What happened: The Permian Panthers remained undefeated Friday night with a 42-10 victory over the Midland Lee Rebels in the highly anticipated Friday Night Lights crosstown rivalry. Permian took control early, scoring three touchdowns in the first half before Lee finally found the end zone.

The Panthers led 21-7 after Lee’s first touchdown and extended their lead to 28-7 just before halftime. Permian continued its offensive dominance in the third quarter, scoring two more touchdowns to build a 42-10 lead. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter as Permian secured a 32-point victory in the district 2-6A opener.

The big picture: Permian quarterback Caden Vickers delivered an outstanding performance, completing 25 of 29 passes for 416 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Aaron Navarete caught two touchdown passes, including a 39-yard score on a trick play. Malachi Mendoza and Jace Thompson also caught touchdowns, while Caden Taylor added a 26-yard rushing score.

Lee struggled to establish offensive momentum early, punting on its first three possessions. Senior quarterback JP Reyes eventually led the Rebels on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, connecting with junior wide receiver Ja’braylen Anders for a 10-yard score. Lee added a field goal in the third quarter but could not keep pace with Permian’s offense.

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What’s next: The victory moves Permian’s record to 7-0 on the year and gives the Panthers an early advantage in District 2-6A play. Lee will look to regroup after the rivalry loss as the Rebels drop to 4-3 and continue their district schedule. Next up for the Rebels will be on the road against San Angelo Central.