Dons roll past Legacy to stay unbeaten in district

The Palo Duro Dons are looking every bit like a team on a mission. With a commanding 48-14 road win over Wichita Falls Legacy on Friday night, the Dons stayed perfect in district play and remained alone atop the standings heading into the final week of the regular season. At 8-1 overall and 5-0 in district, Palo Duro has now rattled off eight straight victories since dropping its opener to Tascosa. The stakes get even higher next Thursday, as the Dons return home to Dick Bivins Stadium to host Abilene Cooper in a showdown for the district title and the top playoff seed. No matter the outcome, Palo Duro is guaranteed to host a first-round playoff game—something the program hasn’t done in years.

Quarterback Julian Reese II was the star once again, showing why he’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the region. Reese completed 21-of-31 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, all hauled in by standout receiver Darien Lewis, who continues to be a matchup nightmare on the outside. Reese also used his legs effectively, adding two rushing touchdowns to cap off a five-score performance. On the other side of the ball, the Dons defense made life difficult for Legacy all night, holding them to just 225 yards of total offense and never allowing momentum to shift.

Meanwhile, Lubbock-Cooper solidified its playoff positioning with a thrilling 42-35 win over Abilene Wylie. Quarterback Ryan Rodriguez led the way with 227 yards and four touchdowns, including the go-ahead strike to Reed Watters in the fourth quarter. Cade Gant turned in a big night as well, posting eight catches for 123 yards and two scores, while Chamayne Johnson powered the run game with 139 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries.

Next week, all eyes are on Dick Bivins—where a district title is on the line.