Palo Duro crushes Memorial in district opener

When Palo Duro rolled into Memorial Stadium on Friday night, the Dons were looking to kick off district play on the right foot. They left with something much bigger: a statement victory that put the rest of District 2-5A Division II on notice. Behind a sizzling first half from quarterback Julian Reese II and a punishing defense, Palo Duro dismantled Memorial 48-6, delivering the Mavericks the worst loss in their young program’s history.

Reese II wasted no time setting the tone, torching Memorial’s secondary with three straight touchdown passes in the opening half. His first strike found Lewis streaking down the sideline for a score. From there, he connected with Kyron Brown on a 26-yard dart, then capped a third-and-goal with a 20-yard toss to running back Keanan Posey out of the backfield. Even after Memorial briefly responded with a quick scoring drive, Reese II and the Dons didn’t flinch. Brown hauled in another touchdown, this one from 12 yards out, to give Palo Duro a commanding 28-6 lead at halftime.

That cushion was more than enough thanks to the Dons’ defense, which suffocated Memorial’s high-powered attack. The Mavericks entered the game averaging over 40 points per contest, but were held to just six as Palo Duro’s front seven controlled the line of scrimmage. Memorial managed only 61 rushing yards, and quarterback Joe Castles—an Abilene Christian commit—never found his rhythm. Under relentless pressure, Castles threw two interceptions and struggled to generate the explosive plays that had fueled Memorial’s early-season surge.

While head coach Chris Mims was frustrated with a couple of missed opportunities early in the third quarter, the Dons imposed their will in the trenches after the break. Their ground game wore down Memorial’s defense, piling up 303 rushing yards. Raymond Johnson V punched in two second-half touchdowns, and Tayv’on Cantly added a 4-yard score late to put the finishing touches on a rout. Reese II finished with 223 passing yards and four touchdowns—all in the first half—while Amariyea James led the rushing attack with 107 yards.

By night’s end, Palo Duro had outgained Memorial 526-222, showcasing a balance of speed, power, and discipline that few district opponents will match. For Memorial, the night was a sobering reminder of how steep the climb remains in one of the toughest 5A divisions in Texas.

The win lifted Palo Duro to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in district play, keeping them among the early front-runners alongside Abilene Wylie and Plainview. With Wylie set to visit Amarillo next week, the Dons won’t have much time to savor this victory. That showdown could prove pivotal in shaping the playoff race, but if Friday night was any indication, Palo Duro has the weapons to contend for a top spot.

With momentum building, confidence growing, and a statement win under their belts, the Dons look ready to chase down something bigger than just a strong start—they look like a team ready to make a run.