Dons clinch playoff spot with big win over Plainview

At Dick Bivins Stadium Thursday night, Palo Duro left little doubt that they’re ready for postseason football. With four scoring plays of over 55 yards and two others topping 40, the Dons blew past the Plainview Bulldogs, 55-25, to clinch a playoff berth from District 2-5A Division II. The math was simple—every time the Dons touched the ball, something electric happened.

Now sitting at 7-1 overall and 4-0 in district play, Palo Duro has rattled off seven straight wins since dropping its season opener to Tascosa. That momentum, paired with Abilene Cooper’s win over Wichita Falls Legacy, locked the Dons into the postseason with two games still remaining. One more win, and they’ll host a playoff game at Bivins for the first time in over a decade.

From the opening whistle, Palo Duro made it clear they came to make statements, not excuses. After forcing Plainview to punt on the opening drive, the Dons struck gold on their very first offensive snap. Eric Mims Jr.—yes, the coach’s son—took a handoff on a reverse and sprinted 59 yards untouched for a touchdown just 86 seconds into the contest. That burst set the tone for what would become a fireworks show of an evening.

Plainview, to its credit, moved the ball effectively all night behind quarterback Seth Mayberry, who threw for 296 yards and three scores. But while the Bulldogs were grinding out 10-play drives, Palo Duro was lighting up the scoreboard in seconds. Despite running less than half as many plays as Plainview (36 to 75), the Dons racked up 475 yards of offense—an eye-popping 13.2 yards per snap.

After Mayberry’s early field goal cut the lead to 7-3, Palo Duro answered quickly. Running back Raymond Johnson V sparked a drive with a 24-yard burst, and quarterback Julian Reese II hit Darien Lewis for 44 yards to set up a short touchdown. Just like that, it was 14-3. And even when Plainview closed the gap to 14-10, the Dons’ defense had its own highlight ready.

With the Bulldogs threatening late in the first half, linebacker Kyron Brown—who’s quickly becoming one of the district’s premier pass rushers—sacked Mayberry, stripped the ball, scooped it up, and rumbled 65 yards for a defensive touchdown. That play broke the game’s momentum wide open and sent the Dons to halftime up 21-10.

From there, it was all Palo Duro. Johnson started the second half with a 47-yard sprint that set up his second touchdown of the night, and Reese took over from there. The junior quarterback was perfect after halftime, completing all seven passes for 117 yards and three scores. He also added a 62-yard touchdown run for good measure.

Lewis finished with five receptions for 126 yards and two scores, showcasing the deep-threat chemistry that’s become a Palo Duro trademark. Johnson, meanwhile, didn’t even need double-digit carries to top 100 yards.

For Plainview, it was a tough night of “almosts.” Running back Blake Williams piled up 138 yards on 21 carries, but the Bulldogs’ defense couldn’t slow the Dons’ explosive rhythm. Every mistake was punished, every opportunity for Palo Duro turned into points.

When the dust settled, the Dons had done what playoff teams do—made the most of every touch, every moment, every inch. If they keep playing like this, Palo Duro won’t just be in the playoffs. They might just make some noise when they get there.