GAME ARTICLES
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PANTHERS CRUSH COUGARS TO REMAIN UNBEATEN
SEPTEMBER 8th– The Permian Panthers ran their record to 2-0 with a convincing 42-14 victory over the El Paso Franklin Cougars.
The Panthers got things going on their second possession of the game. Steve Steen ripped off a 52 yard run up the far sideline to get into scoring position. Two plays later, Steen connected with a wide-open Brother Miller in the endzone for a 25 yard touchdown pass. Carson Roberts’ PAT made the score 7-0 MOJO.
Permian had a miscue on their next possession as Keyshawn Jones fumbled the ball at the 27 yard line, with Franklin getting the recovery. The MOJO defense bailed them out with consecutive QB sacks on second and third down, forcing a Franklin punt.
After the Panthers offense sputtered, a short punt gave Franklin good field position at the Permian 39 yard line. The Cougars took advantage of the short field with a scoring drive that culminated with a one yard touchdown run. The game was tied 7-7 midway through the second quarter.
The Permian offense sputtered again on their next possession. Forced to punt, Roberts nailed a beautiful 70 yard punt that pinned Franklin at their own one yard line. The defense forced another three-and-out, giving MOJO prime field position. It only took the Panthers one play to take advantage, with Justin Hammond taking the pitch from Steen and racing up the sideline for a 35 yard touchdown. The score gave the Panthers a 14-7 lead with 4:52 remaining in the half.
The Panthers got on the board one more time before the break with a 47 yard scoring drive. After getting down to the two yard line on a 42 yard pass to Keyshawn Jones, Steen kept the ball from two yards out to cap the drive. The Panthers went into the break on top 21-7.
Franklin got the ball to begin the second half, but the MOJO defense shut them down. The subsequent Cougars punt went down to the Permian nine yard line. That wasn’t a problem for the Panthers, as Brother Miller capped a 91 yard drive with a 33 yard touchdown run. Franklin would answer with a nine play, 48 yard scoring drive. The third quarter ended with a 28-14 Permian lead.
The fourth quarter began with the Panthers knocking on the door again. But Steen would fumble at the four yard line while fighting for extra yardage, with Franklin recovering the ball. As it had done all night, the Black Attack rose up yet again to stymie the Cougars. A short punt gave the Panthers possession at the Franklin 33 yard line, and it only took two plays for MOJO to hit paydirt. Ed Williams burst up the middle of the Cougars defense for a 33 yard touchdown run, making the score 35-14 with 10:09 remaining.
Permian got on the board one more time late in the game, with Steen capping a 60 yard drive with a one yard touchdown run. Roberts’ PAT made the final score 42-14 in favor of the Panthers.
Ed Williams led all rushers for the second week in a row, with 122 yards on 12 carries. Steve Steen added 110 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to go along with 86 yards passing. Justin Hammond had 60 yards and a score. Defensively, the Panthers limited Franklin to 155 total yards. Ben Vore grabbed an interception to end the first half. The win gives MOJO a 2-0 record.
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SEPTEMBER 1st– The Permian Panthers won their 2017 opener in dramatic fashion, scoring with 1:22 remaining to defeat the Vandegrift Vipers 28-24 at Ratliff Stadium.
Permian would get on the board first. Senior linebacker Preston Ellison came crashing in to block a Vandegrift punt, setting the Panthers up at the 27 yard line. Steve Steen capped the short drive six plays later with a two yard touchdown run. Carson Roberts’ PAT gave MOJO a 7-0 first quarter lead.
The Panthers hit paydirt again early in the second quarter with a 10 play, 85 yard drive. Ed Williams did most of the damage with five carries for 44 yards, including the touchdown from two yards out. The score gave Permian a 14-0 advantage.
On the ensuing Vandegrift possession the MOJO defense put together an impressive goal line stand, holding the Vipers out of the endzone on six straight plays and forcing a turnover on downs. But after a 12 yard run on first down Williams coughed up the ball, giving the Vipers another shot from the Permian 12 yard line. Vandegrift made good on the gift with a 10 yard touchdown pass, making the score 14-7 as the teams went into the halftime break.
