If there was any doubt about who rules District 2-5A Division II, the Palo Duro Dons delivered a pretty convincing answer Friday night.
In a battle of district unbeatens at Dick Bivins Stadium, Palo Duro turned an early deficit into a full-blown beatdown, rolling past Abilene Wylie 53-10 and taking sole possession of first place in the district standings.
The Dons weren't just good. They were dominant.
After falling behind 3-0 in the opening quarter, Palo Duro rattled off 47 unanswered points, overwhelming the Bulldogs with an explosive offense and a defense that refused to give Wylie any breathing room.
The victory improved Palo Duro to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in district play, putting the Dons firmly in the driver's seat for a second consecutive district championship.
Julian Reese II Does It All
Quarterback Julian Reese II continues to prove he's one of the most dangerous playmakers in the Texas Panhandle.
Reese got Palo Duro rolling with a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then made life miserable for Wylie while playing safety.
He intercepted Bulldogs quarterback Jadin Karleskint twice in the second quarter, setting up a pair of touchdowns that helped the Dons build a commanding 26-3 halftime lead.
Reese also delivered through the air, completing 12 of 17 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
His ability to impact the game on both sides of the football gives Palo Duro a weapon few opponents can match.
Raymond Johnson Powers the Ground Game
While Reese grabbed plenty of attention, running back Raymond Johnson made sure Wylie's defense had no answers.
Johnson rushed for 145 yards on 17 carries, scoring twice in the second quarter as Palo Duro took control.
The Dons finished with 240 rushing yards and 435 total yards, compared to just 106 for the Bulldogs.
Receiver Kyron Brown added another explosive dimension, catching four passes for 119 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown from Reese in the third quarter.
Even defensive lineman Keimaure Rayford joined the scoring party, hauling in two short touchdown receptions.
Dons Defense Makes a Statement
Palo Duro's defense was every bit as impressive as its offense.
Senior linebacker Zachary Linton delivered a monster performance, recording 15 solo tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks.
The Dons also produced one of the night's most entertaining moments when a botched extra-point attempt turned into a two-point conversion. Holder Keanan Posey scrambled before tossing the ball to Linton, who raced into the end zone.
Wylie finally ended Palo Duro's scoring streak with a late touchdown, but the Dons answered with a 28-yard scoring run by Caddyn Toombs-Jackson as time expired.
District Title Within Reach
The only major concern for Palo Duro was discipline. The Dons committed 14 penalties for 135 yards, something they'll need to clean up before the postseason.
Otherwise, there wasn't much to complain about.
Since losing their season opener to Amarillo High, the Dons have won seven straight games and appear to be getting stronger every week.
With another district championship in sight, Palo Duro is looking like a team nobody wants to face when the playoffs arrive.
