T-Birds show why they made playoffs

If there's such a thing as a quality loss, Palo Duro could have claimed it last weekend.

But the Dons couldn't make that statement Saturday afternoon at Dick Bivins Stadium. After opening the season with an overtime loss to Tascosa, Palo Duro was dominated from the outset and never had a chance in a 42-7 loss to El Paso Coronado.

PD coach Steve Parr didn't make excuses for his team's performance, a far cry from that in a 37-34 loss to the Rebels.

"I didn't do a very good job of getting these kids ready to play," Parr said. "We didn't play with any energy or enthusiasm. I still think we've got a much better football team than what we showed today."

The Thunderbirds, who made the Class 5A playoffs last season, established their intent from the opening kickoff, which Sam Brown returned 62 yards to PD's 30-yard line. It was just a taste of what the Dons would get from Brown, who ran for 142 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

Cole Freytag, though, was Coronado's most productive offensive weapon in the first half. Freytag, who alternated with Albert Monzon at quarterback, scored on a 1-yard run to cash in after Brown's return and followed later in the quarter with a 5-yard scoring run to make it 14-0.

The latter score also was set up by a PD kicking game breakdown as Chris Acosta muffed a punt that the Thunderbirds recovered at the PD 17.

Coronado won the fight in the trenches and was able to grind the Dons down with its running game, rushing for 322 yards.

"They're a very physical team and an excellent football team," Parr said. "We didn't match up well with them."

In their opener, the Dons ran for 348 yards and had two runners surpass 100 yards. PD picked up only 202 yards Saturday.

The Dons scored their only points midway through the fourth quarter as Ty Hicks scored on a 9-yard run.

For the second straight week, Denzel Everhart led the Dons in rushing, with 67 yards on 11 carries.

"We try to play a very, very tough nondistrict schedule," Parr said. "Last week we hung in there, but this week, (the Thunderbirds) showed us some weaknesses we really need to work on."

The biggest loss of the day for the Dons, though, might have been in personnel. Senior offensive lineman Josh Jacobo suffered a high ankle sprain early and was on crutches after the game. Parr said Jacobo will have x-rays sometime this week.