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FOOTBALL: Rebels riding high after recording first win
Nov 08, 2012 (Odessa American - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
If anything, it was relief that washed over the Amarillo Tascosa football program when the clock hit zero Nov. 1 against Lubbock Coronado.
On the winning side of the scoreboard for the first time this season, the victory over the Mustangs snapped an 11-game losing streak for the Rebels -- and put smiles on everyone's faces.
"It was a great relief," Tascosa head coach Ken Plunk said. "Unfortunately it took so long to get it this season.
"But it was a good win and it was good to get one and it gives the kids confidence coming into this week."
This week, the Rebels will travel more than four hours south to face Odessa High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
Like Tascosa one week ago, the Bronchos still are in search of their first victory. That doesn't give Plunk any extra confidence heading into the contest.
"I know what they are going through and it's hard," Plunk said. "And it's not like all of a sudden that things have changed for us; we're still 1-8 overall and 1-6 in district.
"We feel like we should be able to compete in this district, but this district is so tough that you can't be playing poorly and win. You can be playing well and still lose."
That has happened twice for the Rebels this season, according to Plunk.
The first was a 13-7 loss to Midland High in Week 3, followed by a Week 5 home defeat at the hands of Permian (20-17).
Both games showed Plunk the option-based offense he installed this season was going to make the Rebels competitive. It was just a matter of making the plays at the right time.
Which is what happened last week in the victory against Lubbock Coronado.
Watching the Mustangs drive to a touchdown on their opening drive, the Rebels responded with three of their own before halftime, led by the duo of Peyton Brooks and Tucker Davidson.
Brooks and Davidson share the quarterbacking duties, with Brooks moving out to wide receiver when Davidson is behind center. That allows Plunk to have his best player (Brooks) creating matchup problems in the secondary.
Defensively, linebackers Austin Beasley and Isaiah Lomeli, along with defensive back Newt Harrell, helped shut down Coronado after its first touchdown to seal the victory for Tascosa.
"For the past five or six weeks, we've been playing better," Plunk said. "I thought we played well and should have won against Midland High and then against Permian, if we get that fake field goal at the end of the first half, it could have been a different story there and then, with three victories, we are playing for a playoff spot this week.
"We still have things to work on and that's that you do, even if this is the final week of the season. The kids are still working hard and looking forward to the game."
Contact Lee Scheide on twitter @OALeeScheide, on Facebook at OA Lee Scheide, or call 432-333-7703.
___ (c)2012 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American
(Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services
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