2026 GAME ARTICLES
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PERMIAN ROLLS PAST REBELS IN OPENER
AUGUST 28th- The Permian Panthers kicked off the 2026 season on a high note, rolling to a 38-7 victory over Amarillo Tascosa Friday night at Ratliff Stadium.
The Panthers raced out to a 28-7 halftime lead, and kept the visiting Rebels out of the endzone in the second half.
MOJO opened the game with a halfback pass to a wide-open Daebreon McDowell for a 52-yard touchdown reception. Iker Munoz kicked the PAT to give Permian the early 7-0 lead with a mere 15 seconds off the clock.
Tascosa answered with a nice 75-yard drive to tie things up at 7-7 with 5:13 remaining in the first quarter.
That would be the highlight of the night for the Rebels. Permian bounced back with nine-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Vickers, giving MOJO a 14-7 lead with 10:12 remaining in the second quarter.
After forcing a Tascosa fumble on their ensuing possession, Mark Herrera scored on a one-yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Permian at the 9:18 mark.
The Panthers scored again right before the half with a 20-yard touchdown run by Jace Thompson, giving the Panthers a 28-7 lead going into the break.
The Rebels received the second half kickoff but could do nothing against the MOJO defense, and were forced to punt.
Cayden Taylor scored on the ensuing possession on a two-yard run, extending the Permian advantage to 35-7 with 6:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Things didn’t get any better for the Rebels on their following possession, as Nata Cardoza picked off a Tascosa pass to end a scoring threat with 2:20 remaining in the third period.
The Panthers would add a 34-yard field goal by Munoz late in the fourth quarter to make the final score 38-7 in favor of Permian.
Quarterback Kayden Vickers completed five passes for 104 yards, with wide receiver Daebreon McDowell snagging two receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. Running back Cayden Taylor had 10 carries for 53 yards and one touchdown. Nata Cardoza had an interception, and Malachi Mendoza recovered a fumble for the defense. The win gives the Panthers a 1-0 record.
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PERMIAN HOLDS OFF HARKER HEIGHTS
SEPTEMBER 4th- The Permian Panthers jumped out to a 31-14 halftime lead and then held off a second-half rally by the Harker Heights Knights in a 45-38 victory on Friday at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen.
After giving up a 75 touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, MOJO would regroup to take control of the game. The Panthers struck back with a 10-play drive capped by a 27 yard touchdown run by Malachi Mendoza.
On the next Permian possession, senior quarterback Kayden Vickers hooked up with sophomore wideout Debreon "Dae Dae" McDowell for a 49-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-7 Permian.
The Knights answered with a 48 yard touchdown run to tie the score at 14-14 at the end of one quarter of play.
In the second quarter MOJO started to take control. A long run by Mark Herrera got the Panthers in scoring position. Cayden Taylor cashed it in on the next play with a short run to give Permian the lead at 21-14.
On the next Permian possession Iker Munoz hit a 31-yard field goal. Taylor would later score on a 29-yard scamper to give the Panthers a 31-14 lead going into the break.
Most of the third quarter was a defensive stalemate. Late in the period the Knights finally scored on a long pass play for a touchdown, and then were successful on a two-point conversion. The third quarter ended with MOJO on top 31-22.
Both teams traded scores in the fourth quarter. Harker Heights managed to pull to within a touchdown with 1:32 remaining in the game. But their onside kick attempt would ultimately roll out of bounds, and from there the Panthers were able to run out the clock to secure the 45-38 victory and move to 2-0 on the season.
Cayden Taylor ended the evening with 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Mark Herrera added 73 yards on the ground. Quarterback Kayden Vickers threw for 175 yards and a touchdown. Malachi Mendoza had an MVP performance, with 51 yards and a score on the ground. Mendoza also made a clutch reception to keep a drive alive in the second half, and intercepted a pass on defense.
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PERMIAN PLUCKS THE ABILENE EAGLES
SEPTEMBER 11th- The Permian Panthers remained undefeated after a 41-29 victory over the Abilene High Eagles at Shotwell Stadium.
