There was no panic along the Permian sideline in the season opener last week against Abilene High.
Yes, the Panthers were struggling on offense through the first 20 minutes of the game.
Head coach Jeff Ellison knew exactly who was patrolling the sideline all around him.
“I think it was just a bit of first game nerves and it took some time to get rid of them,” Ellison said of his senior-heavy lineup.
The Panthers did shed their jitters in time to take a lead into the locker room at halftime, senior quarterback Rodney Hall directing the team on 73-yard scoring drive just before the break.
Coupled with a scoring drive that took more than six minutes off the clock to start the second half and Permian was able to breathe a little easier.
Until that point, the Panthers’ defense had done everything it could except score to keep the game close and finished the night allowing just 49 yards of offense to the Eagles.
Now Permian sets its sights on another group of Panthers from Waco Midway.
It is the second straight season the teams have met, with Permian earning a 57-41 victory on the road in 2021.
Ellison expects the 2022 matchup to be more competitive, but expects his group to improve from its Week 1 performance.
“It takes some time to get up to speed after not playing a game in almost a year,” he said. “And you could see the difference this week in practice.
“Everyone was moving faster and the pace was quicker. And they get the chance to play at home for the first time this season.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Ratliff Stadium.
Permian comes into the game with seniors starting in 19 of the 22 spots on the field, including everyone on offense.
Led by Hall, this group of Panthers have been in the system for five or six years and is very comfortable with the expectations that come with the program.
“I’ve watched this group play a lot of football,” Ellison said. “Rodney does a great job and knows what we want to do and he’s matured as well.
“There was a play last week against Abilene, on a third down, where he was forced out of the pocket and ended up throwing the ball away and we were able to kick a field goal. In the past, he might have tried to do something because he such a good athlete and maybe he gets sacked and we don’t get the field goal.”
It’s those little things that Ellison sees his players doing that gives him the confidence heading into the matchup against Midway.
He knows the visitors are going to be improved from last year as the coaching staff is in its second season at the helm of the program.
“Midway has a very good quarterback, I think he’s 6-6 or something,” Ellison said. “They have a hard-nose running back and a dangerous receiver.
“It’s going to be a good test for us.”
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