Vandegrift received the second half kickoff but found little room to work against the MOJO defense, forcing a punt. The Vipers would receive their second big gift of the night when Permian’s Brother Miller muffed the fair catch, with Vandegrift recovering at the Permian 10 yard line. It took just one play to hit paydirt with another 10 yard TD pass, and the score was tied at 14-14.
The Vipers would stun the Permian faithful on the following possession. Steen rolled to his right attempting to pass the ball, but a hard hit from a Vandegrift defender jarred the ball loose. The Vipers recovered the ball and made the Panthers pay immediately. A perfectly executed double pass went for a touchdown, and just like that MOJO was down 21-14 as the third quarter ended.
Permian marched down the field to tie the game at 21-21, with Williams capping the 10 play drive with a 30 yard scoring burst through the middle of the Viper defense. Vandegrift regained the lead on the following series, capping a 60 yard drive with a 28 yard field goal.
With 6:47 remaining in the game Permian started their final possession on the 25 yard line. 10 straight runs got MOJO down to the Vandegrift 23 yard line. Steen then connected with junior slotback Justin Hammond for a 23 yard touchdown pass. The PAT gave MOJO a 28-24 lead with just 1:22 remaining, setting up the exciting finish.
Vandegrift began their last-gasp drive at their own 25 yard line. After an incomplete pass on first down the Vandegrift coaches asked the officials to quiet the Permian band from playing while they had the ball. The band complied– much to the chagrin of the MOJO faithful in the home stands. An already vocal crowd got even louder, causing the Vipers to commit consecutive false-start penalties.
A couple of errant passes set up the finale. Facing fourth down, Vipers quarterback Justin Moore could find no open receivers. Flushed out of the pocket, Moore scrambled for eight yards before Ellison made a huge hit to stop him short of the marker. From there Permian took over on downs and simply had to kneel for one play to run out the clock. Final score Permian 28, Vandegrift 24.
LINKS:
MOJO GETS VICTORY OVER VANDEGRIFT VIPERS
PANTHERS TRIP UP THE EASTWOOD TROOPERS
SEPTEMBER 15th– A 35 point second half gave Permian a 49-27 victory in El Paso vs the Eastwood Troopers.
Eastwood showed they would not be an easy out on the first play of the game- with a little help from the officials. A quick swing pass by the Troopers turned into a 75 yard touchdown, in spite of the side judge missing the receiver step out of bounds on the 36 yard line. MOJO blocked the point after try, but with just 14 seconds off the clock the Troopers were up 6-0.
MOJO answered with an eight play, 67 yard drive. Ed Williams did the heavy lifting on the drive, with Justin Hammond finishing it with a 16 yard touchdown run. Carson Roberts' successful PAT gave the Panthers a 7-6 lead.
Eastwood cranked up their fast-paced offense on their next possession, going 85 yards in 15 plays. A two yard touchdown pass was the payoff, and the Troopers were back on top 13-7.
Permian regained the lead in the second quarter on a 16 yard touchdown pass from Steve Steen to Brother Miller. Eastwood would go to the ground attack on their next drive, moving into MOJO territory with four consecutive runs. The Troopers then struck again through the air from 37 yards out, with the wide-open receiver taking a short pass in the middle of the field and outrunning the pursuit to the endzone. Eastwood was back on top 20-14.
MOJO took the kick and drove down the field with an opportunity to score again going into the break. However the officials failed to stop the clock after a first down, and the Panthers were left with time for just one play. Steen lofted a fade pass to Nakavieon White, but he was ruled out of bounds. The half ended with the Troopers on top 20-14.
The second half was all MOJO. Keatyn Armstrong stepped in front of an Eastwood pass and returned the ball to the Troopers 41 yard line. Justin Hammond would take a reverse on the following play to get MOJO down to the 10 yard line. Miller then capped the drive on the next play with a 10 yard touchdown run. Permian had regained the lead at 21-20 and had all the momentum going forward.
After a nice defensive stand, the Panthers got on the board again with a four play, 80 yard drive. Steen did most of the damage with consecutive long runs, the final one being a touchdown from 36 yards out. Roberts PAT made it 28-20 Permian as the 3rd quarter ended.
