After 10 years of frustration, the Odessa High Bronchos finally got to celebrate a victory over their crosstown rivals.
In a clash that more than lived up to its billing, something had to give as both teams dominated on offense in a high-scoring affair Friday night at Ratliff Stadium.
In the end, it was the Bronchos who prevailed, winning the bragging rights in a 49-42 overtime win over Permian to begin District 2-6A action.
“I’m so proud of the kids right now,” Odessa High head coach Dusty Ortiz said. “We know it was a lot of adversity, but I told the players that there’s a reason the first five games were so close. It’s for special moments like tonight.”
It was the Bronchos’ first win over Permian since 2013.
Odessa High moved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in District 2-6A.
Permian fell to 3-3, 0-1.
“It’s a tough one,” Permian head coach Jeff Ellison said. “It’s our first district game. We made too many mistakes down the road. It was a hard-fought game. You just can’t make mistakes like that.”
It was only fitting that the game took more than four quarters to settle.
The Panthers began overtime with possession but fumbled on their first play.
The Bronchos took over and worked the ball into the end zone and running back Dae Dae Green won it with an eight-yard run.
It was a game where neither side gave up on offense as both teams traded punches throughout the night.
Odessa High quarterback Mikey Cota went 18-29 for 399 yards passing and five touchdowns while wide receiver Andrew Rodriguez had five catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Ivan Carreon had four receptions for 94 yards.
Green had 16 carries for 62 yards.
“That’s what we’re made of,” Ortiz said. “Our team is an offensive team. Defense will get stops when it needs to but our offense has to come through and it hasn’t let us down yet.”
Cota reflected on the magnitude of the win.
“I don’t know where to start,” Cota said. “It’s an amazing win. We’ve been bonding with each other and fighting and we got the win.”
Permian’s Juzstyce Lara had 22 carries for 250 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Jakob Garcia went 5-of-7 for 104 yards passing with three touchdowns. Wide receiver Gage Murphy had two receptions for 76 yards.
Just two plays into the game, the Bronchos got the start they wanted as quarterback Cota hooked up with Rodriguez for an 80-yard touchdown, just less than a minute into the game as OHS took an early 7-0 lead with 11:06 left in the first quarter.
Facing fourth and two at their own 33, the Panthers elected to go for it on their first offensive drive.
The call would pay off as Lara easily converted on an 18-yard carry to bring the Panthers past midfield and help spark the Permian drive.
Isaiah Welton’s catch got the Panthers into the red zone just two plays later.
Welton would score just a few plays later on an 8-yard reception from Garcia and the extra point tied the game up at 7 with 5:02 left in the quarter.
Facing fourth and seven from their own 39, it was the Bronchos’ turn to roll the dice.
However, Cota’s pass for Rodriguez fell incomplete and the Panthers took over with good field position with 2:58 left in the quarter.
As both sides elected to keep the punters on the sidelines in the first quarter, Permian once again decided to go for it on another fourth down, facing fourth and four at the OHS 44.
Once again, the call paid off as Murphy hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass and the Panthers took a 14-7 lead with three seconds left in the quarter.
Permian wouldn’t wait long to get the ball back as the Bronchos coughed up the ball on the ensuing kickoff return and the Panthers took over with excellent field position at the OHS 27 to begin the second quarter.
Permian would make Odessa High pay as Lara found the end zone on a 27-yard touchdown run soon after and the Panthers suddenly had a 21-7 lead with 11:47 left in the quarter.
The Bronchos’ offense quickly worked the ball down the field in to red zone.
Green scored on a three-yard carry to bring the Bronchos to a 21-14 deficit with 9:41 left.
Permian had another quick answer as Garcia hooked up with Luke Paradeaux for a 4-yard touchdown pass on a two-play, 62-yard scoring drive, doubling the Panthers’ lead to 28-14 with 9:11 left.
OHS got one back on the next drive as Rodriguez scored on a 23-yard touchdown reception as the Bronchos again ate at the Panthers’ lead, trailing 28-21 with 8:11 remaining.
Odessa High wasn’t done yet either. After working the ball down to the Permian 7 and with two seconds left on the clock, the Bronchos decided to try for the touchdown.
However, Cota was gobbled up by the Permian defense, short of the end zone and the Panthers ended the first half with a 28-21 lead.
Beginning the second half with the ball, the Panthers’ offense had a chance to make it a 14-point lead.
But just when Permian was about to score, the Panthers fumbled the ball outside the end zone and the ball would go out for a touchback.
OHS wouldn’t do anything with possession and was forced to punt as both offenses started slowing down in the third quarter.
Isaac Herrera had a 79-yard touchdown run get called back due to a holding on the Panthers late in the third quarter.
Lara broke free for a 68-yard run on the following play to help make up for it and bring the Panther offense to the OHS 16.
However, Permian’s offense sputtered and was pushed back to the 32 as the quarter came to an end with the Panthers clinging to a seven-point lead.
Facing fourth and 26 on the first play of the fourth quarter, the Panthers kept the offense on the field.
Once again, the decision to go for it paid off as Garcia found Gage Murphy on a 32-yard touchdown pass and the Panthers took a 35-21 lead with 11:51 left in the game.
Odessa High responded with a scoring drive that resulted in 69-yard score by Ivan Carreon. The Panthers blocked the PAT, as the Bronchos trailed 35-27 with 10:32 remaining.
The Panthers fourth down magic wore off when the team turned the ball over on their own 30 with 8:13 remaining.
The Bronchos capitalized, scoring on 10-yard pass from Cota to Carreon.
Odessa High would convert the two-point conversion to tie the game up on a pass to wide receiver Jalen Warren with 6:46 left.
Permian had an answer in Lara as the running back broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run to put the Panthers back in front, 42-35, with 4:18 remaining.
Trailing 42-35 with 15 seconds left in the game, the Bronchos had the ball at the Permian 9. Cota hooked up with Izek Lujan for the touchdown pass and Aidric Rivera’s PAT tied the game up at 42, sending the contest into overtime.
Odessa High will be back at home next week when the Bronchos face San Angelo Central in a 7 p.m. game Oct. 13 at Ratliff Stadium.
Permian will next face Midland Legacy in another rivalry at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland.
“I’m just happy for the community,” Ortiz said. “The fans deserve it. They’ve been behind us since I’ve been here. I’m excited for the kids. They played their tails off. It’s one of those deals where talent-wise, they’re always good enough. It’s just the mental stuff and tonight they took care of that.”
