The timing was a little off for the Odessa High football team Friday.
Not on the field, where everything went right for the Bronchos in a 49-0 whitewashing on host Del Rio.
The clock issue came on the ride down to the contest, when the team’s buses arrived later than expected.
That gave the Bronchos little time to shake off the weariness of the ride before having to get ready to play against the Rams.
“Normally, I’d like to get there early enough to let the players loosen up on the field, play catch, walk the field,” first-year coach Dusty Ortiz said. “We thought this bus ride was going to be four hours and it took closer to five, so we had to hurry when we got there.”
The late arrival didn’t seem to affect the Bronchos, who took control from the outset and never looked back, building on the final three quarters of their season opener against Lubbock Monterey.
Trailing 20-0 after 12 minutes in Lubbock, Odessa High has outscored its opponents 76-12 heading into Thursday’s home opener against Lubbock Coronado.
The Bronchos scored only 52 points total in 2020.
Odessa High has been led by the solid play of senior quarterback Diego Cervantes, the emergence of sophomore wide receiver Ivan Carreon, and solid running game spearheaded by Javonte Delce.
Defensively, Elias Minjarez and Joey Gutierrez each have 17 tackles to lead the Bronchos.
Jayven Gonzales has two interceptions as Odessa High has forced six turnovers through two games.
“It’s been a great team effort,” Ortiz said. “The offensive making plays and the defense making stops to get the ball back.
“I think the biggest thing is how quickly everyone has picked up what we are trying to do and has embraced the changes.”
>> TALL TASK: Ortiz was candid when commenting on Carreon, saying that no one really knew how he was going to react to varsity football.
The results have been more than anyone on the Bronchos’ offensive side of the football could ask for.
“He was an unknown,” Ortiz said. “He’s a basketball guy, but he loves football and he loves to get out there and compete.
“Ivan presents some challenges with his size and that’s something we are going to look to take advantage of when we can.”
Standing 6-foot-6, the sophomore has caught 16 passes through two games, for 309 yards and one touchdown.
He is also listed as the backup quarterback on the depth chart, so Ortiz knows he has an athlete on his hands.
>> NOT SO LONG AGO: It was previously reported that the last time Odessa High pitched a shutout on the football was in 2008 against El Paso Montwood.
After further review, that call has been reversed.
That last shutout for the Bronchos was against the Rams. It happened in the fourth game of the 2018 season when Odessa High earned a 27-0 triumph at Ratliff Stadium.
>> UNDERCARD: It’s road trip time for the Bronchos’ junior varsity, while the Freshmen Red and White teams will host Lubbock Coronado this week.
The JV travels for a 5 p.m. game Wednesday at Lowrey Field on Wednesday.
The Freshmen will face the Mustangs at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively, on Wednesday at Ratliff Stadium.
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
LUBBOCK CORONADO AT ODESSA HIGH
>> When: 7 p.m. Thursday
>> Where: Ratliff Stadium.
>> Last Season: Lubbock Coronado 49, Odessa High 0.
>> Records: Lubbock Coronado 0-2; Odessa High 1-1.
>> Radio: KMCM (FM-96.9).
>> Live Updates: Follow on Twitter at @OALeeScheide.
ODESSA HIGH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DIEGO CERVANTES
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 175
Class: Senior
Position: QB/DB
Last Week: Cervantes was 22-for-32 passing for 287 yards and four touchdowns as the Bronchos snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 49-0 victory against Del Rio.
This season: Has completed 39 of 65 passes for 530 yards and six touchdowns, with one interception, while rushing 15 times for 75 yards and one score.
