LUBBOCK The first game for the Odessa High football team under new head coach Dusty Ortiz did not start according to plan.
The Bronchos had to dig out of an early deficit and nearly did just that.
It was not enough, however, as Lubbock Monterey defeated Odessa High, 32-27, Thursday at Lowrey Field.
Odessa High (0-1) fell behind 20-0 after going three and out on each of its first three drives, while the Plainsmen scored touchdowns on each of their first drives.
“I think any time you have new offensive and defensive systems, it takes some time to get used to,” Ortiz said. “I think it took all of the first quarter to kind of figure it out.”
It was the Plainsmen (1-0) rushing attack in control early as Trent White, Blake Porter and Giovanni Cleveland all accounted for scores of 12, 16 and 42 yards, respectively.
Not even a full quarter had passed, and Odessa High found itself trailing by three scores.
The momentum flipped late in the first quarter, thanks to the Odessa High passing game.
Quarterback Diego Cervantes connected with wide receiver Ivan Carreon on a 43-yard catch late in the quarter on a drive that Cervantes capped off with a 10-yard run on the first play of the second quarter to get the Bronchos on the board.
After a Monterey three-and-out, Cervantes again led the Bronchos down the field and finished off a five-play drive by connecting with Terrance Samuel on a 28-yard strike to make it 20-14.
Cervantes finished with 267 yards passing on 19-of-33 passing.
Monterey had one final chance to score before the half but the Bronchos defense turned it away thanks to a Jayven Gonzales interception.
Just like that, Odessa High was back in the game.
The second half was about who could convert more of their chances and the Bronchos did have plenty of them.
Odessa High blocked two field goals in the second half but was unable to convert on either chance.
The first breakthrough of the half came from the Plainsmen thanks to Jayden Hibbler’s 3-yard touchdown run with 4:31 remaining in the third quarter to increase the lead to 26-14.
The Bronchos responded quickly as Cervantes found Carreon for a 61-yard touchdown to make it 26-20 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
One of Odessa High’s best chances came late in the period when the defense made a fourth-down stop deep in its own territory.
That opportunity ended quickly as Monterey’s Jacobie Johnson gave the ball back to the Plainsmen with an interception.
Odessa High had another chance midway through the final quarter, driving deep into Monterey territory before turning the ball over on downs.
White quickly made the Bronchos pay, breaking through the line of scrimmage on an 85-yard touchdown run with 2:04 remaining to create a 32-20 advantage.
White finished with 170 yards on 29 carries and the two touchdowns.
“You got to give Odessa High credit and I think you have to give our kids a lot of credit as well,” Monterey head coach Wayne Hutchinson said. “A lot of times when there are momentum swings, it’s really hard to get it back and our kids found a way to get it back and so I’m really proud of them.”
Odessa High answered with a Javonte Delce 9-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left but the Bronchos were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick to end the rally.
“I think our team showed a lot of heart,” Ortiz said. “They showed a lot of fight through adversity in the second half. This is truly one of those games where I feel like the time just run out on us and we would have won.”
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LUBBOCK MONTEREY 32, ODESSA HIGH 27
Odessa High…………. 0.. 14 6 7 — 27
Lubbock Monterey.. 20…. 0 6 6 — 32
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
Lubbock Monterey: Trent White 12 run (kick failed), 8:25. Drive: 5 plays, 37 yards, 2:07. Key play: A 9-yard punt from Odessa High gave Lubbock Monterey a short field to work with on its opening drive.
Lubbock Monterey: Blake Porter 16 run (Steven-Peter McDaniel kick), 3:18. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 3:44. Key plays: Trent White converted a pair of third downs on the ground to keep the drive alive for the Plainsmen.
Lubbock Monterey: Giovanni Cleveland 43 run (Steven-Peter McDaniel kick), 1:15. Drive: 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:00. Key play: The Lubbock Monterey defense forced a second three-and-out against the Odessa High offense in the opening quarter.
Second Quarter
Odessa High: Diego Cervantes 10 run (Camilo Nicolas kick), 11:53. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:22. Key plays: Cervantes connected with Ivan Carreon for a 43-yard pass on 3rd and 5 from the 30-yard line to move the ball into Monterey territory. An ensuing face mask penalty on the Plainsmen moved the ball into the red zone.
Odessa High: Terrance Samuel 28 pass from Diego Cervantes (Camilo Nicolas kick), 8:25. Drive: 5 plays, 52 yards, 1:45. Key play: Cervantes completed a 22-yard pass to Javonte Delce on 3rd and 11 to move the ball into Monterey territory.
Third Quarter
Lubbock Monterey: Jayden Hibbler 3 run (kick failed), 4:31. Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:08. Key play: Blake Porter found De’onte Vaughn for a seven-yard pass on 3rd and 1 from the 10-yard line to keep the drive moving.
Odessa High: Ivan Carreon 61 pass from Diego Cervantes (kick failed), 3:00. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1;31. Key plays: All three passes completed on the drive were from Cervantes to Carreon.
Fourth Quarter
Lubbock Monterey: Trent White 85 run (pass failed), 2:04. Drive: 1 play, 85 yards, 0:14. Key play: The Lubbock Monterey defense stopped Odessa High on fourth down to set up the score.
Odessa High: Javonte Delce 9 run (Camilo Nicolas kick), 0:26. Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 1:32. Key play: James Fogle had a 14-yard run on fourth down in Monterey territory to keep the drive going.
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TEAM STATISTICS
Odessa High Monterey
First Downs…………………… 19……………….. 19
Total Yards…………………. 358……………… 428
Rushes-Yards………….. 30-91…………. 46-290
Passing……………………… 267……………… 138
Comp-Att-Int…………. 19-33-1……….. 12-23-1
Fumbles-Lost………………. 1-0………………. 1-0
Punts-Avg……………….. 3-27.3………….. 6-29.0
Penalties-Yards……….. 11-90…………….. 7-80
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Odessa High: Javonte Delce 12-53, Diego Cervantes 15-21, James Fogle 2-15, Azari Byford 1-2.
Lubbock Monterey: Trent White 29-170, Blake Porter 9-79, Giovanni Cleveland 4-52, Jayden Hibbler 1-3, Team 3-(-14).
Passing
Odessa High: Diego Cervantes 19-33-1—267.
Lubbock Monterey: Blake Porter 12-23-1—138.
Receiving
Odessa High: Ivan Carreon 8-152, Terrance Samuel 3-40, Javonte Delce 4-40, Ethan Alvarado 2-21, Blane Mendoza 2-14.
Lubbock Monterey: Lawerns Mann 1-38, Trent White 2-30, Aidan Tarrango 2-27, De’onte Vaughn 2-26, Hewbrew Hunter 5-17.
Interceptions
Odessa High: Jayven Gonzales 1-0.
Lubbock Monterey: Jacobie Johnson 1-0.