The Panthers got on the board first with an11-play drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown run by Josh Curry. Iker Munoz hit the PAT to give MOJO a 7-0 lead.
After forcing the Eagles to punt on their first possession, the Panthers would increase their lead to 14 points in the second quarter when Kayden Vickers connected with Daebreon McDowell on a 62-yard touchdown pass play.
Abilene High got on the board in the second quarter with a long touchdown pass. The PAT was no good, making the score 14-6 MOJO.
The Panthers added to their total when Curry scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from six yards out. Abilene answered with another touchdown pass to make it 21-13.
Iker Munoz kicked a 41-yard field goal late in the period to give MOJO a 24-13 advantage going into the break.
Munoz connected on another field goal from 37 yards out in the third quarter. Abilene would respond with their third touchdown pass of the game, making the score 27-20 in favor of Permian at the end of the third quarter.
Cayden Taylor got into the endzone in the fourth quarter, giving MOJO a 34-20 lead with 9:47 remaining.
Abilene did not go quietly however, scoring on a safety after a bad Permian snap and then adding another long touchdown pass to pull the Eagles to within five points in the 4th quarter.
But Permian would dash Abilene's comeback hopes by scoring on a 13-yard pass from Vickers to Zephaniah Deleon with 2:01 remaining in the game. The Eagles got one more possession but could not produce a score, and from there MOJO ran out the clock to secure the 41-29 victory.
Kayden Vickers threw two touchdown passes. Josh Curry rushed for two touchdowns, and Cayden Taylor added one. Daebreon Mcdowell and Zephaniah Deleon grabbed touchdown passes. Iker Munoz hit on field goals of 41 and 37 yards. With the victory the Panthers move to 3-0 on the season.
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SEPTEMBER 18th- The Permian Panthers improved their record to 4-0 on the season with a 38-24 victory over El Paso Pebble Hills on Friday.
The two teams traded blows in the first quarter but neither could find the endzone. Pebble Hills finally got on the board first with a long touchdown pass. The extra point was good, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead.
Permian responded with a 12-play drive finished off with a 14-yard touchdown run by Josh Curry. Iker Munoz hit the PAT to tie the game at 7-7.
Pebble Hills retook the lead with a 39-yard field goal as the second quarter was winding down. But the Panthers put together a quick drive to get into scoring range. From there Munoz connected on a 36-yard field goal to tie the game again. The teams went into the locker room tied at 10-10.
The Panthers would receive the second-half kick, but a promising drive eventually stalled in Spartan territory.
Right on time, the defense rose up on the ensuing Spartan possession as Izeyah McCoy recovered a fumble to give Permian the ball right back.
The Panthers cashed in the gift two plays later with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Navarrette to Daebreon McDowell. The extra point gave MOJO a 17-10 lead with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Panthers hit paydirt again when Aaron Navarrette hauled in a pass from Vickers, juking the defender and racing into the endzone from 32 yards. MOJO held a 24-10 lead as the third quarter expired.
Pebble Hills scored to stay in the game early in the final period. But MOJO never relinquished control, adding rushing touchdowns by Cayden Taylor and Mark Herrera to increase their advantage to 38-17 with a little over three minutes remaining.
The Spartans added a late touchdown to make the score 38-24 in favor of Permian with under a minute to go in the game. From there the Panthers were able to ran out the clock to secure the 38-24 victory.
Mark Herrera led all rushers with 101 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Cayden Taylor added 83 yards and a score, and Josh Curry contributed 40 yards and a touchdown. Malachi Mendoza was the leading receiver with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. QB Kayden Vickers was 15-of-19 for 191 yards and a touchdown. The win gives Permian a 4-0 record.
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PERMIAN SPANKS THE SPARTANS
SEPTEMBER 25th- The Permian Panthers celebrated Homecoming 2026 with a dominant 45-14 victory over the Arizona Compass Prep Dragons at Ratliff Stadium on Friday.
