High Plains Rebels Pt. II

How quickly things change.

One quarter, Lee looked out of its element against Amarillo High. The next, it appeared the Rebels had figured out the Sandies. A quarter without quarterback Jace Edwards, all hopes of victory seemed to disappear for Lee. Then backup Adrian Horton leads the Rebels down the field to drive the ball.

On one hand, it's amazing the Rebels were even competitive against the Sandies. Edwards, who was on pace for a career day, didn't take a snap in the second half due to a concussion. Lee's defense, which has been a quarterback's best friend this season, was forced to play three quarters without cornerback Tevin Collier, who left late in the first quarter with a knee injury on a pretty innocent play.* Finally, Horton, after leading Lee 68 yards to tie the score midway through the fourth quarter, gets the ball back and is leading the Rebels on another possible score-tying drive only to suffer a concussion himself and lose a fumble.

*From what I remember of the play, it was a pass downfield by AHS, which wasn't all that close to being completed. There was another defender on the intended receiver and I think he dragged down the receiver. But as the receiver was coming down without the ball, Collier moved in just in time for the receiver's helmet to jam into his knee. Maybe it was closer to being completed than I recall and Collier thought he was needed to help break up the play, but I guess it doesn't make a difference.

On the other hand, it's even more amazing the Rebels were in the game. Lee was called for eight penalties for 90 yards. Four of those were 15-yard penalties. As preventable as false starts and offsides penalties are, 15-yard penalties are even more so. Players have to be more disciplined by the ninth game of the season. The Rebels also put the ball on the turf four times, losing one. Their other turnover was an interception by running back Austin Jumper, which you really can't blame him for. He was brought in as the emergency QB on Lee's last drive. Finally, to put it kindly, Lee's special teams was an abomination. Out of nowhere, the deep snaps from Jon Poe to punter George Ulmo became an issue as Ulmo couldn't get a handle on the snap on his second punt and wound up losing 16 yards to set up AHS at Lee's 19 yard line. The Sandies capitalized with a TD. On Lee's second punt of the second half, Poe's snap sailed over Ulmo's head, resulting in an 18-yard loss and an AHS field goal. As for place kicking, Lee had a makeable field goal blocked, as well as an extra point in the fourth quarter that would have put Lee ahead, 21-20. All-in-all, AHS scored 10 points off Lee's special teams blunders. The Sandies won 27-20.

Even with the three devastating injuries, Lee could have and probably should have won this game. But 90 yards of penalties, carelessness with the football and a lack of attention to detail on special teams killed the Rebels.

I don't know of the severity of Edwards, Horton and Colliers' injuries, but I would be surprised to see any of them play against Odessa High next week as Lee fights for the final playoff spot out of District 2-5A. And if these three are in street clothes for the game, I don't know how the Rebels win the game. I don't think the Bronchos would have held back in the first place and I can't imagine they will now. There's no doubt in my mind they want that perfect district record and they should get it.

Alas, Lee can still back it's way into the playoffs. If Lee loses and Midland High loses to Odessa Permian, Lee wins the tie-break with MHS. If Lee somehow wins, it still needs MHS to lose because a MHS victory would force a three-way tie-breaker and Lee would be left out of the playoffs because of point differential. So, Rebels fans will also be Panthers fans for a week.


— Shawn Shroyer