One step in the right direction.

The Permian football team moved closer to its overall goal — winning a District 2-6A title.

After their 66-14 victory against Wolfforth Frenship to open the district schedule, the Panthers aren’t satisfied with one win. As Blake Feldt — the head coach of Permian — explained, the team has more aspirations than a quality start.

“Our goal wasn’t to win one district game,” Feldt said. “Our goal is to win every district game. When you win one and you are 1-0, all you’ve done is take a step. We’ve got to take a whole lot more steps to achieve that goal.

“Our kids understand that it’s great and good (to open the district schedule with a win) and that’s a positive step, but at the same time, we haven’t got to the point where we want to be.”

With the victory, Permian moved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in District 2-6A. The Panthers are tied for the top spot in the district with Amarillo Tascosa (5-0, 1-0) and Midland Lee (5-0, 1-0). San Angelo Central, which had its open week to start the district schedule, holds a 4-0 overall record.

During their district opener, the Panthers piled up 531 yards of total offense with eight touchdowns. Permian sophomore kicker Carson Roberts, who is 26 of 26 on extra point attempts on the season, also nailed a 25-yard field goal. The Panthers also received a defensive touchdown from Tanner Adams on a 16-yard fumble return.

Feldt said with an open date for the second time in three weeks, the Panthers’ head coach wants his players to maintain a high level of concentration.

“We understand the importance of improvement,” Feldt said. “You are either getting better or you are getting worse. We have to make sure that we are getting better.”

Defensively, the Panthers grabbed four turnovers — interceptions from Ben Vore and Christian Tschauner and Adams’ two fumble recoveries. Permian has collected eight of its nine turnovers over its last two games.

Permian defensive coordinator Vance Washington said the team performed with more intensity and effort than in its Week Three contest against El Paso Eastwood. Against the Troopers, the Panthers allowed season highs 27 points and 503 yards. Permian gave up 14 points and 228 yards in its district opener.

Washington believes the defense improved vastly during its open week. He foresees the defense to do the same in its second open week.

“We need that open week to get better at technique and better at our assignments where we don’t have any busts — mentally,” Washington said. “I thought we did a big improvement from the previous open week, so now we expect to see a greater improvement through this open week.”

The last time the Panthers only played nine regular season games was in 1997 when they finished 3-6 and missed out on the playoffs. Permian missed the postseason in 2016 when the team lost its four district contests.

Dating back to last season, the Panthers have won three straight district contests. Permian will look to make it four in a row as the team has two weeks to prepare for Midland High. The Bulldogs, who are winless on the season, travel to Wolfforth Frenship — which is also winless — at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Peoples Bank Stadium.

“I said this multiple times a year ago, ‘With this young football team, all the sophomores that were having to play and the things that we were going through. We will win football games (in 2017), because of this,’” Feldt said. “I said that multiple times and I believe that’s going to be the case.”

>> CORNERBACK ISLAND: During a majority of Permian’s defensive snaps, the team’s junior starting cornerbacks — Rakeeb Adeyemi and Tschauner — will likely be in man-to-man coverage.

Opposing quarterbacks are 64-of-115 passing (55.7 percent) for 883 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Teams are averaging 220.8 passing yards and 2.3 touchdowns per game against the Panthers.

Despite those passing numbers against the Panthers, Tschauner believes the defensive players are right there — they just have to reach the next level.

“If we can make more of those (big plays), we could really help our defense and offense out,” said Tschauner, who leads the team with nine pass breakups.

Washington agreed with Tschauner statement about being at the right place, but the team just has to make plays more consistently.

“That’s something that we talk to them about. They are in a great spot, just go make a play on the ball,” Washington said. “We have to make plays.”

Adeyemi said he has to maintain focus on where each receiver is positioned on the field and determine an idea of what route they could possibly run.

A concept that Adeyemi has continuously found easier — with every contest and practice — after he and Tschauner started as sophomores.

“You have to focus on being disciplined and staying with your man,” Adeyemi said. “You need to be looking at him, following him and pretty much mirroring him.”
