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Sunday, September 28, 1997

After 33 years, Odessa fans get to count down a football victory over Mojo

By CHARLES RICHARDS / Associated Press Writer

It took 33 years, but finally the fans of Odessa High School got to experience the ecstacy of counting down a victory in a football game against crosstown rival Odessa Permian.

"4-3-2-1!!!" "It feels great," OHS defensive end Jeffrey Kupper said after Odessa's 20-17 victory over the Mojo before 20,000 fans. "It's indescribable; 32 years, man. I've been watching this stuff since my uncle played."

At long last, the Odessa High football team wiggled free of the 32-year-old monkey that had set up camp on the backs of the Bronchos.

Hundreds of Permian supporters stayed around to witness the onfield celebration, no doubt shocked at the scene that hadn't been seen since 1964.

Meanwhile, 473 miles to the southeast in La Marque, a monumental battle took place between the state's No. 1 teams in classes 5A and 4A before 9,000 fans. Tyler John Tyler of Class 5A emerged a 35-32 victor, ending La Marque's home winning streak at 32 games.

"Our kids gave it their all. We're not victorious on the scoreboard, but I think we're victorious everywhere else," La Marque head coach Alan Weddell said.

"They're the best 5A team in the best football state in America, and we're just a play or two away from them," Weddell said.

The Cougars missed on three two-point conversion attempts, which proved to be the difference, but still nearly rallied for the victory.

La Marque finished with 382 yards of total offense and John Tyler had 379.

The No. 1-ranked teams in classes 3A, 2a and 1A all won. Sealy of 3A beat La Grange 28-14, Elysian Fields of 2A crushed Ore City 50-0 and Wink of 1A defeated Van Horn 43-6.

Some other highlights:

-- Killeen Ellison recovered six fumbles and blocked a punt, leading the Eagles, ranked No. 6 in 5A, to a 42-7 victory over Arlington Lamar. Reggie Duncan, the third-leading rusher in 5A, rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Two other apparent TD runs by Duncan were nullified by penalties.

-- Waco Midway celebrated its first-ever appearance in the Top 10 with a 38-8 victory over Belton. Midway, ranked 10th in 4A, held Belton to seven first downs and 157 yards total offense. Midway quarterback Brandon Johnson completed 19 of 25 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter.

-- The Friona Chieftains, ranked seventh in 3A, blocked a punt of the end zone for a first-quarter safety, and Aaron King added a 55-yard run and a 34-yard TD pass to Angel Vega before the quarter ended. Friona beat Tulia, 43-6.

-- Italy, ranked fifth in 2A, defeated Dallas Bishop Dunne 54-7. Randy Johnson scored on runs of 81, 26 and 10 yards. Justin Duke rushed for 77 yards on two carries.

-- Iowa park upset No. 9 Stamford in a 2A match. The Hawks stopped three Stamford fourth-quarter drives to hold on to a 14-6 victory.

-- East Chambers, ranked 10th in 2A, beat Shepherd 20-19. Shepherd's Josh Randle scored from the 4, but East Chambers stopped him short on the two-point conversion try. Jermaine Allen scored twice for East Chambers, including a 92-yard kickoff return.

-- Runge, the No. 2-ranked team in 1A, beat Asherton 76-0. Alonzo Esparza rushed for 351 yards and five touchdowns and added five extra points and a safety to account for almost half of the points. Runge led at the half, 50-0.

In the Odessa-Odessa Permian game, Permian struck first on Casey Waite's 36-yard touchdown pass to flanker Chad Bell.

But later in the quarter, Bronchos linebacker Jason Waters hit Permian running back Joe Stephens, and the ball fell to the ground at the feet of Kupper, who grabbed the ball in one motion and went untouched into the end zone.

Leading 13-10 with 11 seconds to play in the half, Odessa failed to capitalize on a great scoring opportunity from the three. Rick Leach hit Al Ornelas in the end zone, but Permian had called timeout before the play, erasing the touchdown.

OHS misfired on its next attempt at the end zone, and with seven seconds to play, Jason Ramirez missed a 20-yard field goal.

Early in the fourth quarter, Permian was down 20-17 but threatening. Waite found John Johnson streaking down the middle for a 43-yard gain to the 10.

The next play, Waite rolled right, and unable to immediately lock in to a receiver, tried to fire the ball to Leland Morris in the back of the end zone.

Instead, cornerback Jaime Juarez had perfect coverage and made the interception with little difficulty, denying the Panthers the opportunity to at least tie the game.

But the Mojo recovered two Odessa fumbles in the final three minutes to make it exciting. With 55 seconds left, Permian faced third-and-16 from its own 44. Flushed from the pocket, with an OHS defender draped on his back, Waite heaved the ball downfield in an attempt to avoid a sack.

But the ball came down in the arms of Odessa linebacker Chad Webster.

More than three decades of losing were near an end.