Palo Duro’s rally falls short in thriller against Anna

Palo Duro entered Friday night’s Region I-5A Division II area-round matchup knowing the challenge ahead. Anna, a battle-tested playoff regular, carried both pedigree and momentum into Memorial Stadium. Yet even as the Dons fell behind by 17 late in the third quarter, the theme of their season — resilience — once again came to life. And for a moment, a comeback felt entirely possible.

Anna controlled much of the game, holding the lead for more than 40 minutes behind a balanced offensive attack and a big first half from senior running back Ace Traylor. By halftime, Traylor had already found the end zone twice, once through the air and once on the ground, helping the Coyotes maintain a two-score advantage. A late field goal before the break pushed the margin back to seven just when it seemed Palo Duro had seized momentum with a quick touchdown. That swing would loom large.

The Dons, though, refused to fold. Quarterback Julius Reese II, in one of the best performances of his career, threw for more than 400 yards and added three scores on the ground. Senior receiver Darien Lewis ended his high-school career with a 14-catch, 149-yard effort, providing the steady presence Reese needed against an Anna defense that had stifled opponents all season.

When Anna extended the lead to 38-21 with less than a minute left in the third quarter, the situation looked bleak. But Palo Duro, as it had done repeatedly throughout its historic season, responded. On the final snap of the third, Reese found Kyron Brown on a 40-yard strike in the end zone, breathing new life into the Dons’ sideline and fan base.

Meanwhile, Palo Duro’s defense delivered its best football of the night when it mattered most. After struggling to slow Anna’s run game early, the unit tightened significantly in the fourth quarter, forcing three consecutive punts and consistently containing the Coyotes’ dual-threat quarterback. Better tackling and sharper pursuit angles helped the Dons flip field position and put the offense in position to chip away at the deficit.

That perseverance paid off when Raymond Johnson V powered in from a yard out with 3:27 remaining, pulling Palo Duro within three. Suddenly, a game that had seemed out of reach had turned into another late-game opportunity — the kind of situation the Dons had embraced and conquered earlier in the season.

A final defensive stand set up the moment every team hopes for in November: ball in hand, less than two minutes left, season hanging in the balance. Reese guided the offense near midfield, but on fourth-and-5, his rollout pass fell incomplete, sealing Anna’s 38-35 victory.

Even in defeat, the night underscored how far Palo Duro has come. The Dons finished 10-2, captured their first outright district title since 2004, and won a playoff game for the first time in a decade. More importantly, they proved they can compete with the state’s elite programs — and are closing the gap quickly.

It wasn’t the fairytale ending they authored earlier this season, but it was a fitting conclusion to a campaign defined by grit, growth, and belief. The Dons didn’t get the final chapter they wanted, but they built a foundation that promises more deep playoff runs in the years ahead.