Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of look backs at the previous 65 years of the crosstown rivalry between Odessa High and Permian.
The Odessa American will be looking back at five different games from each decade.
This one is a look back at the 1990s.
1992- Permian 14, Odessa High 0
After a decade of Permian dominating Odessa High, the Bronchos managed to keep this game close, only limiting the Panthers to two touchdowns.
A crowd of about 20,000 fans witnessed the first competitive game between the two teams since 1983.
One year after posting a 44-0 win against Odessa High, the defending state champion Panthers found themselves only leading 7-0 with less than two minutes to go in the game.
It would take a 43-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Graham to Kendrick Parrett to put the game away while Permian’s defense managed to get the shutout.
Odessa High finished the year 5-5 while Permian went 11-2.
1993- Permian 38, Odessa High 8 (Permian was forced to forfeit 2-0)
The record books will tell you that this game was a 2-0 OHS win due to a forfeit from Permian however, the 20,000 or so people that watched the game at Ratliff Stadium on Sept. 24, 1993 will tell you otherwise.
On the field, Permian extended its unbeaten crosstown streak to 29 with a one-sided 38-8 win.
But this game, like the rest of the 1993 Permian football season is notable for what happened off the field.
Less than two months later, Permian was forced to forfeit all of its district games after the UIL ruled that Permian had used an ineligible player, ending the Panthers’ season at 3-7 and awarding a 2-0 win for Odessa High.
1996- Permian 13, Odessa High 6
Considering that Permian had won 31 consecutive games on the field against Odessa High by this point, there was no reason to doubt that this would be another case of the Panthers cruising past the Bronchos.
Permian won, just not as easily as the Panthers hoped.
The Panthers were held to a low-scoring contest as Odessa High’s defense gave them fits.
In the end, Permian’s Ja’Quay Wilburn rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ seven-point win.
1997- Odessa High 20, Permian 17
It was a sight that no one in Odessa had seen in over 30 years.
Odessa High finally ended its 32-year nightmare to Permian by surviving a 20-17 contest.
Despite having two turnovers in the final three minutes, the Bronchos managed to hang on for their first crosstown rivalry win since 1964 (with the exception of the forfeit win in 1993).
Odessa High quarterback Rich Leach scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:46 left in the third quarter and the Bronchos’ defense held on for dear life in the fourth for the win.
The ’97 season, like the game itself, was a reversal of fortune for the Bronchos as the team ended up going 9-4 and reaching the third round of the playoffs.
Permian ended up suffering its worst season since 1964 by going 3-6.
1998- Permian 36, Odessa High 33
One year after the Panthers’ first loss to the Bronchos in 33 years, Permian got revenge with another classic in the storied rivalry.
Both offenses put up an entertaining contest.
Playing in the regular season finale, Permian was staring at another loss in the series, trailing 33-29 with less than a minute to go.
Then, Permian’s Koefie Powell scored on a 1-yard run to give the Panthers the lead and the three-point victory.
One year after making the playoffs, Odessa High finished the season at 4-6.
One year after missing the playoffs, Permian would return to the postseason and finish 10-3.
It would be the last time Permian would make the playoffs until 2006.
