Lake Ridge’s season ends with narrow loss to Odessa Permian

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

For the second consecutive week, Lake Ridge met one of Texas’ legendary football playoff powers, but the result differed this time, with the Eagles losing to Odessa Permian, 30-28, at Abilene Christian University.

A week after the Eagles (9-3) dispatched perennial North Texas power Euless Trinity from the playoffs, Lake Ridge saw its own postseason run finish at the hands of the Panthers (11-1), famous for the novel “Friday Night Lights” and the movie based off it.

The Eagles limited the Panthers to three field goals after falling behind 21-14, and the offense behind masterful play from junior quarterback Deshawn Edwards steadily closed the gap before taking a 28-27 lead on a 30-yard pass from Edwards to Jayden Evans with 4:14 to play.

It was Edwards’ third TD pass of the night to go along with his 14-yard first-quarter scoring run. But Permian’s offense, paced by running back Gavin Black, marched downfield, far enough into stunning sophomore kicker Iker Munoz’s ample range. With 2:12 left, he hit a 33-yard kick to put Permian up 30-28, giving Lake Ridge just enough time to answer.

But the Eagles’ drive – and playoff run – ended after an eight-play drive stalled by an interception with 41 seconds left, sealing Permian’s win.

Lake Ridge took the opening kickoff – and the air out of the Permian sideline – by scoring on three plays, the final a pinpoint 58-yard strike from Edwards to Mikah Blow, who easily outpaced the single coverage for the 7-0 lead punctuated by the extra point from Kyson Scott.

The Eagles forced a three-and-out and advanced to Permian’s nine-yard line before the Panthers blocked a field-goal attempt.

Permian was stymied again, with Black gaining only four yards on three carries in the five-play drive that gave the ball back to Lake Ridge. Another big pass play from Edwards to Evans for 43 yards put the ball at Permian’s 14-yard line. Edwards covered the distance from there, giving the Eagles a 14-0 lead with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter.

Permian’s offense awakened, with quarterback Jakob Garcia running for 15 yards on first down to get to midfield, then later passing to John Iniubong for 23 yards, setting up an 8-yard score by Black to make it 14-7. After Lake Ridge went three-and-out, Permian tied the score with a 10-play drive, surviving back-to-back sacks by Jayden Cupitt and Cayden Brown. Black covered the final eight yards to knot the score at 14-14 with just about 7 ½ minutes left in the first quarter.

A punt gave the ball back to Permian, and Garcia eventually hit Cason Nabarette for a 20-yard score, giving the Panthers their first lead at 21-14 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half.

Lake Ridge drove to the Permian 14-yard line, when Edwards appeared to score on a sideline run. But the play was nullified by a penalty and Permian regained the ball on an interception at the 11-yard line. The Panthers drove the length of the field for Munoz’s 27-yard field goal as time expired to expand the lead to 24-14.

Permian went three-and-out on its first drive of the second half, and Lake Ridge made it count, with Edwards and Jaiden Cotton moving the ball on the ground, and Blow, Butler and Kamron Jackson doing the work at receiver. Jackson’s nine-yard TD catch brought the Eagles within three at 24-21.

The defense again held, this time after a nine-play Permian possession, but the Panthers’ defense matched the effort, stopping Lake Ridge after a 14-play drive, which included another Edwards touchdown run nullified by a holding call.

Munoz’s 24-yard field goal with 6 ½ minutes left in the game boosted the lead to 27-21. But Lake Ridge wasn’t finished. Cotton carried three times for 24 yards, Edwards rushed twice for 21 yards and passed twice to Evans, the second a 30-yard TD strike. Scott hit the extra point to give Lake Ridge its first lead since the first quarter at 28-27.

The Panthers had just over 4 minutes to work with, and gained a large chunk on the first play when a halfback option pass connected to give Permian the ball at Lake Ridge’s 23-yard line. Six more yards set the tone for Munoz’s game-winning kick from 33 yards for the 30-28 final score.