Friday night brings a unique, national-level flavor to Ratliff Stadium. As part of the annual Homecoming festivities on September 25, the undefeated Permian Panthers (4-0) will host the Compass Prep Dragons (1-1) traveling all the way from Chandler, Arizona.
Hailing from Chandler, Arizona, Compass Prep is a rapidly ascending football program that is coming off an 11-0 season just a year ago. The Dragons (1-1) have captured back-to-back Canyon Athletic Association Arizona state championships. That’s not a bad feat being the school has a total enrollment of 270 students (grades 7-12).
Looking to establish their brand on a regional scale, the Dragons have scheduled an aggressive, highly competitive travel itinerary that includes consecutive appearances at Ratliff Stadium with their 42-man roster.
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE DRAGONS:
– NFL Pedigree on the Sideline:
Compass Prep is led by Head Coach Jaelen Strong, who was an All-American wide receiver at Arizona State before being drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Strong spent time with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has brought a high-level culture to the Dragon program.
– The Ratliff Doubleheader:
After facing Permian for Homecoming this coming Friday, the Dragons will stick around and stay in town to prepare for an Odessa High date on October 2 back at Ratliff Stadium.
– Clash of Styles:
Permian enters the game showcasing a brutal, physical identity following the disposal of Pebble Hills. Mojo’s offensive line paved the way for the rushing attack. Compass Prep relies heavily on perimeter speed, spatial athleticism, and aggressive defensive schemes designed to stop high-flying offenses.
TEAM COMPARISONS:
Permian has tried to offer a balanced offense through its four games. The Panthers have been testing the waters and approach depending on their opponents, but have tried to keep a balance. Compass Prep, in its two games this season, ran the ball two-to-one over passing.
– POINTS: Permian is maintaining a 40.5-point average per game. The Mojo defense has been giving up an average of 24.5 points. The Compass Prep offense averages 27 points a game. Meanwhile, their defense gives up a whopping 41 a game.
– YARDAGE: The Black Cats have been producing 473 yards a game in total offense, that breaks down to 243 yards passing and 230 rushing yards. The Dragons have maintained an average of 315 yards of total offense per game (210 rushing and 105 passing).
OFFENSIVE ASSETS:
The heavy senior laden Dragons frequently run a modern quick-tempo, no-huddle Spread offense. They operate almost exclusively out of the shotgun, predominately utilizing – RB, TE, and 3 WR’s to stretch the defense horizontally. Expect a massive dose of Run-Pass Option plays. They rely heavily on quick, perimeter screens to act as an extension of their run game.
Senior Payton White (6-2, 190) has completed 20 of 41 pass attempts (49%) for 185 yards. He has thrown two TD’s with 0 interceptions. Junior Hendrix Utley (6-0, 165) may also take some snaps under center. He has completed 4 of 6 (67%) for 25 yards and a touchdown. Utley has also rushed for 64 yards from six carries.
The two main backs that shoulder the majority of carries in the run game are: Tray Parson (5-10, 200) and Pharis Jenkins (5-10, 205). Parson has nine carries for 188 yards with two touchdowns. Jenkins has accounted for 94 rushing yards from 16 carries.
Omar Sanad (5-10, 175) leads the hands group with seven receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns. He is a well-rounded athlete with good field smarts. Knolan Tyler (6-1, 175) also has seven catches for 38 yards, and Amare Walker (6-0, 170) round out the main receiving corp. Mason Penrod (6-3, 215) has skills – not only blocking but as a worthy set of hands downfield if needed.
DEFENSIVE ASSETS:
To maximize their abundant speed at the linebacker position, Compass Prep utilizes a 3-4 defensive front. They prefer an aggressive, blitz-heavy look, frequently rolling into a 3-3-5 “Stack” or “Nickel”. Their defensive philosophy relies heavily on their outside linebackers setting a hard edge to force everything back inside to their heavy defensive tackles.
The Dragon defensive interior features three aggressive linebackers. Starting on both sides of the ball as running back and linebacker, Parson has logged 14 tackles (1 TFL) and two hurries. Hyneef Thomas (6-1, 180) has recorded 13 tackles. Farrell Whittley (6-2, 185) has logged 11 tackles (3 TFL) and two sacks on his resume.
Issac Cattanach (6-4, 265) and Brady Steigler (6-5, 235) anchor an assertive defensive line. Cattanach has registered 12 tackles and five hurries. Steigler has contributed 10 tackles (2.5 TFL) and seven hurries. Greg Riddle (6-0, 175) plays at a high level in the defensive backfield. He also has a 60-yard interception return to his credit.
Jax Snyder (6-0, 185) handles the punting and kicking duties on special teams. He averages 41 yards a punt, while staying perfect in extra points and field goal attempts. Snyder is 5-for-5 in PAT’s and made both field goals of 40 and 44 yards.
GAME NOTES:
The Mojo Advantage: The Dragons’ biggest vulnerability right now is matching up against the pure, physical size of traditional Texas fronts. Pebble Hills had great size but couldn’t stop Mojo’s offensive line from opening holes for the ground game. Considering Compass Prep runs a lighter 3-4 defensive front designed to defend the pass, Permian should have a massive advantage running the ball.
The Permian defensive unit has been solid. They will need a disciplined, heavy-hitting performance to keep Compass Prep’s athletic playmakers from breaking loose on the turf. If the Panthers can control the time of possession and wear down the out-of-state visitors, the Black Cats will be in prime position to head into October with a perfect 5-0 record.
#NoTurnovers #NoPenalties
Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Come pack the stands early, participate in the Homecoming festivities, and let’s make sure the Dragons get a loud, unmistakable Texas welcome!
Taking the Fire out of the Dragon! MOJO!
