ODESSA, Texas — High school football is a staple of West Texas.
The gridiron brings together all types of people from across the town to watch the action.
One of the yearly traditions is the Permian High School Black vs. White game at Ratliff Stadium, where parents, students and football fans come together to see what Permian football will bring to their upcoming season.
“Each team has got some new players, some new faces and some new things going on," Coffie Powell Sr. said. "In that spring game and that black and white game, it's a MOJO tradition.”
It's more than just a scrimmage game where the Permian players showcase their skills and test each other on the field.
It's a game that is etched into the tradition of the community.
“The history of the black and white game and its legacy... is this rich for the community of Odessa and Permian High School," Powell Sr. said. "This a staple in the spring for everyone to come out to see the new Permian team that's going to be taking the field in the fall to see what they look like.”
Locals weren't the only ones who came out to the game.
TV production crews for the upcoming series Landman came out to Ratliff Stadium to film some scenes for the show, bringing with them an estimated 500 extras, all donning Permian gear.
Kyle Greer is the president of a Permian High booster club and helped get booths and a barbecue set up before the game, but he didn't hear that Landman crews would be on the scene until late.
However, it was never an issue.
"It just really upped it a little bit, and that came up in the last minute," Greer said. "So we had to change some things up a little bit, but it's all love."
In fact, Permian fans and crew members for the show were more than friendly with each other, as crew members came up to Greer and others to get hamburgers, sausage wraps, and Permian merchandise.
Knowing that those crew members would be going back home to represent Permian High brought a smile to Greer's face.
"They purchase the Permian stuff and you know that they're taking it home with them," Greer said. "We've talked to some people that are from California and Los Angeles and you know there's gonna' be people wearing Permian football stuff in California; it's kind of kind of a cool thing.”
While the flashy lights and fancy show producers are exciting, the true meaning of the Black vs. White game is family.
Powell Sr. donned the Permian colors from 1996 to 1999 and now gets to see his own son put on the same uniform that he did on a field that truly represents West Texas.
“He's going out there doing what he loves to do. For me as a dad, having my wife and sister in our family is just like, wow," Powell Sr. said. "I mean, watching him play peewee, putting on the black and white with the P on his helmet, it's great. It's kind of like a dream come true.”