Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of look backs at the previous 65 years of the crosstown rivalry between Odessa High and Permian.
The Odessa American will be looking back at five different games from each decade.
This one is a look back at the 1960s (including the 1959 contest).
1959- Odessa High 14, Permian 6
In the very first edition of the crosstown rivalry, Odessa High took the bragging rights in a 14-6 victory against the city’s newest high school.
Neither school made the playoffs as Odessa High (coached by Lacey Turner) finished 7-3 while Permian (coached by Ted Dawson) went 3-7.
Few spectators were there to witness the game as it is estimated that only 4,500 (reported by the Odessa American at the time) braved the weather conditions to witness both teams’ penultimate game of the season.
Even fewer people could’ve guessed how much of a powerhouse Permian would become in the near future.
1960 Permian 27, Odessa High 14
It didn’t take Permian long to get its first win in the crosstown rivalry.
It didn’t take the Panthers long to make the playoffs for the first time in school history.
Playing in just their second edition of the crosstown rivalry, Permian recorded a 27-14 win against Odessa High.
This time around, a bigger crowd witnessed the game as about 13,000 fans were in attendance at W.T. Barrett Stadium.
The victory helped set Permian up for a District 2-4A clinching title game the next week against Big Spring in which the Panthers won in a 49-0.
Permian finished the season with an 8-3 record.
1963- Odessa High 28, Permian 6
After losing three in a row to Permian, the Odessa High football team got back on track against the Panthers with a 22-point win in 1963.
Odessa High’s relentless defense helped pave the way for the Bronchos to take the bragging rights and close out the season in a tie for second place in the District 2-4A standings.
The Bronchos finished the season with a 6-4 record while Permian went 5-5.
However, the game itself would take a backseat in the news that week as the contest was played on the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
1964- Odessa High 13, Permian 0
Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers likes to brag about his time playing against Permian, being once quoted in a previous OA feature saying “When we tell people we’re from Odessa, they say ‘Mojo!’ You can talk about Mojo all you want but I went 2-1 against them.”
Indeed, the 1964 win against crosstown rivals Permian would be his second victory but unfortunately for the Bronchos, it would be their final win in the series until 1997 (on the field, that is).
The 13-0 victory, which came at the end of the regular season, clinched the District 2-4A title for the Bronchos and ended Permian’s season at 4-6.
It would also be the first time since 1953 that Odessa High made it to the state playoffs.
Gatlin would play at quarterback as Odessa High’s Larry Priddy and Ray Goddard scored on runs to give the Bronchos the shutout victory.
1965- Permian 35, Odessa High 8
It wasn’t Permian’s first win in the series.
Yet, the 1965 victory (like the rest of the season) signaled the start of an era.
After suffering back-to-back losses to the Bronchos, Permian would win the first of 16 crosstown rivalries against Odessa High (the winning streak would end in a 14-14 tie in 1980.
Permian defeated its crosstown rivals for the fourth time in school history, taking a 4-3 series lead with a 35-8 win.
The victory clinched the District 2-4A crown as Permian qualified for the state playoffs for the second time in school history.
Permian erupted in the second half, taking advantage of two Odessa High fumbles and three interceptions.
The Panthers would go on to win the school’s first state title one month later and finish the season at 12-1 under head coach Gene Mayfield.
Odessa High finished 3-7.
