They were, however, all too painful to look at for the host Dons.
Palo Duro gave a typically tough defensive effort against an Estacado team which had scored 114 points in the first two games of the season. But it was when PD’s offense was on the field that Estacado got the bulk of its points, as the Matadors scored four touchdowns on turnovers which made all the difference in a 48-14 Palo Duro loss.
The Dons (1-2) played good enough defense to win the game, as they held Estacado (3-0) to 181 yards of total offense. However, that was more than mitigated by eight Palo Duro turnovers, four of which were turned directly into scores, most notably in a 28-second sequence midway through the third quarter which decided the game.
“Defense played lights out,” Palo Duro coach Eric Mims said. “Mistakes, turnovers, the offense didn’t produce. Hats off to the defense. They played great and we didn’t help them at all tonight.”
Neither offense distinguished itself in the first half especially. Estacado scored two defensive touchdowns in the final four minutes of the first quarter for the only points of the half to take a 14-0 halftime lead.
Palo Duro recovered a fumble at its own 15-yard line to thwart what looked like a certain Estacado scoring opportunity. However, Estacado chased down Palo Duro sophomore quarterback Darien Lewis at the PD 1-yard line, knocked the ball loose and recovered it in the end zone to give the Matadors a 7-0 lead.
The next possession resulted in another Estacado defensive score, as Lewis threw an errant pass over the middle which Deondric Green picked off and returned 56 yards for a score to make it 14-0.
That was the culmination of a rough first quarter for Lewis, who threw three interceptions in the opening quarter, canceling a strong running effort where he ran for a game-high 95 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Mims, though, refused to place blame at his young quarterback’s feet.
“Everything that happened tonight is on the coaches,” Mims said. “(Lewis) does everything we ask him to do. Last week (a 20-14 win over Caprock) we put him in great situations, and he made plays. This week we obviously didn’t put him in situations he needed to be in. We’ll continue to develop him and we’ll do a better job coaching him.”
The Dons looked ready to make it a game early in the second half, as Keima’j Barnes scored on a 1-yard run less than two minutes into the half to cut it to 14-7. After forcing an Estacado punt, the Dons had the ball near midfield, and Lewis appeared to have the first down after a keeper.
However, the ball got loose, and Estacado’s Christopher Woodruff came up with it, taking it 51 yards the other way for a 21-7 lead. The Dons couldn’t field the ensuing kickoff and the ball rolled into the end zone, with Davonte Robinson pouncing on it to make it 28-7.
Palo Duro also fumbled the next kickoff and the Matadors recovered at the PD 24. They scored their first offensive touchdown on the next play, as DJ Johnson hit Devoryea Boyd with a scoring pass to make it 34-7.
“Our defense needed a game like this because in the first two games we gave up a lot of points,” Estacado coach William Blaylock said. “We’re opportunistic and live and die by the blitz and kids make plays. Our offense had been rolling but tonight (Palo Duro) came out with a great game plan.”
Distinguished alum Hood honored
Prior to the opening kickoff, Palo Duro assistant coach Evander “Ziggy” Hood was named an honorary captain and recognized for his role in averting a potential tragedy on campus.
Hood, a Palo Duro alum, was also recognized for his induction to the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame as the 200th member in June.
Earlier in the year, Hood found a troubled student at Palo Duro and convinced him not to give in to violence or despair. A weapon was found on campus and an arrest was made, but any tragedy was averted.
Hood, a defensive end, played at Missouri after graduating from Palo Duro and was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.