October 24, 1997
October 17, 1997
Odessa- Permian lost their third district game as Abilene Cooper kicked a lame duck field goal with 9 seconds remaining in the game and won 17-14. Permian led 14-3 at one point in the game but allowed Cooper to rebound when they gave up a turnover late in the game. This pretty much eliminates Permian from any post season action.
October 10, 1997
San Angelo- San Angelo pulled out the game 48-42 in triple overtime.
October 3, 1997
Odessa- Permian hosted Midland High Friday Night but failed to be kind to their visitors as they won 21-0.
September 26, 1997
Odessa- Friday Night, September 26, 1997, will go down as one of the most memorable times in my lifetime. I remember Odessa High’s numerous losses to Permian that were decided by freak plays and poor officiating. This is the way many Permian fans may feel today but they need to realize that Permian was out played in most every aspect of the game.
Over the years, I have become a big fan of Permian. They have, without a doubt, generated a lot of entertainment for the Permian Basin and God only knows how much we have needed it. My monkey was that many of my friends and family attended Permian, and even though they never really rubbed in Odessa High’s losses, I always perceived myself as a little less than whole because of this loosing streak. Well, the monkey has been put out to pasture because Odessa High finally won and no one can say this win came through luck. If you want to know the real story behind this win, don’t miss the end of this report.
I cannot stress enough that Odessa High out performed the Panthers so here are the stats and you can decide for yourself. First Downs- PHS 9 vs. 17 for OHS; Rushing Yards- PHS 89 vs 171 for OHS; Passing Yards- PHS 97 vs. 143 for OHS; Passing- PHS 4-12-2 vs. 9-17-1 for OHS; Penalties- PHS 3-25 vs. 4-20 for OHS; Fumbles- PHS 1-1 vs. 2-2 for OHS; Punts- who cares
The first quarter was a defensive dogfight with Permian’s Chad Bell scoring on a 36 yard up the middle pass from QB Casey Waite. Odessa’s Jeffrey Kupper tied the game 7-7 when he recovered a fumble on Permian’s 33 yard line and returned it for a TD. Odessa High had -0- 1st downs vs. Permian’s 1 in the 1st quarter.
Permian added 3 points, in the 2nd Quarter, with a 29 yard Jimmy White field goal. Odessa High put together a long drive which ended with a 3 yard Espinoza TD run. The Broncho extra point was blocked and the 1st half ended with OHS on top of Permian 13-10. Normally, I would move on at this point but it is necessary to let you know that Odessa should have added some extra points at the end of the 1st half but a TD was called back because the referee finally noticed that Permian was asking for a time-out and blew the play dead supposedly before the it started. I saw the Permian player asking for the time out but also noticed that the referee was late calling it. Never the less, the play was brought back. Odessa ran it again to the opposite side but the pass was just out of the receiver’s reach and they settled for a field goal attempt that was wide right.
The second half started with Permian receiving the kick-off. The Broncho defense held them and Permian’s Jimmy White made a tremendous punt that was bobbled and then fumbled by the Broncho receiver. Permian recovered it and shortly there after was able to get a TD with John Johnson receiving a 9 yard pass from QB Waite. Odessa showed me that they were able to come back when they put together a long drive with RB Espinoza pushing it in from the 3 yard line. This would turn out to be the last score of the game with Odessa High on top 20-17.
The 4th Quarter had its tense moments but Odessa High’s defense held the Panthers, when necessary, while their offense chewed up valuable time. The Panther fans could say that Permian would have won if a TD pass would not have been intercepted by the Broncho defense, in the end zone, but you could also say that Odessa High could have increased their lead if they would not have fumbled on the Permian 1 yard line. Anyway you look at it, it still ended with a victory for “all” of Odessa.
Now before you think Odessa High’s victory has gone to my head, let me give you something to think about. True high school football fans know that many Dallas and San Antonio schools have consolidated their Juniors and Seniors into what I call super schools. It is hard to compete with a school that compiles their team from 2000 upper classmen and the same amount of Juniors. This could never be possible in Odessa, even though it makes a lot of sense, because the town is divided over their school’s football teams. The only way to get the town to support building a single consolidated high school, made up of the town’s Juniors and Seniors, is to bring the town together. This is why I believe Coach Quisenberry and his staff was given the job at Odessa High. It was the easiest way to ensure an eventual Odessa High victory over Permian and the end of the streak. Consolidation makes good financial sense to overcrowding. I said last year that this would occur only after the streak ended because the town was split. It looks like the ECISD can now move onto phase two. My only questions are how soon will they build that new super high school out by Ratliff, what will it be called and how can they merge the tradition of the existing schools. Let me know what you think by signing the guest book.
Next week has Midland High coming to Ratliff to play Permian while Odessa travels to play Midland Lee. Best of luck to both teams.
