In a game whose math was excruciatingly simple, the winner between Palo Duro and Plainview at Dick Bivins Stadium would clinch the fourth and final playoff spot in District 2-5A Division II while the loser could think about basketball season. The Dons didn’t fool around, scoring on their first two possessions, as sophomore quarterback Darien Lewis accounted for all of the scoring in a 41-14 win to clinch a playoff spot.
Palo Duro (4-5, 2-3 in district) will head west to face Canutillo in a bi-district game next Friday at 3 p.m.
The Dons never trailed against Plainview (5-5, 1-4) and forced the Bulldogs to play catch-up. Slow starts had doomed the Dons and forced them into a must-win situation in their regular season finale.
“It definitely helped a lot because the last three games we’ve been down 14-0 in the first (quarter),” PD coach Eric Mims said. “We were playing from a hole, so it was good to be able to front run tonight and play from ahead. The guys did a good job of making plays when they had to. Our offense made some big catches and our run game came through in the fourth quarter.”
Palo Duro was highly efficient offensively, running for 225 yards and passing for 213, and Lewis had a whole lot to do with that. In the first half, he threw three touchdowns to lead the Dons to a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Dons scored on their first two possessions following a big return of the opening kickoff and a defensive stand in their red zone. They took advantage of a short field only 97 seconds into the game when Lewis hit Charlie Love on a 21-yard scoring pass for a 7-0 lead.
It was the best all-around game of his young career, as Lewis showcased his dual threat capabilities. He completed 15-of-24 passes for 213 yards and ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. Lewis has especially shown how PD’s passing game has improved by leaps and bounds since August.
“We had to come out and set the tone. It’s do or die or we’re not in the playoffs,” Lewis said. “We didn’t want our season to end tonight and we came out here and played like it. I feel like the offensive chemistry came together and when I’m in the pocket I trust my linemen and believe they’re going to give me the time to complete passes when my receivers get open.”
Palo Duro’s only major mistake of the first half led to Plainview’s only points, as the Dons went back to punt and Jacob Jimenez muffed the snap, giving the Bulldogs the ball at PD’s 19. Plainview cashed in on a 5-yard pass from Seth Mayberry’s 5-yard pass to Davian Ramos to cut it to 14-7.
The Dons put together a solid drive late in the half, concluding the scoring on a 2-yard pass from Lewis to Ali Hopson to make it 21-7.
That’s the way it stayed through a scoreless third quarter, as the Dons squandered a chance to increase their cushion by botching a field goal attempt. That allowed Plainview to drive the length of the field, with Mayberry concluding it on a 3-yard run to cut it to 21-14 with 8:36 left in the game.
“It personified our season with the inconsistencies we had,” Mims said. “We just don’t make a couple of plays that we should make and we leave the door open for the longest time. But we had an explosive fourth quarter and I’m excited with the way we finished.”
Lewis then literally took the game into his own hands. Just 2 ½ minutes after Mayberry’s score, Lewis answered by carrying it in on a 29-yard run to give the Dons a 27-14 lead.
On Plainview’s ensuing possession, Isaac Banda intercepted a pass at Plainview’s 17. Lewis kept it himself and scored on the next play to make it 34-14. For an encore, Lewis scored on a 56-yard run with 1:11 left.
“I feel like when they scored in the fourth quarter I’m the player who can take over,” Lewis said. “I put my abilities out there to take over the game. I feel like any player who’s good wants the ball in their hands. With the game on the line I wanted to put them away and my teammates helped me do that.”