The Odessa High defense is a work in progress.
Despite the yardage allowed to Lubbock Monterey in the season opener last week, the Bronchos are progressing.
Odessa High effectively shut down the Plainsmen’s running attack, allowing just 70 yards on 13 carries.
It was through the air that Lubbock Monterey did its damage, most of it in the game’s final three minutes.
Plainsmen quarterback DJ Williams passed for 325 yards on the night, with 235 of those to wide receiver Hunter Hebrew.
Hebrew made a 37-yard catch on fourth down to keep Lubbock Monterey’s opening drive of the game alive and eventually set up a touchdown.
He then was able to outjump a pair of Bronchos’ defenders down the middle of the field for what would become a 64-yard touchdown pass that would tie the game, 36-36, with 3:04 to play.
Then, on the final play of regulation, he caught a 47-yard pass before being tackled.
Erase the big plays and the Bronchos allow less that 200 yards on the night and win comfortably.
Odessa High coach Dusty Ortiz wanted his defensive line to set the tone this season, to become the heart and soul of that unit and it stepped up on opening night.
Now, the Bronchos need to have the rest of the defense get up to speed.
>> RECORD BOOK: It was a foregone conclusion that junior wide receiver Ivan Carreon was going to set the school’s career receiving yardage mark at some point against the Plainsmen.
He came into the game with 77 receptions for 1,114 yards a season ago and needed just 15 yards to break the yardage mark and seven catches for the career reception mark.
Why wait?
Carreon’s first catch of the night was a 40-yard crossing pattern for a touchdown with 6:30 remaining to play in the first quarter to break the mark.
His second catch of the night was a highlight-reel catch and run from the left sideline across the field and then down the right sideline to cap a 72-yard scoring play from quarterback Jaylien Jones with 2:05 remaining in the opening quarter.
Carreon finished with four catches for 131 yards and the two scores.
He needs just three catches this week against El Paso Americas to break the career mark of 83 set by Julian Galindo (2016-18) and Gabriel Rodriguez (2007-09).
Jones also entered the record book as one of just five Bronchos’ quarterbacks to be responsible for six touchdowns in a game after he passed for four and rushed for two others against Lubbock Monterey.
Kenneth White (1954, against Borger), Derrick Teegarden (2008, against Amarillo High), Nick Adams (2015, against Lubbock Monterey) and Diego Cervantes (2021, against Lubbock Coronado) are the others.
>> WEATHER WOES: With the recent rain days, it’s hit or miss for the Bronchos on being able to get out onto Coleman Field to practice, especially as these storms have also brought lightning with them.
That puts Odessa High inside its Fieldhouse to work out, not the most disirerable way to get things done as there is barely enough room for a walk through and certainly no chance to work on tackling.
>> LOWER LEVEL: The Bronchos’ JV and Freshmen teams combined for a 1-2 mark last week, with no scored reported for the JV Red squad against Lubbock Monterey.
The JV White team fell to Midland High, 22-16, while the Freshmen Red team lost to Lubbock Monterey, 44-18.
The Freshman White squad salvaged the week with a 29-0 victory against Lubbock Monterey.
All four teams will face El Paso Americas on Wednesday, beginning at 5 p.m. for the freshmen games and 6:30 p.m. for the junior varsity contests.
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
EL PASO AMERICAS AT ODESSA HIGH
>> When: 7 p.m. Thursday.
>> Where: Ratliff Stadium.
>> Last Season: Did not play.
>> Records: El Paso Americas 0-1; Odessa High 1-0.
>> Radio: KHKX (FM-99.1).
>> Live Updates: Follow on Twitter at @OA_sports.
(PLAYER OF THE WEEK CAPSULE)
ODESSA HIGH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JAYLIEN JONES
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 205
Class: Senior
Position: QB
Last Week: Jones completed 26 of 36 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns and one interception. Rushed 11 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-39 overtime victory against Lubbock Monterey. Joins Diego Cervantes (2021) , Nick Adams (2015), Derrick Teegarden (2008) and Kenneth White (1954) on list of quarterbacks responsible for six TDs in a single game.
