The Odessa High football team has lost two straight District 2-6A games following a 3-2 mark after nondistrict play this season.
Next up is a familiar foe in former Permian offensive coordinator Thad Fortune, now in his second season at the helm of the Midland High program.
Odessa High offensive coordinator Creighton Reed felt like he tried too hard during last season’s 49-28 loss to the Bulldogs.
“I tried getting it all back at once and taking deep shots,” Reed said. “I thought, once we’re on the field, we’re just going to go score in a play or two, and it doesn’t need to be like that.”
Reed realizes the Bronchos should add emphasis to the running game in the rematch, as the team rushes for more yards each game than they did last season (139.2 yards per game in 2021; v 141.6 ypg this season).
“We have a really good ground attack as well,” Reed continued. “I hope our rushing attack gains more yards than their rushing attack because we have a really physical football team, a great offensive line, and a good rushing attack as well.”
Reed knows firsthand how the Bulldogs control the clock with their triple-option offense.
So, the Bronchos have to maximize each offensive possession.
“Our plan for our offense is to be very efficient, take advantage of every single drive we get and ultimately just score touchdowns on each drive,” Reed said.
>> BE OFFENSIVELY DOMINANT: The Bronchos are 3-0 this season when passing for more than 300 yards and head coach Dusty Ortiz believes that mark can only benefit the team.
“We’re passing for over 300 yards, which means we’re putting up quite a bit of points and that helps out the whole team,” Ortiz said.
In addition, the Bronchos are 3-0 when the team has over 470 all-purpose yards, and 0-4 when under that yardage total.
“Every time we get that ball, we have to capitalize on it and go down and score,” Reed said.
>> STOP THE TRIPLE-OPTION: The last two Odessa High opponents have been run-dominant, but the Bulldogs take that run-pass discrepancy to a new extreme.
Midland High averages only 40 passing yards, but runs the ball for nearly 400 yards (392.1 ypg).
The Bulldogs are led by a running back duo of senior Drayton McCoy and junior Brylee Perez, who each average more than 100 and nearly two touchdown per game.
“I think the biggest thing for Midland is … Can you stop them a couple of times and can you get ahead of them by two touchdowns?” Ortiz said. “I think that’s the goal of every team that plays them and then you make them into a kind of a passing offense because they’re playing catch-up.”
>> LOWER LEVEL: The freshmen teams both lost to the San Angelo Bobcats last Thursday at San Angelo Stadium.
Freshmen White lost, 46-14, while Freshman Red dropped a 63-28 decision.
JV White also struggled, losing 34-22 at Ratliff Stadium.
JV Red salvaged the week with a 44-40 victory to remain undefeated and hand the Bobcats their first loss.
The freshmen teams will host Midland High at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.
The JV teams will travel for game 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. contests against the Bulldogs at Memorial Stadium in Midland.
>> >> Follow Sameer Malla on Twitter at @OA_SameerMalla
MIDLAND HIGH AT ODESSA HIGH
>> When: 7 p.m. Friday.
>> Where: Ratliff Stadium, Odessa
>> Last Season: Midland 49, Odessa High 28
>> Records: Midland High 4-3 overall, 0-2 District 2-6A; Odessa High 3-4, 0-2
>> Radio: KHKX (FM-99.1)
>> Streaming: bronchossportsnetwork.com
>> Live Updates: Follow on Twitter at @OA_SameerMalla
ODESSA HIGH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
IVAN CARREON
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 195
Class: Junior
Position: WR
Last Week: Caught eight passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns (51 and 60 yards) in a 34-57 loss to San Angelo Central.
This season: Has 40 receptions for 943 yards and 10 touchdowns, tied the program’s single-season mark with Tyler McQueen (2009) and Joseph Limon (2008).