MOJO extended the lead on their next two possessions. Three straight runs by Williams got Permian into scoring position on the first drive, with Steen hitting Zach Jaquez on a six yard touchdown pass to finish. Matt Jones recovered an Eastwood fumble on the next series, setting up the Permian offense at the 9 yard line. Williams made them pay on the next play, driving across the goal line from nine yards out. MOJO was up 42-20 with 6:56 remaining.
Eastwood got on the board one more time with a 10 play, 73 yard drive to make the score 42-27. But it was too little, too late. MOJO would seal the deal after Jones recovered his second fumble of the night at the Eastwood 28 yard line. Williams got his second touchdown of the game on the following play to make the final score MOJO 49, Eastwood 27.
Ed Williams led all rushers with 206 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Hammond added 83 yards and a score. Steve Steen had 74 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and threw for two scores to Brother Miller and Zach Jaquez. Defensively, Matt Jones had a huge game with two fumble recoveries and a sack. Keatyn Armstrong got the first interception of his varsity career. Carson Roberts was perfect on PATs. The win gives MOJO a 3-0 record going into their bye week.
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PANTHERS POUND FRENSHIP TIGERS IN DISTRICT OPENER
SEPTEMBER 29th– The Permian Panthers won their District 2-6A opener in dominating fashion, defeating the Frenship Tigers 66-14 at Ratliff Stadium.
MOJO imposed their will from the opening kickoff. Frenship got the ball to start the game but went nowhere. After a short punt by the Tigers, it only took three plays for the Panthers to go 40 yards for a score. Ed Williams busted loose for a 32 yard gain to get into scoring position, with Steve Steen finishing the drive on a one yard touchdown run. Carson Roberts' PAT made it 7-0 MOJO with just two minutes gone in the game.
After another quick three-and-out by the Tigers, Permian struck again quickly. Consecutive runs by Steen netted 25 yards, setting up a five yard touchdown run by Justin Hammond. 14-0 MOJO with 4:59 remaining in the first quarter.
The Tigers fumbled the ball on their next possession, with Tanner Adams recovering for the Panthers. MOJO put together a seven play, 55 yard drive capped by Steen’s second touchdown run of the night. The first quarter ended with Permian on top 21-0.
The MOJO defense continued to dominate in the second quarter. The Black Attack forced their second turnover of the game when Christian Tschauner picked off a Frenship pass at the 26 yard line. But the offense would stall, and Permian would settle for a 25 field goal by Roberts to make the score 24-0 in favor of the Panthers.
Frenship finally put together a drive midway through the second quarter, culminating with an 18 yard touchdown pass. The half ended with Permian on top 24-7.
The Panthers continued to have their way with the Tigers in the second half. Brother Miller took the opening kick and returned it to the Frenship 17 yard line. It only took three plays for Permian to cash in, with Williams scoring on a three yard run. Miller made his presence known again on the next MOJO possession, taking a pitch from Steen and rambling 62 yards up the sideline to paydirt.
Consecutive long runs by Williams and Hammond on MOJO’s next possession got the ball deep in Frenship territory. Steen finished the job from nine yards out for his third score of the night to make the score 52-7 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The defense would get into the act on the ensuing Frenship possession. Tanner Adams led the charge to stuff the Tigers running back behind the line, then stripped the ball and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. The third quarter ended with the score Permian 59, Frenship 7.
With the game well in hand, the Panthers began to substitute liberally. The results were the same however, as Mark Samaniego capped a three play drive with a 20 yard touchdown run. The Tigers finally got back in the endzone on an eight play scoring drive with 3:20 remaining the game. Frenship would get one more chance to score late, but the MOJO defense held them out of the endzone on the four yard line. Final score Permian 66, Frenship 14.
Ed Williams led all rushers with 177 yards and two touchdowns on only 12 carries. Steve Steen added 77 yards and three scores. Brother Miller and Justin Hammond had 62 and 54 yards, respectively. Steen was 6-of-9 for 70 yards through the air with Miller, Hammond, and Nakavioen White grabbing two catches apiece. Defensively Tanner Adams grabbed two fumbles, returning one for a touchdown. Christian Tschauner and Ben Vore grabbed interceptions. Carson Roberts was 9-for-9 on PATs and kicked a 25 yard field goal. The win gives MOJO a 1-0 mark in District 2-6A (4-0 overall).
