Permian Drops District Home Opener

Odessa, TX – On a night of homecoming, Permian watched Abilene High doing most of the celebrating as both teams opened District 2-6A action.  The Panthers fell behind 21-7 at the half, and were unable to make up the difference in the 42-21 loss in Ratliff Stadium.
   
Madelyn Clark was named Homecoming Queen, while Kyler Fife was announced as King on a night that was not expected to end as it did.  Abilene High was first on the scoreboard after putting together a 12-play, 70-yard scoring drive capped off by a 5-yard trot over the goal line by Da’King Thomas.  Mojo would answer with a 70-yard drive of its own.  A 10-yard toss from Rodney Hall to JaQuan Richardson would knot the game at 7-7.  Six plays later, the Eagles reclaimed the lead off of a 27-yard touchdown pass to end the quarter.

Abilene High added another TD in the second frame to push the deficit to 21-7.  After starting with good field position, quarterback Abel Ramirez connected with Anthony Ramirez on a 25-yard strike.  The Eagles took the two TD advantage into intermission.

Permian received the second half kickoff but was forced into a three-and-out and punted the ball away.  Abilene High went for the jugular on the first play from scrimmage.  A 53-yard TD run by Thomas took all of one play to extend the Eagles’ lead to 28-7 less than two minutes into the second half.

Permian’s next possession found much better results in the production department.  The Panthers engineered a 7-play, 63-yard drive that was capped by a swing pass from Hall to Juzstyce Lara that netted 21 yards.  The score would narrow the gap back to two touchdowns.  That would be the closest the Panthers would get.

After the Mojo defense forced a three-and-out, Permian took over at its own 36.  Methodically moving the ball downfield, a promising scoring drive met disaster when a fumble killed the drive inside the Abilene redzone.  The Eagles chewed up clock and yards as they took advantage of the miscue, driving 90 yards in 13 plays for  a 35-14 lead.  Abilene High added another score midway into the final period.  Showing there was still some fight left, Hall connected Richardson on a 72-yard catch and run to cap the scoring at 42-21. 

Hall finished the night rushing for 67 yards and throwing for another 182.  Tristan Johnson had 25 yards from six carries, while Richardson had five receptions for 118 yards.  Deonte Bass added 41 yards from three catches.

The Panthers (0-1, 3-2) will be on the road next week as they visit Frenship (1-0, 4-1) for another District 2-6A tilt.  The Tigers beat San Angelo Central 49-32 earlier this evening.
  

   
SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter
Abi – Da’King Thomas 5 run (Anthony Ramirez kick), 7:34
Per – JaQuan Richardson 10 pass Rodney Hall (Terry kick), 3:31
Abi – Tim Outlaw 27 from Abel Ramirez (Ramirez kick), 1:32

Second Quarter
Abi – Anthony Ramirez 25 pass from Ramirez (Ramirez kick), 4:32

Third Quarter
Abi – Thomas 53 run (Ramirez kick), 10:24
Per – Juzstyce Lara 21 pass from Hall (Terry kick), 6:58

Fourth Quarter
Abi – Abel Ramirez 1 run (Ramirez kick), 4:18
Abi – Abel Ramirez 2 run (Ramirez kick), 1:41
Per – Richardson 72 pass from Hall (Terry kick), 1:26