The Permian football team did exactly what it needed to Friday night against Amarillo Tascosa.
Then the Panthers did more.
Two weeks since the season-opening loss to Abilene High, Permian has now won two straight, as the Panthers (2-1) routed the Rebels 43-6 in a nondistrict and homecoming contest at Ratliff Stadium.
“I’m just very proud of them to come out here in front of a great home crowd,” Permian head coach Jeff Ellison said. “It was very electric tonight and play the way we played against a good Tascosa team. It’s tough to play them every year. I’m proud of our effort. There are still some mistakes that need to be cleaned up. Shoot from two weeks ago, these kids have come a long way.”
Permian only needed the opening kickoff to set the tone as Zykivion Bryant returned it 51-yards for a Panther touchdown with 11:48 still left in the first quarter.
“It was great,” Ellison said of the opening kick return. “Zykivion did a great job and our return team did a great job of blocking for him. It was a good way to set the tone for the game.”
For the Rebels (1-2), it was their second consecutive loss.
After defeating Palo Duro 28-7 in the Week 1, Tascosa then dropped last week’s game at Midland Legacy 63-34 before losing to Permian.
“We have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball,” Tascosa head coach Ken Plunk said. “Offensively, we’re not effective at all. It puts so much pressure on our defense. But you can schedule for wins or you can schedule to get better. We scheduled to try and get better and that’s what we’re going to do.”
A fumble by the Panthers was recovered by the Rebels on Permian’s side of the field later in the first quarter.
Tascosa was unable to capitalize, however, as a fourth down pass to Tascosa wide receiver TJ Tillman in the end zone fell incomplete and the Panthers regained possession.
Permian’s lead would only stay at 7-0 after the first quarter.
However, the second quarter saw the Panthers explode with three unanswered touchdowns to take a 29-0 lead at halftime.
The Panthers doubled their lead on a 61-yard run by receiver Issac Herrera, followed by Jacob Franco’s extra-point with 11:09 left in the quarter.
The Rebels’ offense then began to show some more life as Tascosa managed to work the ball into Permian territory.
Aided by Panther penalties, the Rebels soon found themselves with first and 10 at the Panther 15 with less than 9:00 before intermission.
But once again, the Rebels couldn’t do much with the ideal field position as the Panther defense held firm, forcing Tascosa to go for it again on fourth down.
Fulton’s pass on fourth down, intended to receiver TJ Tilman, was picked off by safety Parker Haynes and the Panthers took over possession with under eight minutes to go in the quarter.
“Those were crucial stops,” Ellison said. “I’m very proud of our guys because I felt that in the last two weeks, they’ve started to play together as units on offense and defense.”
Permian made the Rebels pay for the turnover by scoring on the ensuing drive, culminating with Herrera’s 57-yard touchdown run with 6:45 left in the quarter to give Permian a 21-0 lead.
The Panthers forced another turnover on the following Rebel possession, this time with Charlie McKinney in at quarterback, as Permian safety Kheeandre Abdul-Aziz’s interception occurred on the first play of the drive.
The change of possession gifted Permian with good field position at the Tascosa 15.
Herrera would soon score again, running the ball in for a 5 yard carry with 5:21 left in the quarter and running back Juzstyce Lara’s two-point conversion run made it 29-0.
Tascosa’s only touchdown of the night came on a punt return play as Jay Adams scooped up the loose ball to take it for three yards with 10:23 in the third quarter.
The two-point conversion run was no good and the Rebels trailed 29-6.
However, Permian had an answer, scoring on Lara’s 4-yard run to help extend the Panthers’ lead to 36-6 with 6:21 left in the quarter.
Permian’s lead remained at 30 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers added a late touchdown with a Herrera reception from Permian quarterback Jakob Garcia with 7:49 left to help make it 43-6.
Permian will next be on the road at Harker Heights at 7 p.m. Sept. 15.
Tascosa will next be at home against Hereford at 7 p.m. Sept. 15.
“I’m more disappointed that we couldn’t keep our composure late in the game when we need to,” Plunk said. “We’re not understanding things that we should be understanding at this point.”
