Mark Sterkel|Odessa American

Permian's Shaq Johnson (46) recovers a fumble by Bethel quarterback Justin Hordyk (11) during the first quarter of their game Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.

Football: Permian cashes in on mistakes by visiting Bethel

Panthers convert turnovers into points

September 02, 2010 11:12 PM

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BY JOEL A. ERICKSON

No matter who the opponent was standing on the opposite sideline, the Permian offense desperately had to improve in at least one key area.

Coming off of a lackluster Week 0 performance, the Panthers had to get the running game going.

Permian’s offensive line responded. Sparked by a series of opportunistic defensive takeaways, the Panthers bowled over Spanaway Bethel (Wash.) 39-21 in the first of a two-game series with their out-of-state opponents.

A week after posting the third-lowest rushing total in school history against Smithson Valley, Permian responded with 300 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns.

“That’s what we’ve been waiting on,” Panthers senior running back DeAnthony Fay said. “We’ve been waiting on this connection to hit. We’ve got that 1-2 punch, and no team is going to stop that.”

Alternating between senior backs Greg George and DeAnthony Fay, Permian (1-1) churned up yardage on the ground.

George carried 12 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Fay added 98 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

And wide receiver Tommey Morris, the Panthers’ short-yardage specialist, added 57 yards on just four carries, plus a momentum-building 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

“It felt real good this week to have some holes,” George said. “I’ve gotta thank my linemen for that.”

Permian’s offense had to keep scoring to hold Bethel (0-1) at bay.

Making their first appearance in Texas, the Braves racked up 548 total yards of offense, the most a Permian defense has ever allowed.

“It’s extremely positive for our kids,” Bethel head coach Gavin Kralik said. “We’re so much better off going into next week than we would be playing a team from Washington.”

Led by junior quarterback Justin Hordyk, who completed 21 of 40 passes for 295 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, Bethel’s offensive unit looked right at home in Ratliff Stadium.

Except for a few mistakes.

Bethel fumbled three times. Panthers nose tackle Shaq Johnson recovered the first deep in Permian territory to snuff out a series that could have given the Braves an early lead.

On Bethel’s next series, Hordyk was intercepted by Permian senior Barrett Brown to set up Fay’s first touchdown.

Morris followed that up with his 40-yard burst on the Panthers’ next series, and the Braves suddenly had to climb out of a 12-point hole.

“From last week, we just wanted to come out and get the win,” George said. “We had something to prove.”

Bethel’s next two series ended with turnovers on downs deep inside Permian territory, and then another mistake gave the Panthers another opportunity.

After forcing a three-and-out, Bethel fumbled a Brown punt, and Austin Reynolds recovered at the Braves’ 47.

Panthers quarterback Landry Serrano hit Tommey Morris for 26 yards on a crossing route, then nailed Morris on a 21-yard touchdown pass up the seam to give Permian a 19-0 halftime lead that Bethel answered with its first touchdown, a 6-yard David Fontenette run.

But Permian’s offensive line kept coming up with answers, leading the Panthers on an eight-play, 69-yard drive that Fay capped with a 5-yard run to give Permian control, no matter how many yards the Braves gained.

“We just fixed the mental errors we made last week,” Panthers left tackle Damon Rose said. “Their defense got tired. Our offensive line didn’t.”

>> Permian 39, Spanaway Bethel (Wash.) 21

Bethel 0 0 7 14 — 21

Permian 12 7 7 13 — 39

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Permian: DeAnthony Fay 7 run (kick failed), 4:27. Drive: 3 plays, 22 yards, 0:50. Key play: Tommey Morris 16 pass from Landry Serrano on first play of drive.

Permian: Tommey Morris 38 run (pass failed), 1:55. Drive: 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:35.

Second Quarter

Permian: Tommey Morris 21 pass from Landry Serrano (Barrett Brown kick), 1:01. Drive: 2 plays, 47 yards, 0:13. Key play: Tommey Morris 26 pass from Landry Serrano on first play of drive.

Third Quarter

Bethel: David Fontenette 6 run (Jacob Schrader kick), 10:49. Drive: 3 plays, 43 yards, 1:02. Key plays: Dalton Jackson 17 run on first play of drive.

Permian: DeAnthony Fay 5 run (Eric Diaz kick), 7:31. Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 3:17. Key plays: Greg George 22 run on 1st-and-10 at the Permian 46. Van Powell 25 pass from Landry Serrano on 3rd-and-23 at the Bethel 46.

Fourth Quarter

Permian: Greg George 2 run (kick failed), 11:56. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:41. Key plays: Tommey Morris 22 pass from Landry Serrano on 3rd-and-6 at the Permian 31. DeAnthony Fay 19 run on 2nd-and-8 at the Bethel 21.

Permian: Greg George 11 run (Eric Diaz kick), 6:04. Drive: 4 plays, 56 yards, 1:03: Key plays: DeAnthony Fay 12 run on first play of drive. DeAnthony Fay 20 run on 1st-and-10 at the Bethel 44.

Bethel: Jullian Merritt 4 pass from Justin Hordyk (Jacob Schrader kick), 4:02. Drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 1:55. Key plays: R.C. DeShields 29 pass from Justin Hordyk on 1st-and-10 at the Bethel 46. Patrick Hinshaw 18 pass from Justin Hordyk on 2nd-and-7 at the Permian 26.

Bethel: David Kelly 17 pass from Justin Hordyk (Jacob Schrader kick), 0.00. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 48.7. Key plays: David Kelly 26 pass from Justin Hordyk on 2nd-and-10 at the Permian 43.

TEAM STATISTICS

Bethel Permian

First downs 25 23

Total yards 548 416

Rushes-yards 44-253 41-300

Passing 295 116

Comp-Att-Int 21-40-1 6-12-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 2-14

Punt Returns 0-0 1-4

Kickoff Returns 6-117 3-76

Punts-avg. 1-29.0 4-29.5

Fumbles-Lost 5-3 1-0