 87 yards) in the left flat for touchdowns of 17 and 15 yards to go up 14-0.

Plano West, playing at a much more deliberate pace, used six minutes to go 54 yards late in the first period capped by White’s 3-yard scoring run to make it 14-7.

Little Elm caught a break when a Plano West facemask foul on third down kept the Lobos third consecutive scoring drive alive. Mateer connected with Jalen Sessions on a 54-yard scoring pass to make it 20-7.

Feuerbacher’s determined 3-yard scoring run on fourth down with three minutes remaining in the half cut the Little Elm led to six. Plano West got even closer when Eli Smith recovered a muffed Little Elm punt in the final seconds of the half to set up Rishabh Sajjan’s 24-yard field goal. Despite being outgained 249-98 in the half, Plano West trailed only 20-17 at intermission.

On Twitter: @randyejennings

1/23Plano West fans shoot blue powder into the air before a high school football game against Little Elm on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

2/23Plano West takes the field before a high school football game against Little Elm on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

3/23Little Elm takes the field before a high school football game against Plano West on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

4/23The American flag flies at half staff to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as Plano West players stand for the national anthem before a high school football game against Little Elm on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

5/23Little Elm senior quarterback John Mateer (4) throws on a two point conversion attempt during the first half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

6/23Little Elm senior quarterback John Mateer (4) fights through the tackle of Plano West junior linebacker Bryce Staples (49) on a two point conversion attempt during the first half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

7/23Little Elm senior defensive lineman Troy Walker (49) drags down Plano West junior running back Vance Feuerbacher (19) as Little Elm senior linebacker Isaiah Brooks (30) closes in during the first half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

8/23Little Elm senior defensive back Keyshon Mills (7) breaks up a would-be touchdown pass intended for Plano West senior wide receiver Charlie Johnson (3) during the first half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

9/23A penalty flag flies in as Little Elm senior wide receiver Josh Joseph (1) makes the catch in front of Plano West junior defensive back Letravius Keeton (23) and senior defensive back Reese Gunby (2) during the first half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. The play was called back because of an ineligible receiver downfield. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

10/23Plano West junior running back Dermot White (21) tries to break through the arms of Little Elm sophomore linebacker Osa Adonri (33) and senior defensive lineman Troy Walker (49) during the first half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

11/23Little Elm senior kick returner Terrance Brooks (8) heads upfield on a kickoff return during the first half of a high school football game against Plano West on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

12/23Little Elm senior wide receiver Cameran Taylor-Butler runs in for a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Plano West on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

13/23Little Elm senior quarterback John Mateer (4) throws a pass during the first half of a high school football game against Plano West on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

14/23Plano West junior quarterback Vance Feuerbacher (19) tries to escape the tackle of Little Elm senior linebacker Tyson Bope (35) on a scramble during the first half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

15/23Little Elm senior wide receiver Vashawn Thomas III (3) makes the catch on a go-ahead touchdown as Plano West junior linebacker Bryce Staples (49) looks on during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

16/23Plano West junior quarterback Vance Feuerbacher (19) drops back to pass against Little Elm during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

17/23Little Elm senior Brandon Dickinson does a curl for every point his team scored during the second half of a high school football game against Plano West on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

18/23Little Elm senior wide receiver Vashawn Thomas III (3) makes the catch on a go-ahead touchdown in front of Plano West junior defensive back Letravius Keeton (23) during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

19/23Little Elm senior wide receiver Dylan Evans (2) makes a catch in front of Plano West junior defensive backs Donovan Martin (12) and Gael Aguirre (17) during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

20/23Plano West junior quarterback Vance Feuerbacher (19) turns upfield against Little Elm during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

21/23Plano West junior running back Dermot White (21) cuts away from Little Elm junior defensive back Chase Davis (20) during the second half of a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. Little Elm won 35-31. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

22/23Little Elm senior quarterback John Mateer (4) celebrates with fans after his team’s 35-31 win over Plano West in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

23/23Little Elm sophomore linebacker Osa Adonri (33) leads the crowd in a chant after his team’s 35-31 win over Plano West in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 at John Clark Stadium in Plano, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)

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September 11, 2021 at 11:36AM
https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/football/2021/09/10/little-elm-completes-comeback-win-over-plano-west-behind-strong-performance-from-qb-john-mateer/

Little Elm completes comeback win over Plano West behind strong performance from QB John Mateer - The Dallas Morning News

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