Odessa Permian wide receiver Melvis Pride said life in Odessa is "kind of like the old days now."

"Stands are packed every game," he said. "It can be negative-32 degrees, and fans will still show up."

Pride and his Permian teammates fondly recall sold-out Ratliff Stadium for their Sept. 15 showdown with Euless Trinity. Permian routed Trinity, 30-3, in front of a national television audience.

Permian (12-0) and Trinity (11-1) meet again today – this time in a 5A Division I Region I semifinal in Abilene.

Trinity will be playing for redemption; Permian will be playing to show it's as good as its record indicates.

"There's a fine line between being great and being average," Permian coach Darren Allman said. "If we don't play at a very high level [today], we're a really average team. That won't get it done against Trinity."

Gary Gaines, now the athletic director for the Lubbock ISD, still follows his old school. Gaines was Permian's coach from 1986 to 89 – the period associated with the Friday Night Lights book and movie.

"They're undefeated and ranked high. I know there's a lot of excitement and enthusiasm there," Gaines said. "Coach Allman's done a great job resurrecting the program."

Permian's undefeated season has fans recalling the mighty "Mojo" teams of the '80s. The program won three state championships (1980, 1984 and 1989) and claimed a mythical national championship in 1989.

But recent times have been tougher. Permian advanced three rounds deep in 2006, but before that, it hadn't made the playoffs since 1998.

Today, Permian bids to qualify for its first regional final in 12 seasons. It will tangle with another highly respected program in Trinity, a team that won a state title two years ago.

In the game earlier this season, five Trinity turnovers were a big part of the 27-point difference.

"It's going to be a war this time. We're not expecting anything less than that," Permian quarterback Taylor Byrd said. "Both teams have gotten better, and we know they've wanted this game for a long time."

Trinity has been dominant since its loss to Permian. The team's defense, led by lineman Mao Leota, has allowed only 51 points since. Permian has recorded five shutouts, including a 31-0 bi-district playoff win against Arlington Martin.

Employing a run-oriented attack, Trinity is averaging 36.2 points since the loss. It beat Lewisville, 42-17, last week while compiling 470 yards.

Permian has been just as impressive. Led by Byrd, Pride and running back Jamison Berryhill, the team is averaging 45.2 points. Permian has scored 50 or more points four times, including 60 in a bi-district playoff win against Mansfield.

A win today would give Permian the most wins in a season since the 1991 state championship team went 16-0. It also could answer the question many in the Dallas-Fort Worth have asked.

Is Mojo back?

"Trinity's a very good program, and they can really hand it to us if we're not ready to play," Allman said. "We have to be at our best."

5A Division I Region I semifinal: Odessa Permian (12-0) vs. Euless Trinity (11-1), 2 p.m. today, Abilene's Shotwell Stadium