CANYON — Palo Duro football had a strong start to its 2024 campaign, defeating all three of Amarillo’s other Class 5A programs in its non-district slate.
Following a bye in Week 5, Eric Mims Sr.’s team had a chance to carry its momentum into league play when the Dons faced Wichita Falls Memorial on Friday night in a District 2-5A Division II matchup at Bain–Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.
Palo Duro took a lead into halftime, but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with the Mavericks, falling 44-27 in the Dons’ district opener.
Sophomore sensation dazzles in first half
Palo Duro sophomore quarterback Julian Reese II was exceptional in the first half, going 8-of-11 for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Even aside from long catch-and-run touchdown passes by Reese to Raymond Johnson IV and Darien Lewis, the second-year signal caller was precise in the first half, delivering accurate strikes to his receivers and making smart decisions with the ball.
On a third down play from the 15-yard line, Reese waited patiently in the pocket and dropped a perfectly-timed pass to junior tailback Amariyea James, who got the ball down to the 1-yard line. Lewis scored on the next play to put the Dons ahead by one point in the second quarter.
Before halftime, Lewis took a screen pass from Reese 67 yards for a touchdown to give Palo Duro a four-point lead at the break. Reese continued his strong performance early in the third quarter, delivering a 41-yard bomb down the sideline followed by an 8-yard touchdown pass, both to sophomore wide receiver Kyron Brown.
Second half stall out
After Reese led the Dons on a three-play scoring drive during their second series of the third quarter, Palo Duro’s offense dried up for the rest of the game.
Memorial outscored Mims’ team 28-7 in the second half, with the Dons’ final points coming around the six-minute mark in the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/palo-duro-football-starts-fast-090945489.html
Author : Amarillo Globe-News
Publish date : 2024-10-07 09:09:45
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