Inside the Program: In the wake of tragedy, the Pecos Eagles make history

As the final seconds trickled off of the scoreboard at Midland’s Grande Communications Stadium, players for the victorious Pecos Eagles began to grab water bottles, discard the cap, and launch the liquid into the air. The sideline was turned into a water park — an impromptu rain storm to celebrate the Eagles’ 45-0 victory over Levelland in the first round of the 4A Division II playoffs.

The stands were not much different: not only had a large contingent of Pecos’ 10,000-or-so residents made the two-hour trip to Midland on this Friday night, but a fair amount of Pecos ex-pats who now call the Midland-Odessa area home had come to watch. The result was a crowd that surprised even coach Chad Olson.