Deuce & the Dons: Julian Reese II and Palo Duro take their Historic Season into the Playoffs
- Austin Hartsfield
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
After winning just 9 games combined the last two seasons, Palo Duro flipped the script and ripped off 9 consecutive wins in 2025, giving the Dons their first District Championship since 2004 and first outright title since 2001. It's only the seventh time in school history that the Dons have reached the nine 9 win mark.
The season didn't start exactly as the Dons envisioned, as the offense was shut out by cross-town rival Tascosa in a game in which the defense only gave up 10 points all night. Since that day, junior quarterback Julian Reese II, commonly referred to as "Deuce," and the Dons' offense haven't looked back, turning it up to another level, averaging 44 points a game and never scoring less than 35 points the rest of the way. Even in the school's best years, they weren't scoring points like they currently are under Head Coach Eric Mims.
In his second year as a starter Reese has put the city on notice, generating 35 touchdowns this season with his arm, legs, and instincts. The Junior has made the jump this year and it has a lot to do with having another year of experience under his belt and making sure that the ball stays with Palo Duro.
"The way he takes care of ball now is huge." Julian Reese, Deuce's father who won championships as a quarterback (Intense Football League) and a coach (Lone Star Football League) said of his son only having 3 turnovers the whole season. "He's not forcing the ball. He's actually going through his progressions reading defenses. He watches a lot of film and its shown up out there."
There are times in games that Reese will make the game look really easy. To give an example in the game against Lubbock-Cooper in enemy territory the junior quarterback turned what looked like a loss into a first down after reversing field near one sideline before finishing on the other sideline and extending a Dons drive that would result in a score. Every point would matter in that matchup as it would be one of the tighter contests of the season, Palo Duro needed a touchdown with under three minutes to go in the game and Reese delievered a game winning touchdown to fellow junior Kyron Brown to give them back the lead for good.
"From middle school I could tell he was going to take over the game, and be the face of the program. I saw how he out performed everybody on defense, offense, and even special teams sometimes I just knew he was a star in the making." Palo Duro wide reciever and linebacker Kyron Brown said. "He is a great leader. He always gets the team to see eye to eye in our darkest moments, is very respectful to the coaches and players around him, handles constructive criticism well and always answers the call when pressured."
Reese has an assortment of weapons on this team, headlined by University of North Carolina commit Senior Darien Lewis, a former quarterback himself turned wide receiver/running back, who leads the Dons in receiving yards per game and total touchdowns with 13 (as well as 1 passing and 1 punt return), putting him just ahead of running back Raymond Johnson who has 10 trips to the end zone of his own this year.
Reese not only has made an impact on offense but on the defensive side of the ball as well at saftey.
“I think it helps him a lot because now he's visualizing what he would run against certain coverages, and I think that carries over to defense too." Dons Defensive Coordinator Dannie Snyder said of Reese. "He knows what knows what we would call against certain formations and he sees the tendencies. Now he's learning from both perspectives. Not only that but Coach (Eric) Mims does a great job preparing him throughout the week for that.”
Reese scored the Dons first points of the season against Caprock by taking a pass to the house to kick off the scoring in a game that he would eventually rack up six touchdowns (1 on the pick six, 4 through the air, and 1 on the ground).
As good as the Palo Duro offense has been, the defense deserves their flowers as well. The Dons defense has allowed just 17 points a game, holding an Amarillo Sandies team that was 8-2 on the field this season to season low 14 points. They are led in tackles by senior linebacker Keima'j Barnes, while also being populated with other familiar faces from the offensive side of the ball like Reese, Lewis, Brown, and Johnson. After 3.5 sacks his freshman year for the Dons defensive lineman Keimaure Rayford like Reese has taken a leap of his own leading Palo Duro's defense with 6 sacks in 2025 tied with Brown.
"The biggest jump in my eyes is Keimaure Rayford." Coach Snyder said." He's a sophomore defensive lineman that can play inside or outside. He can pass rush and he can stop the run. He's been very consistent on a week to week basis, and not only that but he just received two division one offers last week (October) for a reason. He is playing out his mind right now the kid is good and he's going get better."
The road to State starts tonight for Palo Duro (9-1) as Reese and the Dons try to collect their second gold ball of the season against El Paso Hanks (6-4) at Dick Bivins Stadium, kicking off at 6:00 PM.
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