Rams’ late rally falls short at Gatesville
By David May
Special to Mineral Wells Area News
GATESVILLE – The Mineral Wells Rams dropped a hard-fought game Friday at Gatesville, 28-21, a game in which the Rams led in the second quarter and were tied going into the fourth before they found themselves having to battle back from two scores down.
Battle back they did. But in the end they ran out of time and chances.
The much-improved Rams completed their non-district slate with a 3-3 record while Gatesville moved to 4-2 on the season. Mineral Wells begins their Class 4A-1 District 4 schedule this Friday at Wichita Falls.
Photo By MWHS Student Council
It was an exciting contest with the teams trading touchdowns throughout the first half. Gatesville got on the board first midway through the opening quarter on a 2-yard run to take a 7-0 lead.
The Rams took the ensuing kickoff starting at its own 24-yard line. A big run by running back Jose Garcia and a pass from quarterback Owen Gadd to Kayden Montalvo put the Rams in business at the Hornets’ 28. A facemask call against Gatesville aided the Rams’ drive. With the first quarter winding down, Gadd hit receiver Preztynn Harrison for a touchdown to knot the game at 7 apiece.
Early in the second quarter, the Rams’ defense stopped the Hornets on fourth down at midfield. That led to Montalvo taking a pitch from Gadd. Sweeping to the right, Montalvo broke into the Hornets’ secondary and raced down the far sideline untouched for a 52-yard score to put the Rams up 14-7.
Gatesville answered with about 4 minutes remaining in the half with a rushing touchdown that left the teams tied at 14 going into the halftime break.
The teams played a scoreless third quarter. That changed early in the fourth when the Hornets scored on a rushing TD to go ahead 21-14.
Mineral Wells was moving the ball on its next possession when Gadd was picked off by Sean Aguilar to give Gatesville the ball at Mineral Wells’ 42. Gadd attempted a deep throw into double coverage, a throw Gadd undoubtedly wanted to have back.
Gatesville drove the ball to inside the Rams’ 5 and scored on a 2-yard run to go up 28-14 with about 4 minutes to play.
The Rams didn’t go away quietly as Gadd directed a drive that ended with a touchdown toss to tight end Kaidin Kaspar to pull to within 28-21 with under a minute to play. Gatesville recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock on the Rams.
Mineral Wells’ defense played well overall, limiting the Hornets’ potent ground attack to 174 yards on 38 carries. Gatesville attempted just three passes on the night, completing one for 8 yards.
Gadd completed 57 percent of his passes for 90 yards with two touchdowns. He also had one interception.
Montalvo came up a yard short of the rushing century mark, totaling 99 yards on just seven carries, a 14.1 ypc average.
Harrison hauled in five catches for 51 yards with the early touchdown to lead Rams’ receivers.
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