Football coaches talk about being proficient in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams.
Permian is still undefeated because of the last element.
On back-to-back kickoffs in the fourth quarter against Killeen Harker Heights last week, Panthers’ kicker Tate Terry pulled a gap wedge instead of a driver.
The first kick, after the Panthers had scored to pull within six points of the Knights, 27-21, with 3:58 to play in the game, was lofted to a specific area, giving his teammates time to race down the field and put pressure on the opponent’s return men.
It worked as Harker Heights fumbled the kick and the Permian took the ball at the Knights’ 28 and drove in for the eventual game-winning score with 16 seconds remaining to play.
Then, for good measure, Terry replicated his earlier effort, this time with the ball bouncing behind the return man, allowing the Panthers to fall on it and run out the clock.
“That’s a deal, we’ve seen that before,” Permian head coach Jeff Ellison said. “A big situation like that, the lights, everything.
“That’s two weeks in a row that Tate’s done a really good job of placing the ball where it needs to be. It’s hard to be waiting with the ball dropping down from that high; it was a great job by the special teams.
>> CLOSING IN: Permian quarterback Rodney Hall has been at the helm of the offense the past two seasons and played a few games as a sophomore behind starter Harper Terry.
And while the Panthers’ offense starts with and revolves around its ground game, Hall is creeping up the program’s list for career touchdown passes, with the top spot easily within reach.
Hall had thrown 20 touchdown passes entering the season (2 in 2022, 18 in 2021).
He has nine through four games in 2022 and now sits at 29, which is five shy of the mark first set by Vic Vines (1977-1978) and then tied by Mike Winchell (1987-88).
>> NO SURPRISES: On the Panthers’ game-winning march in the final minutes, there were two plays where everyone on the field and in the stadium knew exactly what was going to happen and Harker Heights couldn’t stop them.
The first game with Permian facing fourth-and-15 at the Knights’ 33 after a sack.
Hall had connected with wide receiver Ja’Quan Richardson 51 times in 15 previous games before that snap, so his eyes were focused downfield and the pass in the air as Richardson raced toward the zone and got run over the defensive back.
Pass interference, new set of downs.
The second instance was on third-and-goal at the 1.
The Panthers’ bread-and-butter is its offensive line, especially on the right side and when running back Juzstyce Lara took the ball from Hall, the Knights’ defenders were already pushed back into the end zone for the easy touchdown.
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
GAME DAY
ABILENE COOPER (2-2) AT PERMIAN (4-O)
7 tonight, Ratliff Stadium
Last Season: Did not play
Radio: FM-96.9
Web: 97gold.com
Streaming: permiansportsnetwork.com
Live updates:
On Twitter at OALeeScheide
KEYS TO VICTORY
>> 48 MINUTES: Only once this season, in Week 2, have the Panthers come out and dominated the opening half. Though they are still undefeated, it took second-half rallies against Abilene High, Waco Midway and Killeen Harker Heights to stay that way.
>> STAY FOCUSED: This is the final nondistrict game of the season, a week before an off week, and it’s homecoming for the Panthers. Off-the-field distractions and a longer halftime need to be kicked to blocked out.
>> GROUNDED: The strength of the Panthers’ offense is the offensive line and they need to establish the running attack early against the Cougars.
— Lee Scheide
PANTHERS BREAKDOWN
Opponents to Watch
QB Chris Warren: Cougars’ signal caller is 83-of-138 passing for 945 yards and eight touchdowns, with six interceptions.
WR Avante Ralston: Top target for Warren with 24 catches for 583 yards and three touchdowns.
WR Cam Herron: Other half of Cougars’ receiving threats with 30 receptions for 306 yards and one touchdown.
NUMBERS GAME
6 — Touchdown passes need by Rodney Hall to break program’s career mark of 34 (Vic Vines, 1977-78; Mike Winchell, 1987-88).
20— School-record for career fields goals by Ryan Havens (2001-2002).
52 — Previous meetings between the Panthers and Cougars (Permian leads 37-15).
SCHEDULE
August
26 Abilene High W, 17-3
September
2 Waco Midway W, 41-20
9 at Amarillo Tascosa W, 13-12
16 Harker Heights W, 28-27
23 Abilene Cooper 7 p.m.
30 Bye
October
7 Odessa High 7 p.m.
14 Midland Legacy 7 p.m.
21 at Wolfforth Frenship 7 p.m.
28 at San Angelo Central 7 p.m.
November
4 Midland High 7 p.m.
PERMIAN STARTERS
Offense
Quarterback
25 Rodney Hall Sr.
Running back
43 Johnathon Viscaino Sr.
Wide receivers
2 Ja’Quan Richardson Sr.
3 Tabarie Jones Sr.
18 Deonte Bass Sr.
22 Isaac Herrera Jr.
89 Nathan Rodriguez Sr.
Tackles
73 Harris Sewell Sr.
76 Israel Ponce Sr.
Guards
66 Ryan Ontiveroz Sr.
72 Nathaniel Rodriguez Sr.
Center
65 Francisco Sanchez Sr.
Defense
Defensive ends
52 Frank Alvarado Jr.
57 Desmond Hill Sr.
Nose guard
99 Bryan Pry Jr.
Linebackers
34 Preston Grizzell Jr.
36 Cayson Clinton Sr.
42 Jace Gilliam Sr.
46 Parker Haynes Jr.
Cornerbacks
3 Deonte Bass Sr.
13 Caleb Washington Jr.
Safeties
6 Bryce Woody Sr.
12 Hayden Duran Sr.
Specialists
Place kicker
7 Tate Terry Sr.
Punter
82 Jacob Franco Jr.
Head coach: Jeff Ellison (35-16)
