MIDLAND In a game where two teams are running a similar triple-option offense, big plays matter.
Visiting Permian made more of them when it mattered to defeat Midland High 34-23 Friday at Grande Communications Stadium.
Permian had to overcome a mistake as soon as the game started, when it lost a fumble on the opening kickoff that was recovered by the Bulldogs on the Permian 44-yard line.
Midland High took six plays to find the end zone, with Jakob Vines getting there with a 3-yard rush to put his team up 7-0 with 9:08 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers knew they needed to respond quickly after the early setback and did by getting into their comfort zone, running the ball through the opponent and taking time off the clock.
A 10-play, 59-yard drive would be capped off by a quarterback sneak from Rodney Hall gave the Panthers their first six points of the game.
Throughout the rest of the first quarter and the early part of the second, Hall would show off the explosiveness he brings to the field for Permian.
The Panthers signal caller picked up 74 yards on the ground to set up a 2-yard rushing score for Juzstyce Lara, putting Permian up 13-7 in a 47-second long drive.
Both teams would heavily lean on the run throughout the first half, with the ball being thrown seven times between the two starting quarterbacks.
Hall made the most of one of his pass attempts, finding Brian Mahaffey wide open on a crossing route toward the left sideline for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
The Panthers would lead 20-10 after Bam Ruiz converted a 25-yard field goal before halftime.
It took a few more passing plays for Permian to get the ball downfield to start the third quarter, but that didn’t stop the Panthers from taking eight minutes off the clock with their scoring drive.
Hall had one of his longest passes of the game, converting a fourth-and-19 with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jaquan Richardson down the left sideline.
The Bulldogs would score on a 49-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter by Matteo Houston, but Permian would chew the clock again with a 13-play, 64-yard drive that was capped off by another rushing score from Hall.
Midland High scored on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Landry Walls, but the Panthers had already put the game out of reach.
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Permian 34, Midland High 23
Permian……………… 13…. 7 7 7 — 34
Midland High………… 7…. 3 0 13 — 23
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
Midland High: Jakob Vines 3 run (Bam Ruiz kick) 9:08. Drive: 6 plays 44 yards, 2:42. Key play: Bulldogs were set up at the Permian 44 after recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff.
Permian: Rodney Hall 1 run (kick failed) 3:49. Drive: 10 plays 59 yards, 5:19. Key play: Hall completed a 12-yard pass to Brian Mahaffey to shorten the field.
Permian: Juzstyce Lara 2 run (Tate Terry kick) 2:01. Drive: 2 plays 76 yards, 0:47. Key play: Rodney Hall broke off a 74-yard run to set up the short score.
Second Quarter
Permian: Brian Mahaffey 21 pass from Rodney Hall (Tate Terry kick) 9:28. Drive: 7 plays 73 yards, 3:12. Key plays: Hall completed a 20-yard pass to Lucas Salazar and ran for a 10-yard gain before a Juzstyce Lara run set up the score.
Midland High: Bam Ruiz 25 field goal 1:44. Key play: The Permian defense held the Bulldogs to three and out on the 8 yard line to force the kick.
Third Quarter
Permian: Jaquan Richardson 27 pass from Rodney Hall (Tate Terry kick) 2:10. Drive: 15 plays 70 yards, 8:03. Key play: Hall completed two passes to Lucas Salazar for 30 yards to move the ball downfield.
Fourth Quarter
Midland High: Matteo Houston 49 fumble return (Levi Crowder kick) 11:50. Key play: The Bulldog defense forced a fumble at their 48 and picked it up at the Permian 49 for the return.
Permian: Rodney Hall 2 run (Tate Terry kick) 5:56. Drive: 12 plays 64 yards, 5:54. Key plays: Juzstyce Lara carried the ball six times for 34 yards on the drive.
Midland High: Brian’Zai Perez 58 pass from Landry Walls (Levi Crowder kick) 3:34. Drive: 5 plays 68 yards, 2:17. Key play: Walls converted a third down with an 8-yard run to keep the drive alive.
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TEAM STATISTICS
Permian Midland High
First Downs…………………… 16……………….. 10
Total Yards…………………. 420……………… 231
Rushes-Yards………… 40-277…………. 33-160
Passing……………………… 143……………….. 71
Comp-Att-Int……………….. 8-8…………….. 4-12
Fumbles-Lost………………. 4-3………………. 0-0
Punts-Avg………………….. 1-27…………….. 3-47
Penalties-Yards…………. 6-55…………….. 6-30
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Permian: Rodney Hall 12-111, Juzstyce Lara 16-104, Lucas Salazar 3-23, Brian Mahaffey 3-18, Tristan Johnson 4-13, Devon Pierce 2-8.
Midland High: Landry Walls 16-92, Zion Ward 11-36, Jakob Vines 4-26, Jacob Urias 2-6.
Passing
Permian: Rodney Hall 8-8—143.
Midland High: Landry Walls 4-12—71, Brian’Zai Perez 0-1.
Receiving
Permian: Lucas Salazar 3-50, Brian Mahaffey 2-33, Jaquan Richardson 1-27, Juzstyce Lara 1-19, Devon Pierce 1-14.
Midland High: Brian’Zai Perez 3-62, Jakob Vines 1-9.