NEXT UP- Permian will have their second bye week of the season in preparation for their game with Midland High on October 13th. GAMEDAY CENTRAL
LINKS:
MOJO 66, FRENSHIP 14 VIDEO
OCTOBER 13th– The Permian Panthers improved to 2-0 in District 2-6A (5-0 overall) with a 35-9 victory over the Midland Bulldogs.
Despite being heavy favorites in this game, the Panthers struggled a bit to get things going in the first half. Two promising first quarter drives ended in fumbles recovered by the Bulldogs. The MOJO defense was in fine form however, limiting Midland to a long field goal attempt that fell short on their first possession and a three-and-out on their next. The first quarter ended with both teams scoreless.
The second quarter found MOJO on the march. Steve Steen found Justin Hammond streaking down the far sideline for a 31 yard touchdown pass. Carson Roberts' PAT gave Permian a 7-0 lead.
Midland finally put together a drive as the second quarter was coming to a close. With just 10 seconds remaining the Bulldogs attempted a flea-flicker pass play on fourth down. Ben Vore was in position to knock the ball down, but the Bulldogs receiver caught the ball off the rebound and landed at the three yard line. Midland was forced to settle for a field goal, and the teams went into the halftime break with MOJO on top 7-3.
The Bulldogs got the ball to begin the second half, but the Black Attack defense shut them down quickly. After a short punt, Permian went on a 48 yard scoring drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Steen to Hammond from six yards out. The third quarter ended with Permian on top 14-3.
MOJO finally got the offense untracked in the fourth quarter. After another short Midland punt gave the Panthers good field position at the Bulldogs 43 yard line, Steen got the Panthers in scoring position with a 32 yard run. Ed Williams finished the drive a couple of plays later with a one yard touchdown run. The successful PAT gave Permian a 21-3 lead.
Midland would answer with a 7 play, 79 yard touchdown drive. But that would be it for the Bulldogs. The Panthers responded with an 82 yard scoring drive of their own. Williams-who had been bottled up by the Bulldogs all night– broke out for two big gains to get MOJO down to the Midland 12 yard line. From there, Brother Miller took a pitch from Steen and found clear sailing to the endzone. The score gave the Panthers a 28-9 lead with 3:56 remaining in the contest.
The defense came up big on the ensuing Midland possession. Facing third-and-long a Bulldogs pass was intercepted by Ben Vore, giving the Panthers possession at the 48 yard line. Steen and Williams took over from there, with Steen driving the final nail with a 27 yard touchdown run. Roberts PAT kick was true, and the Panthers were up 35-9 with a minute remaining.
Midland would get one more scoring opportunity, but their hopes were dashed when Rakeeb Adeyemi would grab his first interception of the year. The Panthers only had to snap the ball twice as the clock ran down. Final score Permian 35, Midland 9.
Steve Steen led all rushers with 164 yards and a score. Ed Williams added 93 yards and a touchdown. Brother Miller was the leading receiver for the Panthers with 47 yards on two receptions. Justin Hammond had two catches for 21 yards and two scores. Defensively, Ben Vore and Rakeeb Adeyemi had interceptions. Carson Roberts was perfect on all five extra point attempts. The win gives MOJO a 2-0 record in District 2-6A (5-0 overall).
On Thursday, the Permian subvarsity teams were 4-0 against their Midland counterparts. JV Black defeated Midland 44-7. JV White earned a 22-0 win over the Bulldogs. Both Permian freshman teams won their games.
NEXT UP: Permian hosts the Amarillo Tascosa Bulldogs for Homecoming Friday, October 20th. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm at Ratliff Stadium.
LINKS:
MOJO 35, MIDLAND 9 STATISTICS
MOJO MUZZLES THE MIDLAND BULLDOGS
PERMIAN TAKES DOWN THE TASCOSA REBELS
OCTOBER 20th– The Permian Panthers made a big statement in their 49-7 Homecoming victory over the Amarillo Tascosa Rebels.
