AREA FOOTBALL REVIEW / PREVIEW
By DAVID MAY
Special to Mineral Wells Area News
No. 8 Graham visits Mineral Wells in key area matchup; No. 1 Gordon rolls again Strawn and CCS also claim Week 4 wins
Mineral Wells and Strawn bounced back from prior-week losses, Community Christian School cruised to its third straight win and the top-ranked Gordon Longhorns just keep on a-rolling through its competition.
Week 4 wasn’t as kind to Santo, Millsap and Perrin. Following is a look back and a look ahead for area high school football teams.
MINERAL WELLS RAMS
After winning their first two games of the season, first-year head coach Cody Worrell and his staff wondered how the Rams would respond after losing to Benbrook.
Question answered.
The Rams gave their homecoming crowd a lot to cheer about in rolling up the Sanger Indians, 48-10, on Friday night.
Jovan Ramirez had a hand in four of the Rams’ touchdowns, beginning with a 74-yard fumble return on Sanger’s opening possession. On offense, the senior running back had touchdown runs of 74 and 53 yards, and a 53-yard TD pass to tight end Kaidin Kaspar. Ramirez accounted for 156 of Mineral Wells’ 317 rushing yards on the night.
The defense was also stellar, limiting the Indians (1-3) to 191 total yards and one touchdown, that coming in the fourth quarter with the game’s outcome long decided.
The Rams (3-1) stay home this week as the undefeated Graham Steers (4-0), ranked eighth in Maxpreps’ current Class 4A-2 poll, comes to town for a non-district contest. Graham soundly defeated Iowa Park, 67-6, on Friday. The Steers also have decisive wins over Glen Rose, Springtown and Bowie.
Kickoff at Ram Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
GORDON LONGHORNS
For the 14th consecutive time in regular season action and the 20th time in its last 21 regular season tilts, the Gordon Longhorns failed to play a full four quarters. That’s because those games were all wins that halted by Texas sixman football’s 45-point rule.
Ranked No. 1 in Class 1A-1, the Longhorns on Friday once again turned the lights off early with a 58-8 win over Live Oak Classical (1-3) in Waco. The game was called at halftime.
Gordon (4-0) was their usual efficient self on offense and dominating on defense. The Longhorns needed just 21 offensive plays, netting 288 total yards – a balanced attack producing 140 rushing yards and 148 yards passing. Live Oak mustered just 116 yards on the night.
The Longhorns put up 34 first quarter points. It began with a Whit Fuller pass to receiver Brayden Walters that went for 25 yards and a score. Juan Cabrera’s conversion kick made it 8-0 early.
Live Oak saw a deep snap sail through the back of the end zone for a safety and a 10-0 Gordon advantage. Quarterback Riley Reed then ran the ball 24 yards to the house to put the ‘Horns up 18-0.
The big play of the night came when Gordon quarterback Noah Kostiha connected with Walters for a 60-yard touchdown and a 26-0 lead. Aiden Shank completed the first quarter scoring frenzy with a 3-yard run.
The second quarter saw Live Oak complete a 39-yard pass for a touchdown to make it a 34-8 contest. Gordon cranked it back up from that point.
Reed scored his second TD of the night on a 49-yard run. Kostiha threw his second touchdown pass, hitting Fuller on an 11-yard toss. Shank scored his second rushing touchdown on a 13-yard jaunt to the end zone.
Cabrera converted all seven of his point-after attempts to rack up 14 points of his own.
Kostiha went 3-for-3 passing for 123 yards and the two scores. Walters had three receptions for 137 yards (45.7 ypc) and two touchdowns. Reed led all rushers with 118 yards on just seven touches (16.9 ypc) with his two scores.
The ‘Horns have a bye this week before playing Santa Anna in their last non-district game before the district slate begins.
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
The Warriors came out to play Friday night, defeating CenTex Home School, 61-27. The big question on Friday was where the teams would play.
With their normal home field unavailable this year because of the harsh summer conditions, CCS arranged to play their home games this season at Weatherford Christian School. Their first scheduled home game was Friday.
But heavy rains earlier in the day forced a stadium change as WCS did not want their natural grass turf damaged. CCS Athletics Director Brian Rodricks scrambled and was able to secure use of Trinity Christian Academy’s stadium in Willow Park, playing on its artificial turf.
Sophomore running back Hayden Yelverton led the Warriors with four touchdowns. Quarterback Price Horton scored twice and threw for two more to lead CCS to its third straight win.
The Warriors open district play Friday hosting St. Mary’s in Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship District 1 action. The game is scheduled to be played at Weatherford Christian School with a 7 p.m. start.
SANTO WILDCATS
With their senior quarterback and team leader Hut Thornton lost for the season, the Santo Wildcats fell Friday on the road to Rio Vista, 27-0.
It was the Wildcats’ third straight loss, while the Eagles collected their first win of the season.
Thornton sustained a serious knee injury while attempting a sideline tackle late in Santo’s loss the previous week against Hamilton.
The Wildcats hurt themselves with an interception and a fumble returned for touchdowns. Rio Vista freshman quarterback Tate Conley threw for two more scores.
Santo’s defense played well overall, limiting the Eagles to 227 total yards, including just 70 on the ground. But the Wildcats’ offense, behind backup quarterback Kalder Halbrook, was unable to find the end zone while giving up the two defensive scores.
Santo (1-3) gets a much-needed bye this week and will prepare for its district opener Sept. 29 at Muenster, which also currently stands at 1-3 after losing Friday at Pottsboro, 28-7.
MILLSAP BULLDOGS
The Millsap Bulldogs did not enjoy a night in Paradise. The Bulldogs fell Friday to the undefeated Panthers, 49-7, dropping their record to 1-2 on the season.
Millsap’s lone touchdown came with 2 minutes left in the opening quarter and already trailing 21-0. Quarterback CR Tippie connected with receiver Kai Hanog for the score to pull the Bulldogs to within 21-7. But Paradise answered with its fourth TD of the opening frame.
Paradise (4-0) set the tone early with touchdowns on its first two possessions, followed by an interception returned for a touchdown to go up three scores before Millsap was able to get on the board.
The Panthers added two more touchdowns in the second quarter to carry a 42-7 lead into halftime. A third quarter touchdown rounded out the scoring.
Tippie finished 6-of-10 passing for 105 yards with the touchdown and interception. Reid Green led Millsap’s rushers, tallying 86 yards on 13 carries. Millsap finished with 158yards on the ground. Two fumbles were costly for Millsap.
Tripp Moore had three receptions for 70 yards, while Hanog had two receptions for 30 yards with the lone Bulldogs touchdown.
Millsap will round out its non-district slate at home Friday facing the Clifton Cubs. Clifton(2-2) will arrive at Bulldog Stadium coming off a 35-7 loss to McGregor. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs will then have a bye week before opening district action Oct. 6 hosting Comanche.
STRAWN GREYHOUNDS
The Greyhounds quickly rebounded from their previous week’s loss to rival Gordon with a 45-0 non-district win at home over Gorman.
With the win, Strawn improves to 2-2 on the season.
Strawn hosts the Rotan Yellowhammers in a non-district game this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The Yellowhammers have a 1-2 record after a 44-39 win last week over Woodson.
PERRIN PIRATES
The Perrin Pirates were overwhelmed at home Friday by the Covington Owls, losing 48-0. The game ended in the third quarter via the Texas sixman 45-point rule.
The win was Covington’s first this season.
Perrin (0-4) travels to face Azle Christian (3-1) this Friday for a scheduled 7 p.m. start. The Fighting Crusaders last week defeated Greenville Christian, 51-0.
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