ODESSA - Two special
teams' mistakes led to two Odessa High touchdowns Friday night
as the Bronchos upset Abilene High, 13-10, at Ratliff Stadium.
The Eagles, who saw their four-game winning streak snapped, could
have wrapped up a playoff berth with a victory, but the loss
drops Abilene High (5-3 overall and 2-1 in District 4-5A) into
a real fight for the playoff spot with two games to go. Next
week's showdown with three-time defending state champion Midland
Lee now looms large since the Rebels and Eagles now are tied
at 2-1, a game behind Cooper.
"These kids have played so well at home this year,"
said Odessa High coach Jim Carson, whose Bronchos are now 3-5
overall and 1-2 in district. "To have two more home games
left (against Cooper and Odessa Permian), this could be really
interesting."
Abilene High had rallied to take a 10-7 lead with 8:53 remaining
when Marcus Johnson scored on a fourth-down quarterback sneak.
At that point, Abilene High hadn't allowed a first down in the
second half, and the Eagles appeared primed to put the game on
ice if they got the ball back.
Odessa High picked up its initial first down on the ensuing drive,
but then faced fourth-and-5 from its own 42-yard line.
That's when the Bronchos pulled out a trick a few days before
Halloween.
Odessa snapped it to an up back in punt formation. Justin Casas
took the snap and rolled right before throwing back across the
field to Andrew Gonzalez, who had originally lined up as the
punter. The play gained 48 yards and gave the Bronchos a first
down at the 10-yard line.
"That's one of several fake plays we have," Carson
said, "but that's the first time I've run it here in Odessa.
Gonzalez (who is a backup quarterback and punter) is a really
good receiver."
The Bronchos then punched it in, scoring on a 2-yard pass on
a fade route from quarterback Kale Kirkpatrick to Brad Fox in
the corner of the end zone. David Salas blocked the extra point,
leaving Abilene High behind 13-10 with 5:08 to go.
The Eagles had two more possessions but couldn't pick up a first
down. Jerale Badon got behind the Odessa secondary with just
over a minute remaining, but Johnson's long fourth-down pass
was tipped away by Darren Shipman.
"Poor execution on offense and special teams," Abilene
High coach Steve Warren. "That cost us tonight. We've got
to do a better job of executing with our special teams in big
games."
Odessa High took advantage of Abilene High's first special teams'
miscue to take the early lead.
Eagles' punter J.B. Gibbs couldn't handle a low snap and was
tackled for a 12-yard loss back at the AHS 36-yard line.
On the ensuing play, Odessa ran a halfback pass. Justin Casas
took the pitchout from quarterback Travis Young and then heaved
a pass downfield to Brad Fox. Salas was seemingly in position
to make the interception, but Fox wrestled the ball away from
him. Fox was downed at the 1-yard line for a 35-yard gain.
It took the Bronchos four plays to score as the Eagles' defense
stiffened. But on fourth down, Young rolled right after a play-action
and toss a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gary Caraveo. That
gave the Bronchos a 7-0 lead with 2:42 to go in the first quarter.
The Bronchos were threatening again early in the second quarter
after an interception by Angel Melendez at the AHS 38-yard line.
But Abilene High got the ball back when Kirkpatrick, who had
replaced an injured Young at quarterback, was intercepted.
Salas tipped the ball away from the intended receiver, and Jeff
Walker made a diving interception in the end zone. Salas also
had another interception later in the second period.
The Eagles responded with its best drive of the game, moving
to the Bronchos' 7-yard line before settling for Gibbs' 24-yard
field, making it 7-3 with 4:40 to go before halftime.
It remained that way until Abilene High mounted a 12-play, 91-yard
drive, culminating in Johnson's 1-yard sneak. A 49-yard pass
to Kendrick Starks and an 18-yard pass from Johnson to Kyle Blair
were the key plays in the scoring drive.
Odessa's defense held Abilene High to just 66 yards rushing.
"They did a good job of bringing guys from the edge, no
matter what formation we were in," Warren said. "And
their guys up front did a good job."
Johnson had 65 yards rushing on 15 carries and completed 13 of
31 passes for 190 yards, becoming the first Abilene High quarterback
to rush for more than 500 yards and pass for more than 1,000
yards in the same season.
Contact sports editor
Al Pickett at 676-6772 or picketta@abinews.com.
RUSHING - AHS: David Willis 10-13, Marcus Johnson 15-65,
J.B. Gibbs 1-(-12). Odessa: Gabriel Slack 13-71, Aaron Jenkins
1-4, Travis Young 1-(-8), Justin Casas 5-1, Kale Kirkpatrick
6-32, Chris Guerrero 1-0, Michael Rivera 3-9.
PASSING - AHS: Marcus Johnson 13-31-1, 190 yards; Jerale Badon
0-1-0. Odessa: Travis Young 1-3-0, 1 yard; Justin Casas 2-3-0,
83 yards; Kale Kirkpatrick 6-12-2, 25 yards.
RECEIVING - AHS: Kyle Blair 1-18, Kendrick Starks 1-49, Jerale
Badon 7-96, David Wllis 2-11, Andre Washington 1-13, Kevan Albright
1-3. Odessa: Andrew Gonzalez 1-48, James Cooper 1-5, Michael
Rivera 1-11, Gabriel Slack 3-7, Brad Fox 2-37, Gary Caraveo 1-1.
