Permian Panthers MOJO Football

OCTOBER 23rd- The Permian Panthers secured a share of the District 2-6A title with a 42-17 victory over the Midland Bulldogs on Friday at Astound Broadband Stadium.

Midland jumped out to a 7-0 lead and had plenty of chances to take control of the game in the first half. However, the Panthers made big plays when they needed them to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

The Panthers got going early in the second period when Kayden Vickers completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Zephaniah DeLeon. Iker Munoz drilled the PAT to tie the game at 7-7.

MOJO took the lead for good on their next possession when Cayden Taylor scored on a 19-yard run. The PAT made it 14-7 Permian with 5:48 left in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to tie it when an 18-yard pass moved Midland inside the 10-yard line, but the Permian defense rose up to hold the Bulldogs to a 30-yard field goal. Permian remained on top 14-10 with 2:39 left before the break.

With time for one more possession, the Panthers extended the lead to 21-10 when Taylor found the end zone again on a two-yard run with 33 seconds until halftime.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, Permian scored quickly on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Vickers to Aaron Navarrete on the opening drive of the third quarter. Munoz kicked the extra point for a 28-10 lead.

Midland answered the score with a 35-yard touchdown pass. The score made it 28-17 with 6:21 to go in the third.

Whatever momentum the Bulldogs may have gained with the touchdown was erased quickly when Taylor scored his third touchdown on the ensuing Permian drive. The score gave MOJO a 35-17 advantage with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter.

Midland had one more chance to keep pace with the Panthers before Malachi Mendoza intercepted a pass in the end zone to stymie the drive with 7:19 left in the game.

MOJO added one more score in the final period with a one-yard touchdown scamper by Vickers. The game ended with Permian on top 42-17.

Kayden Vickers was 16-of-21 passing for 214 yards,with two touchdown passes. Aaron Navarrete had five catches for 82 yards and a score. Cayden Taylor had 19 carries for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Malachi Mendoza had an interception on defense. The win gives the Panthers a share of the District 2-6A title.

LINKS:

MOJO 42, MIDLAND 17 VIDEO

MOJO 42, MIDLAND 17 STATISTICS

NOVEMBER 6th- The Permian Panthers secured an outright District 2-6A title with a 31-8 victory over the San Angelo Central Bobcats on Friday. The Panthers ended the regular season at 10-0 for the first time since 2008.

MOJO was in control of the game from start to finish, building a 17-0 lead before going into the haftime break.

Permian's first drive ended in a field goal attempt by Iker Munoz. But the kick was blocked by the Bobcats to end the scoring threat.

On the ensuing Central drive, the defense put Permian on the board as Malachi Mendoza intercepted a Bobcats pass and returned it for a 71-yard touchdown. Munoz kicked the PAT to give MOJO a 7-0 lead with 6:21 remaining in the first quarter.

On the next Permian possession, the offense put together a seven play, 76-yard scoring drive capped off by a 13-yard touchdown run by Josh Curry. The PAT made it 14-0 Permian.

Munoz added a 30-yard field goal with 2:46 left in the second quarter to give Permian a 17-0 lead at the half.

Central’s offense began the second half with a long drive that burned nearly six minutes off the clock. But the Bobcats would eventually turn the ball over on downs at Permian's 26-yard line.

From there Kayden Vickers led MOJO down the field before taking the ball into the end zone himself, adding to Permian’s advantage with a 3-yard touchdown run. With 27 seconds remaining in the third period the Panthers had a 24-0 lead.

The Bobcats finally got on the board in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard pass play. Central got the two-point conversion to make the score 24-8 Permian with 7:22 remaining in the game.

The Panthers answered on their next possession, with Vickers scoring his second rushing touchdown of the night on a 12-yard run. The game would end with the Panthers on top 31-8.

Running back Cayden Taylor had 12 carries for 98 yards. Quarterback Kayden Vickers went 11-of-13 for 148 yards passing and added two scores on the ground. Wide receiver Malachi Mendoza led the Permian receiving corps with four receptions for 66 yards, and scored on a 71-yard interception return.

The win gives the Panthers the outright District 2-6A title, and completes their first undefeated regular season since 2008.

NEXT UP- Permian begins the 6A Division I playoffs vs the El Paso Eastlake Falcons. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm Friday, November 13th at Ratliff Stadium.

LINKS:

MOJO 31, SAC 8 VIDEO

MOJO 31, SAC 8 STATISTICS