By Eric Liles
special to the OA
KELLER Bronchos running back Dae Dae Green ran for 89 yards on 13 carries, but Odessa’s comeback attempt was cut short, dropping a 30-21 decision in a contest called for weather delays at halftime.
Keller jumped out to a 13-0 lead before the Bronchos could pick up a first down. Beckham Robinson threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Rayford on the game’s opening series. Odessa then went three-and-out on its first series to give Keller the ball on its own 43-yard line.
Robinson broke loose for a 35-yard run to move the Indians to the Odessa 22. Kyle Owens finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point pass left Keller with a 13 point lead.
Mikey Cota put the Bronchos on the scoreboard with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ivan Carreon to start the second quarter. Keller’s Sam Keltner connected on a 42-yard field goal with 9:17 to play before halftime.
Odessa answered with a quick scoring drive.Green’s 48-yard run combined with a Keller face mask penalty set up the Bronchos at the Keller 11-yard line. The play set up Cota’s two-yard touchdown run to cut Odessa’s deficit to 16-14.
Rayford finished a six-play Keller scoring drive with a 14-yard touchdown to put the Indians up 23-14. Odessa responded with a long scoring march covering 75 yards in ten plays, aided by three personal fouls against Keller. Cota scored on a nine-yard touchdown with 0:50 left before halftime.
Keller took over on its own 37 with 0:44 on the clock and executed a quick scoring drive. Robinson connected with Drew Roberts for a 40-yard touchdown pass to give the Indians a 30-21 lead at the break. An extended lightning storm in the area ended the contest.
