Mirror image?
Not quite, but there will be plenty of similarities when Permian hosts Midland High at 7 p.m. Friday in the regular-season finale.
The Panthers (8-1 overall, 3-1 District 2-6A) use the option to give quarterback Rodney Hall multiple choices on each snap.
His main weapon of late has been running back Juzstyce Lara, who leads the team with 774 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns.
He scored five times against San Angelo Central last week and is averaging three scores per game over the past six weeks.
Midland High’s offense is the triple option.
Led by former Permian offensive coordinator Thad Fortune the past two seasons, the Bulldogs have quickly switched gears with the football.
Oh, Midland High will throw the football occasionally, with 24 completions on 57 attempts for 296 yards this season (just over six attempts, on average, per game).
The Bulldogs have run the ball 403 times for 3,032 yards and 33 touchdowns.
That’s an average of 7.5 yards per touch, something that tires out opposing defenses and keeps opposing offenses on the sideline.
Midland High rushed for 606 yards against El Paso Andress on Sept. 23, with 10 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs had opened the season with a 558-yard output, with seven touchdowns, against El Paso Montwood.
Drayton McCoy leads the team with 137 carries for 951 yards and 15 touchdowns, with Brylee Perez at 86 rushes for 718 yards and eight scores
Midland High (5-4, 1-3) has also go to its quarterback of the future during District 2-6A play, with sophomore Stroman Bridges running the show.
He has 65 carries for 435 yards and four touchdowns.
One thing is certain … this game could be over very quickly as both teams like to stay between the sidelines.
>> LESS STRESS: After several nail biters this season in which the Panthers had to rally for the victory, things were a little less daunting last week against the Bobcats.
Yes, Permian trailed at halftime, 31-28.
No, the Panthers weren’t worried and for good reason.
Taking the second-half kickoff, Permian ate six minutes off the clock before Lara scored his fourth TD of the night to put Permian in front for good.
He added his fifth after the Panthers started a drive in the third quarter and finished it in the fourth for the final margin.
“The team did a great job after halftime,” Permian coach Jeff Ellison said. “Our offensive line really played well and the defense shut them down.”
>> STREAK SNAPPED: Hall found wide receiver Ja’Quan Richardson for a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first half.
That ended a streak of three games without a scoring toss and moved Hall up the list of career touchdown passes at Permian.
He now has 31 career TD tosses, good for fourth behind Mike Winchell (34, 1987-88), Vic Vines (34 (1977-78) and Alton Holloway (1983-84).
Hall was tied with Heath Wood (2013-14).
With as well as the Panthers have been running the football during the past four weeks, it’s no surprise that the aerial game has taken a back seat in the play calling.
>> DOWN BELOW: The junior varsity and freshmen teams will be playing their final games of the season Thursday.
The Freshman White squad will face Midland High at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Ratliff South stadium.
That game will be followed by the Freshman White-Bulldogs squad.
JV White and JV Black will travel to face Midland High at 5 and 6:30 p.m., respectively, at Astound Broadband Stadium.
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
MIDLAND HIGH AT PERMIAN
>> When: 7 p.m. Friday.
>> Where: Ratliff Stadium.
>> Last Season: Permian 34, Midland High 23.
>> Records: Midland High 5-4 overall, 1-3 District 2-6A; Permian 8-1, 3-1.
>> Radio: KMCM (FM-96.9)
>> Live Updates: Follow on Twitter at @OALeeScheide.
PERMIAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JUZSTYCE LARA
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 160
Class: Junior
Position: RB
Last Week: Carried the ball 27 times for 136 yards and five touchdowns in a 43-31 victory against San Angelo Central.
This season: Has 150 carries for 774 yards and 18 touchdowns.
