Gregory Powers Sandwich to 27-20 Win Over Plano in Rivalry Classic
Source: The Shaw Local News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
On a sweltering Friday night that forced several schools across the region to postpone games, Sandwich and Plano delivered a rivalry showdown that lived up to its 115-year legacy. The Indians rode the legs of senior running back Wyatt Gregory to a 27-20 victory, their fourth consecutive win over the Reapers in the storied 'War on 34' series.
Gregory, who entered the game after a 259-yard, two-touchdown performance the previous week, was again the focal point. He carried the ball 15 times for 165 yards and two scores, including a stunning 61-yard touchdown on his very first carry. "They've been talking about me all week, saying I'm not going to do nothing," Gregory said. "First time I get the ball, I just run all the way down the field on them. I was so stoked."
But the heat and humidity took a toll. Gregory had to repeatedly leave the field to cool down. "I had to keep coming off the sideline. I was feeling overheated and sick," he admitted. "But no matter what, I wanted to keep going out there for my teammates, and I knew we could beat Plano."
Sandwich's ground game amassed 303 rushing yards, with Chase Clark acting as the primary workhorse — 22 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. The Indians opened the scoring early after a fourth-down stop in the red zone set them up at their own 8-yard line. A few plays later, Gregory burst through the line for the long score.
Plano answered quickly in the second quarter when Brenton Gsell returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown. Sandwich regained the lead on a 6-yard run by junior Landon Coleman, though the extra point was missed, making it 13-7. The Reapers then mounted a drive just before halftime. Braylon Schmidt connected with Ethan Taxis for a 31-yard gain, then found Finley Winter for an 8-yard touchdown pass with one second left. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed the extra point attempt back, and the kick was missed, leaving the game tied 13-13 at the break.
Penalties plagued both teams — Plano finished with 10 for 100 yards, Sandwich with seven for 74 yards. Plano coach Kyle Tutt acknowledged the discipline issue: "We go back and continue to find the mistakes. Consistent execution is something we've talked about, and it's not like we're getting blown out of games. We're right there."
Midway through the third quarter, Gregory scored on a 2-yard run, but the two-point conversion failed, making it 19-13. Clark's 3-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter, followed by a two-point conversion run by quarterback Cash White, extended the lead to 27-13. But Plano struck back quickly — just 25 seconds later, Schmidt found Taxis for a 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown, cutting the deficit to 27-20.
White, who attempted only two passes (both incomplete), said the defensive lapse was frustrating: "We just didn't wrap up our tackle. We knew that shouldn't have happened. We came up big that next defensive series, didn't let him do that again." Schmidt finished 5-of-11 for 64 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Taxis led all receivers with three catches for 83 yards and a score.
With time winding down, Plano got a final chance after stopping Sandwich on fourth down. But the Reapers gained only two yards on three plays, and on fourth-and-3, White stopped Cooper Beaty short of the line to gain. "I thought we did what we wanted," Tutt said. "We got in fourth-and-3, we knew we were in four-down territory, and you've got to give credit to them making a play on that play."
Sandwich then ran out the clock, securing the 59th win in the series for the Indians. The victory carried extra meaning for coach Jason VanPelt, who remembered his late mentor, former Sandwich principal Gil Morrison, who passed in 2017. "Any time we beat Plano, he'd always say, 'it's good to beat Plano,' and happy to do that for him ... it's very special for us to do that," VanPelt said.
This game also marked the final edition of the rivalry in the current conference alignment. Sandwich will leave the Kishwaukee River Conference next year for the Illinois Central Eight, where they are expected to play a closed nine-game schedule. The uncertain future of the 'War on 34' brought mixed emotions for players. Gregory reflected: "It feels relieving. It's sad that it's over, but I'm glad that we won, and part of me is happy it's over."
Article commentary
The 115th meeting between Sandwich and Plano demonstrated why this rivalry remains one of the most compelling in Illinois high school football. Beyond the final score, the game encapsulated the essence of small-town football: emotion, resilience, and a deep connection to community history. Wyatt Gregory's performance was the centerpiece, but the narrative extends far beyond his stat line. The senior running back's ability to fight through heat exhaustion and still deliver a game-breaking 61-yard run on his first carry speaks to his mental toughness. His comment about opponents talking trash all week only to see him 'run all the way down the field' adds a layer of competitive fire that fuels such rivalries. However, the reliance on Gregory and Chase Clark in the running game also raises questions about Sandwich's offensive balance. Cash White attempted only two passes, completing none. While the ground game succeeded against a struggling Plano defense, future opponents may load the box and force the Indians to throw more consistently. Plano, despite an 0-3 record, showed flashes of competitiveness. The Reapers responded to every Sandwich score, and their passing game — led by Braylon Schmidt and Ethan Taxis — proved capable of big plays. The 64-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Taxis was a moment of brilliance. But discipline remains a glaring issue. Ten penalties for 100 yards, including a costly unsportsmanlike conduct call that led to a missed extra point just before halftime, have become a recurring theme. Coach Kyle Tutt acknowledged the problem, but until execution becomes consistent, close losses will continue to pile up. The emotional weight of the game was palpable. Coach Jason VanPelt's tribute to his late mentor Gil Morrison — 'it's good to beat Plano' — grounded the rivalry in a human context that transcends wins and losses. Morrison's words, delivered posthumously through a coach still carrying his legacy, add a layer of meaning that statistics cannot capture. This is the kind of tradition that makes high school sports unique. Looking ahead, the series faces an uncertain future. Sandwich will move to the Illinois Central Eight Conference next year, leaving the Kishwaukee River Conference and ending the annual 'War on 34' in its current form. While the schools could still schedule non-conference games, the continuity of the rivalry will likely be disrupted. Gregory's bittersweet reflection — 'sad that it's over' yet 'happy it's over' — captures the tension between preserving tradition and the natural evolution of conference alignments. From a broader perspective, this game underscores the importance of sustaining local rivalries in an era of realignment. The emotional investment of players, coaches, and communities creates a narrative richness that neutral-site games or conference-only schedules often lack. Whether Sandwich and Plano continue to meet or this becomes a cherished memory, the 2026 edition will be remembered for Gregory's heroics, the penalties that cost Plano, and the enduring spirit of a rivalry built on respect and competition.