By TERRY ALAN
Copyright 2006 KylGrafX

For area high school teams, the weekend marked the start of the 2006 football season.  The most impressive debuts came from Odessa Permian's 41-0 route of Lubbock High on Friday and Midland High's 35-22 thumping of North Crowley on Saturday.  The other two district favorites picked to reach post-season - Abilene High and Midland Lee - got knocked off by Austin Westlake and Rockwall.

Mojo broke out with in the second quarter on a Nick McFall punt return down the right sideline for 7-0 lead.  On the following kickoff, Lubbock High fumbled on the 15-yd line and Permian was back in business.  On the first play from scrimmage, Melvis Pride took a double reserve into the end zone.  The opening series of the third quarter resulted in the first of two touchdown runs by Jarvas Morris to put the Panthers up 21-0.  Lightening would strike twice when Pride reached paydirt on his second double reverse.  Permian started the fourth quarter up 28-0, Morris added another score and Shaquay Gant increased the final tally of 41-0 to close out the scoring.

Austin Westlake took advantage of Eagle miscues early in the game and handed Abilene High a 35-9 loss.  On the opening kickoff, Cassius Burks fumbled the return, and Westlake recovered the ball on the 1-yd line.  Chaps fullback Bron Hager ran the ball in for a touchdown less than a minute into the game.  Brandon Williams broke a 60-yard run to the Westlake 20-yard line on the first play of the ensuing drive, but Abilene had to settle for a field goal attempt which sailed wide left.  The Eagles got a second chance at a field goal in the second quarter and hit a 22-yard field goal.  AHS headed to the locker room down 21-3.  In the second half, the Chaps scored two more times and Chris Williams scored for the Eagles late in the fourth quarter.

Rockwall exposed several Midland Lee weaknesses in the 35-13 Rebel loss.  Three of the four Rockwall first half touchdowns came from less than 10 yards out due to two Rebel fumbles and another by the long kickoff return.  The Rebel defense allowed 187 rushing yards and 124 passing yards.  Offensively, Lee quarterback Corey Petro ran for 98 yards and threw for another 82 yards, but constantly had the Rockwall defenders in his face.  Daviian Roberts had both of the Rebel scores on 62 and 29 yard runs and ended the night with 131 yards rushing.  Jasper McKee added 75 ground yards on nine carries.  The Lee special teams need a serious overhaul before district begins.  In a game that should have been a three touchdown difference, Odessa High escaped from Big Spring with a slim 36-28 win over the Steers.  Daniel Rivas caught two touchdowns passes, including an 18-yarder from quarterback David Camacho, for the Bronchos.  Odessa High's Malcolm Hunt ran for three touchdowns in the come from behind victory.

In the first of the two Saturday games, Midland High dismantled North Crowley 35-22 in Grande Communications Stadium.  The Bulldogs jumped out to a 21-point first quarter lead and never turned loose of the lead or momentum.  Midland started things off with a fumble recovery in the end zone by Tanner Foster with just 11 seconds off the clock.   Midland's Brandon Batch caught a 63-yard pass from Joe Roberson for the team's second score, and ran in two more touchdowns, finishing with 138-yards rushing and 76-yards receiving.  In the Saturday nightcap, Abilene Cooper was dealt a tough 28-25 loss by Weatherford.  The Cougars got on the board first on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Zach Stewart to JoJo Jones.  Weatherford answered back two plays later on a 70-yd blast to tie the game, 7-7.  The Cougars would trail 21-16 at the half.  Jones busted loose for a 7-yd TD run late in the third to put the Cougars up 22-21.  The Roos answered back on a 19-yd run to paydirt to reclaim the lead, 28-22.  Cooper threatened with eight minutes left in regulation, but the Weatherford defense forced the Cougars to settle with a 32-yd field goal to close the gap to 28-25.  CHS had one last chance :09 on the clock, but the Hailmary pass was picked off to end the game.