The game was touted as a matchup of top teams in District 2-6A, but in the end it was Permian that dominated in all phases. The starting offense scored on every possession, while the defense held the high-powered Tascosa offense scoreless until late in the game.
The Rebels would win the toss and elected to receive the ball to begin the game. The Permian Black Attack defense gave no ground, and Tascosa was forced to punt. The Panthers promptly put together a 13 play, 59 yard drive that culminated in a short touchdown run by Ed Williams. Carson Roberts’ PAT gave MOJO a 7-0 lead.
The Rebels put together a nice drive to begin the second quarter. Permian put an end to the scoring threat however, as Tanner Adams put a hard hit on the Tascosa quarterback to force a fumble. With the ball at their own 16 yard line Permian marched down into scoring range, moving to the Tascosa 18 in nine plays. From there Steve Steen threw a perfect pass to the back of the endzone, where Brother Miller made a spectacular touchdown catch over the Rebels defender. 14-0 MOJO.
After the MOJO defense forced another three-and-out, Steen would get the Panthers into the endzone again as the first half was ending. Finding himself bottled up in the backfield, the senior quarterback reversed field and raced down the far sideline for a 48 yard touchdown. The PAT gave MOJO a 21-0 lead going into the break.
The second half looked much like the first. The Panthers received the kick and wasted no time in getting back on the board. On the first play of the third quarter, Steen hit Miller on a quick screen pass. Miller turned upfield and raced 64 yards down to the Tascosa 20 yard line. Steen finished the drive three plays later with a nine yard touchdown run.
The Steen-to-Miller aerial attack struck again on the next MOJO possession. Facing a third down and six, Steen hit Miller in stride for a 56 yard touchdown. Keshawn Jones got his first touchdown of the season on the next MOJO possession, taking the pitchout and weaving his way through the Tascosa defense on a nine yard touchdown run. The third quarter ended with MOJO on top 42-0.
Cornerback Christian Tschauner got the ball back for MOJO on the next Rebels possession, picking off a pass at midfield. Steen would get the final score for the Panthers 10 plays later on a six yard touchdown run. Tascosa spoiled the shutout as the fourth quarter was coming to a close, scoring a touchdown from nine yards out. The Rebels would get one more chance on offense but the drive stalled at midfield as the clock struck 00:00. MOJO 49, Tascosa 7 final.
Steve Steen led all rushers with 135 yards and three scores on 15 carries. Steen was also 4-of-4 passing for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Hammond rushed for 76 yards on nine carries, with Ed Williams adding 62 yards and a touchdown. Brother Miller was the leading receiver with 138 yards and two touchdowns. Keshawn Jones caught one pass for 27 yards. Defensively, Christian Tschauner grabbed his second interception of the year. Tanner Adams forced a fumble. The win gives MOJO a 3-0 record in District 2-6A (6-0 overall).
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PERMIAN PANTHERS FALL IN SAN ANGELO
OCTOBER 27th- The Permian Panthers suffered their first defeat of the season, falling to the Central Bobcats 31-20 in San Angelo.
The Panthers got off to a promising start, marching 75 yards in 13 plays to take a 7-0 first quarter lead. Justin Hammond got the score on a 21 yard run. The Bobcats answered with a 52 yard scoring drive. The first quarter ended with the teams tied 7-7.
The second quarter found the teams trading defensive punches, with Central finally putting together a late drive to get into scoring range. The MOJO defense would stiffen, and the Bobcats set up for an apparent field goal try from the four yard line. But instead of kicking Central reached into their bag of tricks, faking the kick and tossing the ball to a running back who ran into the endzone for the touchdown. The first half ended with Central on top 14-7.
The start of the second half saw MOJO suffer a double whammy. It was learned coming out of the lockerroom that starting quarterback Steve Steen would not play the rest of the game due to a possible injury. Then, the Bobcats took the second half kick and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. Just like that Permian found themselves in a tight spot, down 21-7.
Sophomore quarterback Easton Hernandez would enter the game in relief of Steen and get the Panthers into scoring range. The drive stalled at the Bobcat 20 yard line, and Carson Roberts was successful on a 37 yard field goal. The Bobcats answered with a 36 yard field goal of their own. Another Roberts field goal from 42 yards made the score 24-13 as the third quarter ended.
