Momentum shifts can always make a crucial difference in any game, especially in a heated rivalry.
In last week’s crosstown rivalry, Odessa High had the momentum going their way at the end of the second and third quarters.
However, it wouldn’t be enough as the Bronchos’ defense was unable to capitalize while the offense ran out of answers in the fourth quarter in their 50-26 loss to Permian last Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
On two occasions, the Bronchos (2-3 overall, 0-1 in District 2-6A) found themselves down by 15 or more points but were able to come back and make it a close game.
Two second quarter touchdowns brought the Bronchos’ deficit to 22-20 at halftime while a late third quarter score made it 36-26 going into the fourth.
However, Odessa High’s offense was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as Permian used a 14-0 fourth quarter run to put the game away.
“They were resilient,” Odessa high head coach Erik Hartman said. “These guys want to win and I love that. We’re playing as a team and that’s what I want. We’re going to win or lose as a team. This time, it happened to be a lost. We’re picking ourselves back up. We have four more games of district. Anything can happen. We need to make sure we’re focused for every game like we did last week and not give up.”
In the end, it was the little things that Permian (6-0, 1-0) was able to capitalize on as OHS had a muffed a kickoff return in the third quarter that was recovered by the Panthers and soon led to another scoring drive that made it 36-20.
There was also a safety from botched snap that resulted in a safety early in the game as the Bronchos tried to punt from deep in their own territory.
“The ball didn’t bounce the way we wanted it to,” Hartman said. “We lost some momentum early in the game with the safety and the kickoff return for a touchdown. I thought we regained some momentum when we made it 22-20. We had a huge stop at the goal line which energized us. We had another big stop at the goal line and then we threw a pass on the sidelines where if the receiver catches it, it’s a 95-yard touchdown and talk about a momentum swing. We went three and out and punt and they drove down and score.”
>> GOAL LINE STAND: Odessa High’s defense may be struggling but in Friday’s game, the Bronchos had two goal line stands that helped keep them in the game.
One of which came at the end of the first half that denied Permian a chance to extend its lead and the other came on the first Panther drive of the third quarter.
“I thought our defense played well and did things right up until those bad things happened,” Hartman said. “It’s tough and demoralizing but you have to have that next play mentality but granted to Permian, they did a good job. Coach (Jeff) Ellison and his staff do a great job. You have to give them credit alos.”
On average, the Bronchos’ defense has allowed 52.6 points per game so far this season.
>> FOUL PLAY? In a rivalry game, there’s bound to be more personal foul penalties than usual.
Odessa High’s Jesus Villa had two unsportsmanlike penalties, the second of which got him ejected from the game after Odessa High’s goal line stand at the end of the first half.
“The ejection was uncalled for,” Hartman said. “I think they had the wrong kid anyway. You stop somebody on the goal line and you celebrate. That player wasn’t in anyone’s face. He was just celebrating that they didn’t get into the end zone. It’s unfortunate how sometimes an official may have gotten the wrong kid but on the film, nothing we saw warranted that kid in being ejected from the game.”
As far as total penalties, Permian had nine for 81 yards while Odessa High had nine for 47 yards.
>> MIDLAND HIGH: One week into district play and 2-6A already looks to be another wild race this year.
Midland Legacy (2-4, 1-0) is coming off a close 42-36 win against San Angelo Central (3-3, 0-1) while Midland High (4-2, 0-1) came up short against Wolfforth Frenship (5-1, 1-0) in a 48-47 loss last week.
Odessa High will next face Midland High at 7 p.m. Friday at Ratliff Stadium in a game where both teams will be desperate to get a district win and keep their playoff hopes alive.
“We’re not looking forward to anyone else,” Hartman said. “We’re just looking to Midland High and they have a well-coached team as well. Coach (Thad) Fortune and his staff do a good job. Their players play hard and play well. It’s week in and week out of tough games. We have another tough one this week. Their triple option offense is going to be tough to stop. We have to get stops and capitalize, offensively.”
Midland High at Odessa High
>> Time, Date, Place: 7 p.m. Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
>> Records: Midland High 4-2 overall, 0-1 in District 2-6A; Odessa High 2-3, 0-1.
>> Last game: Wolfforth Frenship 48, Midland High 47; Permian 50, Odessa High 26
>> Radio: FM-96.9 (KMCM)