Permian jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
Kayden Vickers led the Panthers on a 10-play, 88-yard drive, ending with a pass to Aaron Navarrete for a nine-yard touchdown on their first possession. Iker Munoz hit the PAT to make it 7-0 with 6:03 remaining in the first quarter.
After a quick three-and-out by the MOJO defense the Panthers went on an eight-play, 66-yard drive, with Vickers connecting with Malachi Mendoza for a 27-yard touchdown. The Panthers were up 14-0 with 2:40 to go in the first quarter.
After forcing another Dragons punt, Vickers threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jace Thompson to increase their advantage to 21-0 with under a minute left in the first.
After a busy first quarter the teams failed to find the end zone in the second. The Panthers went into the break on top 21-0.
MOJO received the second-half kick and marched methodically down the field, with Cayden Taylor carrying the ball into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown and a 28-0 Permian lead with 8:56 left in the third period.
On the ensuing possession the penalty-prone visitors faced third down and 23 after consecutive penalties. The drive stalled and the Dragons were forced to punt.
On the first play after the punt, Josh Curry carried the ball for 28 yards deep into Dragon territory. Curry found the end zone on a touchdown run of 18 yards a few plays later, giving the Panthers a 35-0 lead with 3:34 left in the third quarter.
Compass Prep finally got on the scoreboard with a 46-yard touchdown pass as the third period came to an end.
Permian added to their lead with a 24-yard touchdown reception by Daebreon McDowell from quarterback Eric Aguilera, making the score 42-7 Permian with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.
With the game in hand and Permian substituting freely, the Dragons added another touchdown to their total on a 75-yard reception with 7:59 left in the game.
On the ensuing Panthers possession, a short drive set up "Automatic" Iker Munoz to hit a 43-yard field goal to make the final score 45-14 in favor of Permian.
Running back Cayden Taylor finished with nine carries for 54 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Kayden Vickers was 14-of-19 for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Daebreon McDowell had six catches for 104 yards and a score. On defense, Bryson Kunkel grabbed an interception. The win gives MOJO a 5-0 record.
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PANTHERS DOMINATE DRAGONS ON HOMECOMING
OCTOBER 1st- The Panthers closed out their non-district schedule with a 28-13 win against Camden, New Jersey on Thursday at Ratliff Stadium. MOJO won a slugfest over the defending New Jersey state champions.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Panthers got on the board in the second period with a 55-yard touchdown run by Josh Curry. "Automatic" Iker Munoz kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Permian lead.
Camden answered with a long touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7 with 10:19 to go in the second quarter.
Permian responded with a 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive to retake the lead. Cayden Taylor capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The Munoz kick made it 14-7 MOJO late in the second quarter.
Camden struck back quickly with a drive culminated by a 17-yard touchdown run. Their two-point conversion pass was incomplete, and Permian went into the halftime break with a 14-13 lead.
After shutting down the Camden running game to open the second half, back-to-back touchdown drives allowed the hometown Panthers to put away the visiting Panthers from New Jersey.
MOJO’s first play of the second half saw Taylor blast up the near sideline for 58 yards, setting Permian up at the Camden 15 yard line.
Permian scored a couple of plays later on a nine-yard pass from Vickers to Aaron Navarrette, giving the hometown Panthers a 21-13 lead with 6:45 left in the third.
On the next Permian possession, Dae Dae McDowell got away from a potential tackle for loss to reverse his field and race up the far sideline to score on a 58-yard touchdown pass, extending MOJO’s lead to 28-13.
From there the Permian defense rose up to shut down Camden's tough running game in the fourth quarter. The clock expired with Permian on top 28-13.
Quarterback Kayden Vickers passed for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Daebreon "Dae Dae" McDowell had two receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. Cayden Taylor led Permian rushers with 13 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. The victory gives MOJO a 6-0 record.
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PERMIAN WINS BATTLE OF PANTHERS
