ODESSA PERMIAN AT ABILENE HIGH
STATS AND VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Expect a low scoring first quarter, followed by an explosion in the second.  In the third quarter, both teams will trade scores.  Permian will wear down the Abilene defense in the fourth quarter and take control of the game.  That was my forecast for the weekend's big game between Permian and Abilene.  The Clash of Unbeatens played it out in Shotwell Stadium, as if to follow the script.  Permian celebrated the 28-21 conclusion.

The Eagles took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter as quarterback Spens Lackey ran for one score and passed for the other TD early in the second.  Down by two touchdowns, the Panthers responded with an 80-yard drive capped by a 27-yard pass from Taylor Byrd to Joseph Knighten.  Mojo safety Eugene Neboh returned an interception 30 yards to the Eagle 3-yard line, which allowed Byrd to score the tying touchdown on the next play.  A Michael McNatt 35-yard field goal gave Permian a 17-14 halftime lead.

McNatt added a 32-yarder to increase the Panther lead to 20-14 midway through the third stanza.  The Eagles answered back when Lackey scored on a 6-yard run with 23 seconds left in the third quarter to put Abilene High on top 21-20.  Lackey went 14-of-26 for 166 yards.  Permian finished with 313 total yards, while holding Abilene High to 242.  Berryhill finished with 92 yards on 16 carries and Byrd finished 15-of-25 for 212 yards.

With the game on the line, the Black Cats mounted a scoring drive that would indicate the mark of a champion.  Ryan Rumbaugh would nab two key receptions to set the Panthers up at the 9-yard line.  Jamison Berryhill would bull his way through the Abilene defense to reach paydirt.  The two-point conversion was successful, thanks to the scrambling abilities of Byrd.  The Mojo defense asserted itself, giving up just two first downs (one by penalty) the rest of the way.

With the Mojo victory over Abilene, a win against Odessa or Midland will clinch the District 3-5A title for Permian - the first time since 1994.  Okay, yes it's safe to say Mojo Is Back.
 

MIDLAND LEE AT ODESSA HIGH
GAME PHOTOS | VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
The Rebels scored four touchdowns in the third quarter to blow open a close game and cruise to a 51-14 victory.  The final margin is quite a contrast to the 16-14 lead the Rebels held at halftime.

Bronchos quarterback Derrick Teegarden finished 13 of 27 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 21 times for 70 yards.  He was overshadowed by Midland Lee’s Corey Petro, who rushed for three touchdowns and caught a 34-yard pass from Jason Nash for another.  Petro finished with 122 yards on 18 carries.

Having driven Odessa High to the Midland Lee 46, Teegarden found wide receiver Javorian Guyton downfield at the 38.  Just as Guyton pulled in the pass, he was hit by Adam Votaw and Kyle Logsdon and the ball fell to the turf.  Casey Forga seized the opportunity and raced 62 yards down the left sideline for the touchdown at the 8:28 mark of the third quarter.

The next Bronchos’ play saw another fumble recovery by the Rebels at the OHS 12. Two plays later, Nick Salois scored from the 1-yard line to make it 30-14 and the rout was on.
 

ABILENE COOPER AT MIDLAND HIGH
Abilene Cooper provided 13 points in the first quarter, while Midland High added 14 of their own in the second.  Returning from the intermission, the Bulldogs added nine more in the 23-20 decision over the Cougars in Grande Communication Stadium.

Cooper's Will Casey opened up the game finding Andrew Squyres on a 10-yard pass midway into the first quarter.  Will Ford added to the lead when he found open field and scampered 23 yards to paydirt.  Midland got into the game in the second quarter on a Chase Plourd's 65-yard touchdown pass to Antwan Goodley.  The Dawgs scored again on a Tavijuan Lewis 1-yard run.  Kicker Clayton Othold gave Midland the 14-13 lead at the half.

The Plourd-to-Goodley combination awarded the Bulldogs another six points, this time from 34 yards out.  In fourth quarter, Othold added another short field goal to give Midland a 23-13 lead.  Cooper's A'mon Pimpton narrowed the margin on a 6-yard run with 1:43 left in the game.  Midland ran out the clock.

Abilene   Cooper   Midland   Lee   Odessa   Permian