Odessa High will get another chance this week to play a football game.
The Bronchos will get that chance when they travel to face L.D. Bell at 7 p.m. Friday at Pennington Field.
After playing a total of six plays in last week’s home game against Amarillo High, Mother Nature forced both teams off the field for the rest of the evening as lightning ended up causing the game to be called and ruled a no-contest.
Only about two minutes of game time was played before the lightning struck.
During those two minutes, Amarillo High managed to take a 6-0 lead after a 95-yard kickoff return from Bryson Brown before the two-point conversion failed.
Odessa High’s offense managed to move the ball on its only drive before the players and refs were forced off the field.
“We’re just moving forward like any other game,” Odessa High head coach Erik Hartman said. “One game didn’t happen. Not taking it as a win or a loss but we saw some things that we liked. We were moving the ball on offense which was good. It was good that we could move the ball. We thought we could score on that drive. There were some bright spots. Our kids are resilient. They had a great practice the other day. With the rain this week, it’s been a little bit tough. But we’re in high spirits and we’re ready to get our first game under our belt.”
>> Amarillo High: The Sandies will have to wait another year for a chance at avenging last year’s 36-35 loss to the Bronchos.
Amarillo High will play its home opener this week against San Angelo Central at 7 p.m. Friday at Dick Bivins Stadium.
Unfortunately, the Sandies’ four-hour bus ride from Amarillo last week ended up being for nothing.
Both OHS and Amarillo High were left frustrated at not being able to play last week.
“Amarillo High wanted to play and we wanted to play,” Hartman said. “We waited as long as we could before they had to get on the road and get home. It wouldn’t quit lightning.”
>> Rain, rain, go away: The rainy weather continued in Odessa on Friday afternoon as well as Sunday and Monday.
Thankfully, the Bronchos were able to get in a practice on Monday morning before the heavy rainfall began.
“We had practice in the morning since it was Labor Day so we were able to beat the rain,” Hartman said. “We got a great practice in. You never know what’s going to happen with the rain this week.”
For what it’s worth, the weather for Hurst on Friday calls for mostly sunny skies with a high of 90 degrees and a low of 68.
>> L.D. Bell: The Blue Raiders enter this week’s game coming off a 23-21 win against Weatherford in last Friday’s nondistrict contest.
“Just like last week, our goal is to go 1-0 this week,” Hartman said. “We’re putting in the work and watching film. We don’t have a lot of film on L.D. Bell so that’s one thing. We have a scrimmage on them but we didn’t see them play Weatherford last week. We’re preparing to our 1-0 mentality and our kids are getting ready to go.”
Regardless, the goal this week for the Bronchos remains the same.
“For us, it’s just getting better,” Hartman said. “We want to improve every week and hit our stride when we get to district. That’s what we’re focusing on.”
Odessa High at L.D. Bell
>> When: 7 p.m. Friday
>> Where: Pennington Field, Hurst
>> Last season: First meeting
>> Records: Odessa High 0-0; L.D. Bell 1-0
>> Radio: KMCM (FM-96.9)
