PANTHERS LOOK FOR CONSISTENT DEFENSIVE SPARK AFTER NONDISTRICT FINALE

Panthers look for consistent defensive spark after nondistrict finale

Photo Credit: Jacob Ford

In the first two games of the regular season, the Permian football team forced its defensive will on opposing teams.

That wasn’t the case in the nondistrict finale against El Paso Eastwood.

Despite the Panthers collecting a 22-point victory — 49-27 — the Troopers marched up and down the field as they finished with 503 yards of total offense and 24 first downs.

“(El Paso Eastwood) did a good job and they had a good scheme,” Permian defensive coordinator Vance Washington said. “We played so slow and uninspired and we are going to get that fixed.

“Our intensity level is going to go up a whole bunch this week. We are starting district play in our next game. Our intensity level is going way up and our enthusiasm and our excitement is going to go up.”

In the final two quarters, however, Permian’s defense grabbed an array of turnovers which included a pair of fumble recoveries from Matt Jones, and interceptions from Keatyn Armstrong and Seth Higdon.

Three of the four turnovers — the fumble recoveries and the Armstrong interception — led to Permian touchdowns that spanned a total of 78 yards on four plays. Higdon’s interception allowed the Panthers to line up and take one snap in victory formation.

“Both fumble recoveries (the offense) went out and scored on the next play,” Jones said. “It’s good that the offense scores right after we get a turnover and then we go out and do it again.”

El Paso Eastwood finished with 291 of its 503 yards in the second half.

Yet, the Troopers only scored one of their four touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.

“We were kind of on our heels the first part of the game,” Permian head coach Blake Feldt said. “Quite frankly, I don’t think we played very well defensively. We made way too many mistakes, especially in the back end. We had some busts that cost us some big plays and gave them some points. We can’t do that. The only difference between the first half and the second half, we had some guys step up and make some big plays, because they continued to move the ball. They moved the ball and somebody would make a play that stopped them.”

The Troopers nearly doubled up the Panthers rushing yards allowed in the season.

Prior to Friday’s contest, Permian had allowed 79 yards on 60 carries. El Paso Eastwood finished with 36 carries for 131 yards. The Panthers’ rushing yards allowed per carry rose from 1.3 to 2.2.

“We didn’t take a step forward (against El Paso Eastwood),” Washington said. “We have to improve upon what we did on Friday night for sure.”

The Panthers coughed up six fumbles in two home games.

In the team’s first road trip, that problem quelled for Permian as the team never let the ball hit the turf even on the botched snap between quarterback Steve Steen and center John Hignojos.

Brother Miller, who scored a receiving and rushing touchdown for the second time in as many weeks, said the offense proved its ability to continuously move the ball up and down the field. The Panthers total 412 yards of offense, but scored their most points this season (49).

“One thing that we really focused on was taking care of the football,” said Miller, who leads the team with five catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 76 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. “The offense knows as long as we are taking care of the ball, we are going to get drives going and score and keep our defense off the field as long as possible.”

Aside from the six fumbles, Permian’s offense has rarely struggled. The Panthers are averaging 39.7 points and 420.3 yards per game. Feldt said securing the ball will continue to be a point of emphasis over the next six District 2-6A contests.

“We played better, because we didn’t turn the ball over,” Feldt said. “If we didn’t have those turnovers, we would have played well. We did have those turnovers and that kind of scars how we played the rest of the game. In the Eastwood game, we played well again and we didn’t have those turnovers.

“We are going to be tough to beat if don’t turn the ball over. That happened Friday night.”

Yet, in the words of Feldt, that doesn’t mean Permian has an off week.

“We are open because we don’t have a game on Friday night, but this is a week that we have to work very hard and become a better football team,” Feldt said.

With the rest of District 2-6A playing either Thursday or Friday, Miller said the team has to use this open week to improve for its first meaningful game.

The Panthers open their District 2-6A schedule hosting Wolfforth Frenship at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Ratliff Stadium. A year ago, Permian lost its first four district games and subsequently missed the playoffs.

“We want to take advantage of this week,” Miller said. “We have more time to prepare for the Frenship game, which is big game because it’s the first district game. You always want to make a statement in the first district game.”
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