Odessa High football coach Dusty Ortiz, like most in his profession, has a 24-hour rule for his team after games to allow his players to either celebrate a victory or process a loss before focusing on the next game.
It was a time of celebration for the Bronchos this past week after they defeated San Angelo Central, 41-14, to get back to level in District 2-6A play.
The players may have stretched the 24 hours a bit as it was the program’s first District 2-6A victory in nearly 1,100 days, stretching back to October, 2018, against Wolfforth Frenship.
“I didn’t really know about that,” Ortiz said of the struggles the Bronchos had gone through with district opponents.
“There are so many things that are program firsts or haven’t been done here in a long time that I’m not even focused on that. My main focus is at the end of the season being where we want to be and that’s in the playoffs.”
To keep that drive alive, Odessa High must snap another streak when it faces crosstown rival Permian at 7 p.m. Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
The Panthers have won the last seven meetings. A good omen for the Bronchos, however, is the last time they won the matchup (2013) was also the last time they made the playoffs.
This will be the first Odessa High-Permian match for Ortiz and most of his staff and he’s looking forward to the game, though he has been trying to keep his players from being too hyped up.
“I’ve tried to downplay that, that it’s just another game and I know with everything going on, it’s hard to do,” he said. “But they (the players) are zone in and focused.
“That last time I’ve coached in front of a crown this big was when we were playing Allen in the playoffs at Cowboys’ stadium, so it’s been a while. But we’re looking forward to it.”
>> DRESS REHEARSALS: Normally, getting ready to face an option offense gives coaching staffs fits as it is hard for a scout team to duplicate the nuances of the scheme in just three or four days time.
Odessa High, however, has the benefit have already seen the option attack this season … twice.
The first was against Amarillo Tascosa in the Bronchos’ scrimmage on Aug. 20 at Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo.
The second was two weeks ago when Midland High showed Odessa High just how disciplined a defense has to be in order to be successful as the Bulldogs amassed more than 500 yards of offense in a District 2-6A opening victory at Grande Communications Stadium.
Those contests gave Ortiz and his staff a better understanding of what the Bronchos need to do to be successful Friday.
“We don’t want them to dictate what they do offensively to us,” he said of Permian. “We want to make sure that we’re coming out, we’re being aggressive, physical and matching that intensity.
“Permian is a very good team and we have to bring our best effort.”
>> CLIMBING THE CHARTS: With the solid effort by running back Javonte Delce against the Bobcats, Bronchos’ quarterback Diego Cervantes wasn’t quite as busy last week, only having to throw the ball 24 times.
He completed 15 of them, for 152 yards, which moved him from seventh to fourth in career passing yards with 2,668. He passed Trey Smith (2,522), Nick Adams (2,583) and Carl Schlemeyer (2,666) in the victory.
Wide receiver Ivan Carreon also moved up in the record books with five receptions for 44 yards. He now has 49 receptions to break the single-season mark of 48 set by Gabriel Rodriguez in 2009.
It also puts him in a tie for sixth on the career receptions list with Miles Torres (2007-08).
Carreon has 706 receiving yards on the season, which is second in the state among Class 6A receivers and eighth in the state among all receivers.
>> PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS: It’s not just a rivalry game for Odessa High (3-3 overall, 1-1 District 2-6A) and Permian (4-2, 1-1).
Both teams are coming off their first district victories of the second and need to keep the momentum going this week in order to have a better chance at the postseason.
Odessa High still has to play Midland Legacy, Abilene High and Wolfforth Frenship following its date with the Panthers.
Permian has Midland Legacy, Midland High and San Angelo Central left on its schedule.
After Friday’s results when Midland Legacy came back to defeat Abilene High, many feel the Rebels are going to battle for the district crown. That leaves three spots wide open and a second loss makes it more difficult for the Bronchos or Panthers.
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JAVONTE DELCE
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 164
Class: Senior
Position: RB
Last Week: Carried the ball 11 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns, along with catching two passes for 15 yards and one touchdowns, in a 41-14 victory Friday against San Angelo Central.
This season: Has 76 carries for 471 yards and five touchdowns, with 11 receptions for 150 yards and three scores