September 12, 1997
ODESSA- Folks, I think the Panther players got their act together Saturday afternoon even though they lost to North Mesquite 21-14. Yes, They allowed the Stallions to return a kick-off 102 yards for a TD, which brings back memories of last week's game with Irvin, but they would have won if North Mesquite would not of had a few opportunistic plays. I believe they will be able to overcome this problem prior to the regular season. My concern is what happened after the North Mesquite TD.
Let's set this up. North Mesquite's Adrian Cox made a 42-yard run for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter and their PAT kick failed. Permian came back with an impressive drive and Koeffe Powell pushed it in from the 4-yard line and the PAT was successful. Permian went in at half with a 7-6 lead. The third quarter resulted in no points. North Mesquite regained the lead in the 4th quarter with Arthur Jefferson on the receiving end of a 66-yard pass from Jacob Spoerl. The 2 point conversion was successful and the score was 14-7 North Mesquite. Permian came back with an impressive drive finalized with a 33 yard TD run by Joe Stephens. Jimmy Whites extra point attempt tied the game at 14-14. On the ensuing kick off, Adrian Cox returned it for a TD and the PAT was successful. Permian's next drive was stopped after they attempted a 4th & 11 from their side of the field. Permian held the Stallions and got the ball back with 48 seconds left in the game. They began to throw passes out to the sidelines conserving the clock as they moved down the field. With about 20 seconds left in the game, QB Casey Waite hit John Johnson up the middle for 50 yards and it ended on North Mesquites 7-yard line. As the Panthers took the next snap, there was about 9 seconds left on the clock. Instead of downing the ball until they could get their composure together, they tried to push it in with a run and were thrown for a loss. This play burned up the remaining time and they went into the locker room with a loss.
This is the place were I get to share my comments. I am excited to see the players beginning to gel. They out performed North Mesquite but lost because of two reasons. #1, they allowed the big plays. #2, someone failed to use their head at the end of the game. This someone is most likely Head Coach Mayes or one of his assistants. I have seen this happen over the last few years with Permian and it must stop. Those young men should have had one last opportunity to tie the game instead; a mental mistake took it away. I guess everyone must learn during pre-season but a loss is a loss. Come on Coaches, do your job so that these young men can experience the same tradition those that went before them had.
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September 5, 1997
El Paso- An upset was brewing in El Paso Friday night as the Irvin Rockets found themselves tied with the Panthers as regular time ended. The biggest game was being played in the heads of the Panther player's as they continued to make mistakes at the worse possible moments including two missed field goals by all world kicker Jimmy White.
Fortunately, the new overtime sudden death rule played out in Permian's favor as Bobby Allison intercepted a Irvin pass on their first possession. The Panthers finished the game with Joe Stephens running for a TD from 4 yards out resulting in a 20-14 win.
Odessa Permian ruled the statistics with 21 first downs compared to 8 for El Paso. Permian had 305 offensive yards, 266 on the ground, while Irvin churned out 173 with 138 coming through the air. Both teams lost one fumble with Irvin having 3 passes intercepted and Permian loosing one.
If Head Coach Mayes is able to keep this team focused for 4 full quarters, they will be just fine but that was 1996's main problem. I believe Permian has the talent necessary to keep them winning but do they have the character and drive? The Permian tradition has been a major factor leading to outstanding performances over the last three decades. If these young men fail to get their heads into the game, this could be a long season. Next Saturday, Permian hosts North Mesquite to revenge their disappointing 1996 loss. This week will set the tone for both team's 1997 season.
When Texas High School football fans talk about teams with consistency and tradition, Odessa Permian is always mentioned in the conversation. Their 1996 third-place District 4-5A finish is no way to keep the tradition rolling so Coach Randy Mayes must pull the rabbit out of the hat in ‘97. Randy must motivate this year’s team to a new level in order to get Permian’s twelfth man, their fans, involved.
The Panthers are returning 24 Lettermen with 4 starters. This year’s top player for Permian is their Kicker/Punter Jimmy White. Jimmy was the only player, during ‘96, to make the Texas Sport’s Writers Association first team and is most likely on his way to a Division 1-A team. Even though the kicking game appears to be covered, the big question is whether or not the Offense and Defense will gel.
Returning starters, WR Chad Bell and OT Tommy Sheen, will be called upon to keep the tradition rolling for the Mojo Offense. Casey Waite will most likely get the call at QB and Junior FB Koefie Powell is expected to be the main component of the Panther’s wing-T.
Defensively the Panthers appear to have a bit more experience with DB John Johnson, DE Danny Miller and LB Sean Phillips returning. Keep an eye on DT Jeff Hagen, DB Bobby Allison and DE Danny Miller.
Dave Campbell’s 1997 Texas Football magazine predicted the Panthers to finish 3rd in District this year plus this is the first year, since 1988, that Permian failed to make Dave Campbell’s Pre-Season Top 25 poll. Is this the beginning of a new tradition with Permian? I do not think it is but several things must change if they are going to be able to keep it rolling.
Good Luck Permian in ‘97.
