Missed opportunities cost Rebels in painful 24-6 loss to Abilene High

The Tascosa Rebels walked off the field at Dick Bivins Stadium on Friday night knowing exactly what slipped away — not just a chance at a District 2-5A Division I title, but the satisfaction of finishing off a winnable game against the district’s top team.

Abilene High came to Amarillo as the front-runner, and they left with a 24-6 victory and a guaranteed playoff berth. For Tascosa, the result wasn’t just frustrating because of the score, but because of how close the Rebels were to changing it. This was one of those nights where the box score doesn’t tell the story.

From the opening quarter, it was clear Tascosa could hang with the Eagles physically. The Rebels ran hard, tackled well, and created chances early — three of them, in fact, deep in Abilene territory during the first half. But as head coach Ken Plunk’s team has learned the hard way this season, moving the ball is one thing; finishing drives is another.

The tone was set almost immediately. On Abilene’s first play from scrimmage, the Eagles fumbled, and Tascosa recovered in plus territory. Momentum, right? Not quite. The Rebels went three-and-out, failing to gain a yard before punting. Abilene responded with a steady march downfield and a 29-yard field goal by Elisha Batendji to take a 3-0 lead.

Then came the kind of moment that haunts a locker room. Tascosa’s Deandre Sanders broke free for what looked like a game-changing run, slicing through the defense and racing toward the end zone. But at the Abilene 8-yard line, he was stripped from behind. The ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by the Eagles for a touchback — a 70-yard gain erased in an instant.

The Rebels’ kicking woes made things worse. A 20-yard field goal attempt later in the half sailed wide right, and instead of tying the game, Tascosa found itself down 10-0 when Abilene’s Brayden Henry connected with M’Aujehl Aboso for a 36-yard score before halftime.

Quarterback Coltyn Fulton nearly gave Tascosa some life before the break, returning the ensuing kickoff past midfield and driving to the Abilene 17. But with seconds left, his pass to the end zone was picked off. To make matters worse, Fulton didn’t return after halftime due to an apparent injury from a late hit earlier in the game.

Backup Brayden Lineman took over and managed to guide the Rebels to their lone score — a 3-yard touchdown run by Reese Cabe late in the third quarter. That cut the lead to 10-6 and reignited the crowd. For a brief moment, it felt like Tascosa might wrestle back control.

But two costly penalties on the ensuing drive — a pass interference and an unsportsmanlike conduct — gifted Abilene 30 free yards. The Eagles capitalized immediately with a short touchdown run by Symanni Strahan. From there, Abilene sealed the deal with a 50-yard bomb to Aboso, his second touchdown of the night, to make it 24-6.

The loss stings, not just because of the scoreboard but because the Rebels played well enough to win. They ran for 230 yards, with Sanders averaging over 20 yards per carry, and the defense battled for four quarters. Still, when you come up empty on three red-zone trips, the scoreboard rarely lies.

At 5-3 overall and 3-1 in district, Tascosa remains in good playoff position — tied for second with Amarillo High. With upcoming home games against Caprock and Amarillo High, the Rebels still control their postseason fate.

Friday night proved they can play with anyone. Now, it’s about proving they can finish.