In another offensive game for the history books, the Odessa High football team once again won in overtime for the second consecutive week.
This time, the Bronchos pulled off a 71-70 overtime victory over the San Angelo Central Bobcats Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
The victory put the Bronchos at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in district 2-6A action.
The Bobcats fell to 1-6, 0-2.
“We have to find a way to play better defense,” Odessa High head coach Dusty Ortiz said. “Oh my gosh, we couldn’t stop anybody tonight. But I’m super proud of their fight. I’m super proud of our kids. Second half started and we were giving up everything on them. We had a few fumbles there. But at the end of the day, there’s something special about this team. They’re never out of it. You can win a lot of ball games like that. I’m super proud of the kids and the coaches.”
Last week, the Bronchos defeated crosstown rivals Permian 49-42 in overtime at Ratliff Stadium.
Odessa High’s offense once again had a big night while the Bronchos’ defense struggled to get a stop.
In overtime, San Angelo Central’s running back Tyree Brawlee scored on a 2-yard run and the PAT was good, making the score 70-63.
Odessa High responded with a touchdown pass from quarterback Mikey Cota to wide receiver Jalen Warren.
The Bronchos went for the two-point conversion where Cota won it on the run, giving the Bronchos a 71-70 win.
“I was talking to our OC (before the two-point conversion) and he’s done a great job,” Ortiz said. “He’s part of the reason we’re doing well because of his play calling.”
The Bobcats’ playoff hopes remain in doubt as the team remains searching for its first district win.
“It was a wild game,” San Angelo Central head coach Kevin Crane said. “There was a lot of offense. It was a back and forth contest. I’m proud of our guys. They fought and played hard. Odessa High is a good team. We just came up a little short.”
The Bronchos finished with 644 total yards of offense while the Bobcats had 658.
Odessa High running back Dae Dae Green had 13 carries for 77 yards while Cota went 27-of-39 for 534 yards passing and no interceptions.
Odessa High wide receiver Jalen Warren had 11 receptions for 188 yards and five touchdowns.
OHS wide receiver Ivan Carreon had six catches for 149 yards and Green had five for 121.
For the Bobcats, quarterback Christian English had 27 rushes for 251 yards.
English went 16-for-24 for 141 yards passing.
Wide receiver Colton Hill had seven receptions for 92 yards.
Sebastian Castaneda scored on a 6-yard run to get things going for the Bronchos as Odessa High scored on their first drive of the game, giving the hosts a 7-0 with 9:53 left in the first quarter.
However, the Bobcats’ offense had a quick response, bringing the ball down the field and English scored on a 14-yard quarterback keeper to put the visitors on the board.
Bryan Parra’s PAT tied the game up at 7-7 with 7:05 left in the quarter in a scoring drive that took nine plays.
The Bronchos offense got a big play in the form of a Green 83-yard touchdown reception by Cota to give the Bronchos a 14-7 lead with 50 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Bobcats responded with a 4-yard touchdown run by English with 10:51 left in the second quarter to tie things up 14-14.
English put the Bobcats ahead on a 74-yard touchdown run and San Angelo Central led 21-14 with 9:39 left in the second quarter.
A touchdown reception by Carreon was called off after offensive pass interference was called.
However, on the following play, the Bronchos managed to find the end zone on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Carreon and the game was tied back up at 21 with 8:18 left in the quarter.
Odessa High’s defense managed to push Central back on its own side of the field and the Bobcats were forced to punt.
OHS made the Bobcats pay as they brought the ball to inside the 10.
Cota scored on a 2-yard touchdown and the Bronchos retook the lead at 27-21 with 5:46 left before halftime. The two-point conversion was no good.
San Angelo Central scored right before the half on a 6-yard pass to Tyree Brawley from English and the PAT gave them a one-point lead, 28-27, with 1:17 left.
The Bronchos’ field goal attempt at the end of the half fell incomplete and the Bronchos trailed 28-27 at the half.
English scored on a 21-yard touchdown run to begin the second half on a promising note for the Bobcats and with the extra point, San Angelo Central had an eight-point lead at 35-27 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.
The Bronchos fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return and the Bobcats took over at the Odessa High 31 after a penalty.
San Angelo Central made OHS pay by extending its lead on a 2-yard run by Jayvion Robinson to make it 42-27 with 7:08 left in the third.
Odessa High fumbled again on the ensuing kickoff and the Bobcats took over at the Bronchos’ 30.
The Bobcats, again, made Odessa High pay as English scored on a 3-yard touchdown run and the PAT made it 49-27 with 5:57 left in the third.
The Bronchos responded with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Cota to Carreon with 4:24 left in the third, making it 49-34.
San Angelo Central’s lead was 49-34 heading into the fourth.
The Bobcats tried for a 35-yard field goal attempt that was no good with 11:47 left in the game and the visitors’ lead remained at 15.
Odessa High got a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Warren soon after and the two-point conversion pass to Castaneda made it 49-42 with 10:47 left in the game.
Robinson scored on a 64-yard touchdown run just shortly after for the Bobcats and the PAT made it 56-42 with 10:32 left.
The Bronchos completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Warren to answer back and bring the hosts back to a seven-point deficit with 9:42 remaining.
San Angelo Central then fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and the Bronchos recovered at the Bobcat 37.
Cota then completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Warren and the game was tied up at 56 with 8:50 left.
English then scored on a 14-yard touchdown run to put the Bobcats back in front with 6:54 left in the game.
The Bronchos scored on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Warren to equalize once again with 4:19 left in the game.
The Bobcats milked the clock and got the ball inside the Broncho 20 with 32 seconds left.
San Angelo Central tried for a field goal as time expired but the kick was no good as time expired.
The Bronchos will next face undefeated Midland High(7-0, 2-0) in a 7 p.m. contest on Oct. 20 at Astound Broadband Stadium.
San Angelo Central will next face Midland Legacy (5-2, 1-1) at home next week at 7 p.m. Oct. 20.
