During its season opener, the Permian football team limited Austin Vandegrift to 1.3 yards per carry.

That mark of less than two yards per carry didn’t fade with run-oriented El Paso Franklin.

The Panthers collected six three-and-outs and stifled the Cougars to 50 yards on 38 carries — an average of 1.3 yards per rush — en route to a 42-14 victory on Friday at Ratliff Stadium.

Though the Panthers have allowed a total of 79 rushing yards on 60 carries in their first two games of the regular season, Permian junior defensive end Matt Jones believes the team has the ability to be one of the top defenses in the state of Texas.

“There’s a whole other level that we can get to,” Jones said. “I’ve seen it before at practice and some parts of the game. We just have to be consistent with it.”

Permian head coach Blake Feldt was pleased with the defense’s performance.

The Panthers (2-0) ended with six sacks against El Paso Franklin quarterback Chris Kelley. The Cougars (1-1) had 11 carries result in negative yards. That rushing performance was a far cry from El Paso Franklin’s season opening rushing total of 226 yards against Midland High.

“I’m really proud of the way that we played on the defensive side of the ball,” Feldt said. “El Paso Franklin is a much improved team than they were a year ago. With the exception of when we came out at halftime, we lost our intensity a little bit defensively and then we did again in another spot in the second half. Other than that, I thought we played lights out.”

On the flipside, Permian’s offense turned three of the six three-and-outs from El Paso Franklin into touchdowns.
The Panthers amassed 450 yards on 43 plays. Permian racked up 364 rushing yards on 36 carries — an average of 10.1 yards carry. The Panthers had four players find the end zone — Steve Steen and Brother Miller scored twice, while Justin Hammond and Ed Williams each had one touchdown.

“We have a lot of playmakers and a lot of people that can make plays with the ball in their hands,” said Miller, who totaled 64 yards and two touchdowns on four touches. “We have a lot of players that can go, so if we can get them the ball and take care of (defenders), we will be all right.”

However, much like the season opener against the Vipers, Permian coughed up three fumbles, a problem that left Feldt sick to his stomach.

Permian has nine fumbles — losing six of them — in the first two weeks of the season.

“Offensively, we have to become a great football team, because we can,” he said. “Right now, we are so sloppy, I’m about to throw up. Literally. It’s inexcusable.

“It’s going to get fixed immediately or I’m going to drop dead of a heart attack. It’s inexcusable with some of the sloppiness that’s going on the offensive side of the ball.

“I’m happy we won and I’m proud of our kids, but for us to be a great football team, (fumbles) have got to get fixed immediately.”

Miller scored the Panthers’ opening touchdown on a 25-yard pass from Steen during the first quarter. The Cougars tied the game in the second quarter with a 1-yard run from Kelley.

Permian posted the next three touchdowns — a 35-yard run from Hammond, Steen’s two-yard scamper and a 33-yard run from Miller. The Cougars answered late in the quarter to come within two touchdowns, 28-14, but the Panthers responded with back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

“It’s one of the best feelings going out there and stopping (the other team) and then see the offense come out and do their job,” Jones said. “It feels great when both sides of the ball are doing their jobs.”

Williams supplied a game-high 122 yards, with one touchdown, on 12 carries. Steen rushed 11 times for 110 yards and two scores. Permian’s senior quarterback also went 4 of 7 for 86 yards and one touchdown.

For the Cougars, Seth Dominguez posted a team-high 32 yards on 16 carries. Kelley completed 13-of-27 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown. Permian senior safety Ben Vore snared a 40-yard interception as time expired in the first half — that pick marked the Panthers’ first of the season. Kelley also ended with 20 yards on 20 carries and one score.
The Panthers travel to El Paso Eastwood at 7:30 p.m. Friday for their first contest on the road.

Miller wants to continue the team’s winning trend away from Ratliff Stadium.

“It starts on Monday,” Miller said. “We want to keep this momentum that we got going. We are going to watch film on (Eastwood) throughout the week.

“Like (offensive coordinator Thad) Fortune always tells us, ‘The game is won before it’s even played, because we have win on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.’ We are going to be ready for Eastwood.”