In the fourth quarter the Bobcats would score a touchdown on a controversial pass play that appeared to hit the turf before being trapped by the receiver. The play gave the Bobcats a 31-13 lead. Hernandez would finally connect with Brother Miller on a 17 yard touchdown late in the game but it was too little, too late. The game ended with San Angelo Central on top 31-20.
Ed Williams led all rushers with 79 yards on 14 carries. Justin Hammond added 63 yards and a touchdown. Brother Miller caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Christian Tschauner grabbed his third interception of the year. The loss gives Permian a 3-1 district record (6-1 overall).
NEXT UP: The Panthers take on Odessa High in the Rumble at Ratliff. Kickoff is set for Friday, November 3rd at 7:30pm. Permian is the designated home team.
LINKS:
SA CENTRAL 31, MOJO 20 STATISTICS
RUMBLE AT RATLIFF GOES TO THE PANTHERS
NOVEMBER 3rd– The Permian Panthers got back on the winning track with a big 35-9 victory over crosstown rival Odessa High.
Early on it looked as though the game would be a defensive struggle, with the teams trading punts on their opening possessions. The Panthers finally got things going on their second possession, putting together a 13 play, 51 yard scoring drive. Steve Steen picked up a key first down on the drive, with Ed Williams finishing the drive on a seven yard touchdown run. Carson Roberts’ PAT made it 7-0 MOJO.
The Panthers struck again in the second quarter. Justin Hammond took an option pitch and raced down the sideline for a 41 yard gain. Williams got his second score of the game on the next play, busting up the middle for a 16 yard touchdown. Odessa High would make a 25 yard field goal as the first half ended. Permian went into the break on top 14-3.
The second half was all MOJO. Hammond received the second half kick and returned to the Odessa 13 yard line. It only took three plays from there to hit paydirt, with Williams getting his third touchdown of the game from one yard out. The PAT made the score 21-3 MOJO.
The Bronchos answered with their best drive of the night on the ensuing possession, going 58 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Their two-point try failed, leaving MOJO with a 21-9 lead as the third quarter came to a close.
Permian put the game away in the fourth quarter. Keshawn Jones took a pitch from Steen and weaved his way through the Bronchos defense on his way to a 40 yard touchdown. The Panthers put the final nail in the coffin on their next possession, going 66 yards in seven plays. Steen finished the drive with a nine yard touchdown scamper. The game ended with MOJO on top 35-9.
Ed Williams led all rushers with 94 yards and three touchdowns. Steve Steen added 73 yards and a score. Keshawn Jones had 60 yards and a touchdown on three carries. Justin Hammond added 54 yards rushing as well as the big 65 yard kickoff return. The win gives Permian a 4-1 record in District 2-6A (7-1 overall). Odessa High was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
LINKS:
MOJO 35, ODESSA 9 VIDEO
MOJO 35, ODESSA 9 STATISTICS
PERMIAN PANTHERS ROUT RIVAL LEE REBELS
NOVEMBER 10th– The Permian Panthers earned the top seed in 2-6A Division I with a convincing 42-7 victory over the Midland Lee Rebels.
Early on it appeared as though the game would be a tight one. Permian took the opening kickoff and held the ball for most of the first quarter, but the offense eventually stalled. After a short punt, Lee put together an eight play, 81 yard touchdown drive. The first quarter ended with the Rebels on top 7-0.
Permian answered in the second quarter with a 12 play, 75 yard scoring drive. Ed Williams got the touchdown from three yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
There was controversy on the ensuing kickoff, as the Lee receiver muffed the kickoff and then attempted to return the ball out of the endzone. The Panthers tackled the runner in the endzone for an apparent safety, which was initially signaled as such by the referee. But after the officials huddled for a conference the call was changed to a touchback, and the points came off the score board.
The Rebels took possession of the ball at their own 25. The Permian defense made sure they went nowhere however, and Lee was forced to punt. MOJO got the ball back and promptly went on an eight play, 60 yard drive that culminated in a nice one-handed pass reception by Keshawn Jones. The Panthers went into the halftime break on top 14-7.
