Gordon has its eyes on the big prize
By DAVID MAY
Special to Mineral Wells Area News
Mercy!
That was theme for the Gordon Longhorns last season as they steamrolled their way through a perfect regular season, outscoring and mercy-ruling overmatched opponents by a cumulative 542-111 in their first 10 games.
The dominance continued into the post-season as the Horns easily dispatched Saint Jo, 62-16, in the first round. It was Game 12 when Gordon met its first real test, one it passed by beating Blum, 52-48, to set up a big regional finalist-round game against Abbott. The Panthers ended the Longhorns’ playoff run, 32-
Abbott went on to play in the Class 1A Six-Man Division I championship game at AT&T Stadium, falling hard to Westbrook.
The Longhorns won their first 12 games of 2022, but it will no doubt be the taste and feel of Game 13 that will motivate them in 2023. Pre-season prognosticators have Gordon and Abbott on course to meet again this season in the playoffs.
With nine lettermen, five offensive starters and all six defensive starters returning, Gordon is ranked as high as No. 2 in pre-season polls – behind Westbrook, the team predicted to once again win it all. Gordon has other ideas.
But there is a lot of football to be played first. Head Coach Mike Reed has his Horns locked and loaded, aiming to not only repeat as District 9-Class 1A-Division I champs but win its first state title since 1999.
Not only are the Horns coming off a 12-1 season and in position to win a state title, they will do it with a host of talented and fast sophomores throughout their roster, complimenting a small cast of juniors and seniors.
Among the young Horns to watch are Riley (QB/RB/FS) and Stryker Reed (RB/SS) and Brayden Walters (WR/DE), all electric sophomores who will put a charge into Gordon’s explosive offense. Others to watch this season are QB Noah Kostiha, another sophomore, junior lineman Juan Cabrera, senior QB/MLB Whit Fuller – and take your pick up and down this loaded and talented roster.
Gordon opens its season Aug. 25 hosting Throckmorton at Longhorns Stadium. After a neutral-site game against Garden City, rivals Strawn Greyhounds make the short trip to Gordon for a Sept. 9 tilt in the annual six-man showdown that has tilted strongly in Gordon’s favor. Gordon defeated Strawn, 52-6, last year on the ‘Hounds turf.
Two more non-district games against Live Oak Classical and Santa Anna will set up the district opener at Gorman on Oct. 6. The Horns are then scheduled play Bryson, Lingleville and Baird before the regular-season finale at home against Perrin Whitt on Nov. 3.
If Gordon can stay healthy (a relative term for any team late in the season but especially true in six-man football) they could very well find themselves in Arlington, Texas, in mid-December, looking to bring home the hardware.
