Smoke and mirrors?
Magic?
Perfect timing?
Whatever the reason, the Permian football team has become a most prolific escape artist this season.
Harry Houdini would be proud.
The Panthers’ latest sleight-of-hand materialized Friday on the road at Wolfforth Frenship when they spotted the host Tigers a 35-14 lead.
Then, amazingly, Permian flipped the script again after the break, outscoring Frenship 28-6, with a blocked extra point by Jaydn Pruitt the difference in a 42-41 victory.
“I was really proud of how we stayed together,” Permian head coach Jeff Ellison said. “It’s what we talked about during the week, just how tough this district is.
“They (Frenship) are a very good football team, very explosive. But we didn’t have any sense of panic down three scores.”
It was the third one-point win for the Panthers (7-1 overall, 2-1 District 2-6A) this season and all featured second-half comebacks.
The first came in Week 3 when Permian scored 13 points in the second half for a 13-12 victory against Amarillo Tascosa on the road.
One week later, the Panthers scored twice in the final four minutes to squeak past Killeen Harker Heights, 28-27.
Now this.
Permian will face another test this week when it travels to face San Angelo Central at 7 p.m. Friday at San Angelo Stadium.
The Bobcats (5-3, 2-1), one of four teams tied for first in District 2-6A, are averaging 40.7 points a game.
They also surrender 38.8 points per contest, so perhaps one stop each half by the Panthers’ defense could spell the difference on the night.
>> ANOTHER CHALLENGE: San Angelo Central senior quarterback Tyler Hill has thrown for 1,623 yards and 16 touchdown, while rushing for 1,011 yards and 14 scores.
Similar to what Permian saw last week in Hudson Hutcheson, but with better speed.
The pressure will be on the defensive line and outside linebackers to keep Hill contained, allowing the other six Panthers on defense to make plays.
“He (Hill) can run and he can throw,” Ellison said. “He likes to get it to the outside and down the field in a hurry.
“We are going to have to be disciplined at every spot because he has some good wide receivers that can make plays.”
>> TEAM FIRST: With the team’s success, it’s only natural that individual milestones and accolades start to become attainable.
You would never know it watching this year’s Panthers’ squad.
Ellison sees the unselfishness that permeates the roster every day.
“That’s one of the biggest things,” he said. “Our guys truly are not thinking about individual accomplishments.
“They want to win. It’s not pointing a finger, just trying to win a football game.”
>> LOWER LEVELS: Permian went 2-2 last week against the Tigers.
Both the Freshmen White and Freshman Black teams lost on the road, while the JV Black and JV White squads earned victories at Ratliff Stadium.
It will be the same schedule this week as the freshmen teams travel to San Angelo Stadium at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The JV teams will take the field against the Bobcats at 5 and 6:30 p.m. at Ratliff Stadium.
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
PERMIAN AT SAN ANGELO CENTRAL
>> When: 7 p.m. Friday.
>> Where: San Angelo Stadium.
>> Last Season: Permian 21, San Angelo Central 7.
>> Records: Permian 7-1 overall, 2-1 in District 2-6A; San Angelo Central 5-3, 2-1.
>> Radio: KHKX (FM-99.1).
>> Live Updates: Follow on Twitter at @OALeeScheide.
PERMIAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JUZSTYCE LARA
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 160
Class: Junior
Position: RB
Last Week: Lara carried the ball 26 times for 186 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner, in a 42-41 victory against Wolfforth Frenship.
This season: Has rushed 140 times for 665 yards and 13 touchdowns.