Permian took control of the game in the second half. On their first possession of the third quarter, Steve Steen would connect with a wide-open Brother Miller on a 50 yard touchdown strike. Carson Roberts’ PAT made it 21-7 Permian. Safety Seth Higdon set the Panthers up with great field position just a minute later, intercepting a Rebel pass at the 29 yard line. The Permian air attack struck again quickly, with Steen hitting Zach Jaquez from six yards out to make good on the turnover. Justin Hammond would get into the act on the next Panthers possession, scoring on a 21 yard touchdown run. The third quarter ended with MOJO leading 35-7.
With MOJO’s Black Attack defense playing lights out, Midland Lee was forced to turn the ball over on downs midway through the fourth quarter. Steen led the Panthers on their final scoring march of the game, finishing the drive with a seven yard touchdown run. Final score Permian 42, Midland Lee 7.
Steve Steen led all rushers with 116 yards and a touchdown. Steen also passed for 69 yards and three touchdowns. Ed Williams ran for 110 yards and a score. Justin Hammond added 81 yards and a touchdown. Brother Miller scored on a 50 yard reception, with Keshawn Jones and Zach Jaquez adding touchdown receptions. Defensively, Seth Higdon grabbed an interception.
NEXT UP: The Panthers will host El Paso Coronado in the first round of the Class 6A Division I state playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm CST Friday, November 17th at Ratliff Stadium.
LINKS:
MOJO 42, MIDLAND LEE STATISTICS
NOVEMBER 17th- The Permian Panthers advanced to the second round of the Class 6A Division I playoffs with their 50-17 victory over the El Paso Coronado Thunderbirds.
Despite being big underdogs coming into the game, the visiting T-Birds made it interesting early. After stopping the Panthers on their opening possession, Coronado would get on the board first with a long touchdown pass after a quarterback scramble. The first quarter ended with the T-Birds leading 7-0.
Permian answered in the second quarter with a 12 play, 75 yard drive. Ed Williams got the touchdown from five yards out to tie the game at 7-7. Coronado would answer with a long drive before the MOJO defense stiffened at the 18 yard line. The T-Birds settled for a field goal to go up 10-7.
After a 41 yard kickoff return by Brother Miller, Permian retook the lead on a 12 play, 59 yard scoring drive. Williams got his second score of the game from three yards out. The Carson Roberts PAT was good, and the Panthers went into the break on top 14-10.
The second half was all MOJO. After forcing Coronado to punt on their opening possession of the third quarter, Permian took control of the game in two plays. Justin Hammond busted loose for a 35 yard gain, then Williams scored his third touchdown of the game with a 33 yard touchdown run. Williams would get back in the endzone even faster on the next Permian possession. The junior runningback busted up the middle for 65 yards on first down, then finished the drive with a six yard touchdown run. The Roberts PAT made the score 28-10 Permian midway through the third quarter.
Coronado went on a 70 yard scoring drive on their next possession, closing the gap to 28-17. That was as close as they would get however, as MOJO responded with a pair of field goals to go up 34-17 early in the fourth quarter.
From there MOJO's Black Attack defense took over. Tanner Adams sacked the Coronado quarterback in the endzone for a safety to make the score 36-17. The defense posted another score when Preston Ellison stepped in front of a T-Bird pass and returned it 35 yards for the score. Roberts' PAT gave MOJO a 43-17 advantage with 8:18 remaining.
With the game in hand Permian substituted liberally, but with similar results. Mark Samaniego would get the Panthers into scoring position with two runs for 40 yards. Kaden Horrell finished the drive with a three yard touchdown run. The game ended with the final score MOJO 50, Coronado 17.
Ed Williams had a career night with 290 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries. Steve Steen rushed for 76 yards, and Mark Samaniego added 45 yards. Steen threw for 30 yards on three completions. Defensively, Preston Ellison and Rakeeb Adeyemi had interceptions. Tanner Adams forced a safety. The win gives MOJO a 9-1 record on the season.
LINKS:
MOJO 50, CORONADO 17 STATISTICS
PANTHERS ROAST THE CORONADO THUNDERBIRDS
