Snyder topples Palo Duro

Maybe Saturday afternoon just isn't a good time in general for the Palo Duro football team.

For the second Saturday in a row, the Dons took to the field at Dick Bivins Stadium, and for the second Saturday in a row they came out with a decisive loss. Palo Duro couldn't get untracked early offensively against Snyder, and didn't catch up after falling behind in the second quarter en route to a 26-6 loss.

It was eerily similar to the previous Saturday's 42-7 loss to El Paso Coronado, in which the Dons (0-3) fell behind early and didn't get on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, well after the issue had been decided. Palo Duro coach Steve Parr had a hard time finding a silver lining after the defeat, as the Dons stayed in the lockerroom for an extended period following the game, with most players wordlessly exiting.

"Everything's a major concern right now," Parr said. "The mistakes we're making are all big concerns. I thought we worked on some things but success won't come until you make things happen on the field."

Neither offense particularly distinguished itself in the first quarter, as both teams were forced to punt after their first two possessions. But after Palo Duro's second possession, a bad snap got away from punter Luis Portillo, who was tackled at the Palo Duro 28-yard line.

Eight plays later, Kelton Garcia scored on a 3-yard run to give Snyder a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter, marking the first of three straight possessions the Tigers would score following a Palo Duro miscue.

Two lost fumbles cost the Dons on their next two possessions, which concluded with a pair of touchdown passes by Snyder's Keenon Ward, who hit Nick Zajicek for a 26-yard score one play after Zajicek recovered a fumble by Palo Duro's Ty Hicks. Later in the quarter, Ward connected with Anthony Taylor from 51 yards to make it 19-0 before halftime.

"They're a very good football team," Parr said of the Tigers. "They did some things on defense which we could take advantage of but we didn't. You can't have three turnovers and expect to win the game."

The Dons finally moved the ball effectively in the second half, but not enough to make a dent in the deficit. They averted a shutout when Hicks scored on a 5-yard run with 37 seconds left.

Hicks was a bright spot offensively, leading Palo Duro with 95 yards on 20 carries.

Ward, a sophomore, was the best offensive player on the field this day. In addition to throwing for 124 yards and two touchdowns, he ran for a game-high 97 yards on 18 carries, including an 8-yard scoring run in the third quarter which essentially clinched the game.

The Dons now must go back to the drawing board.

"We've got to be able to finish and have a little more confidence in each other," Parr said. "These kids have worked for a long time without getting a paycheck and that only comes in the form of a victory."