Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

Week 7 of the area high school football slate is upon us. Here is a look back at how area teams did last Friday, along with a look at what’s on tap this week.

STRAWN WINS THIRD STRAIGHT

After starting the season 1-2, the Class 1A-2 Strawn Greyhounds appear to have fully righted the ship after winning its third straight game, 75-46, against the Sidney Eagles. Sidney dropped to 4-2.

Strawn (4-2) will complete its non-district schedule this Friday traveling to nearby Ranger for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The Bulldogs are also 4-2.

Ranger narrowly lost the season opener, 49-48, at Walnut Springs but then reeled off four straight wins over Paint Rock, Perrin, Woodson and Kopperl. Three of those wins came on the road. Baird halted the Bulldogs win streak, claiming a 63-24 win at Ranger.

Having scored 286 points while allowing 258, Ranger has generally been in close, high-scoring games. Their wins over Perrin and Kopperl were both by a single point. 

Strawn, meanwhile, has found its groove the last three weeks playing faster, more aggressive and more disciplined, looking more like a team just two seasons removed from its fifth state championship. 

The Greyhounds have outscored their opponents 323-232 on the season.

The Hounds have a bye the following week before entering its crucial three-game district schedule.

SANTO SEEKS TO STOP SLIDE

Losing its fourth straight game, the Santo Wildcats can perhaps build on its two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 32-14 district-opening defeat Friday at Muenster.

The Hornets had the game in hand up 32-0 entering the fourth quarter. But the Wildcats, playing their third game without quarterback/defensive back Hut Thornton, didn’t quit. 

Quarterback Kalder Halbrook completed a 61-yard pass to Memphis Prosser for a score midway through the quarter. Santo followed it up with a kick recovery and a drive ending with a 2-yard TD by Halbrook.

The Wildcats (1-4, 0-1) had a rough start with Muenster recording a safety followed by a touchdown minutes later for a 9-0 Hornets first quarter lead. Santo’s Hunter Branham picked off a second-quarter pass, but the offense was unable to muster anything against the Muenster defense, leading to another Hornets score.

Muenster held a 24-0 halftime advantage before adding a third quarter touchdown.

Halbrook completed three of his four pass attempts for 111 yards and the score. Prosser had two catches for 90 yards with the TD. Unfortunately, the Wildcats’ ground game was stuffed by the Hornets’ defense. Santo gained just 64 yards rushing on 39 carries.

The Wildcats have a chance to end the slide this Friday, hosting the struggling Chico Dragons, which finds itself 1-5 overall and 0-2 in district after losing 49-0 Friday to Era. The Dragons have scored just 15 points in its last five games with three shutouts. Its last three opponents – Nocona, Celeste and Era – have each scored 49 points.

TOP-RANKED GORDON ROLLING

Ranked No. 1 in Class 1A-1, the undefeated Gordon Longhorns open District 9 action this Friday at Gorman. The Panthers are 1-4 on the year.

Gordon is on a streak of 15 consecutive regular season games that have ended via the Texas sixman 45-point mercy rule. That streak should easily move to 16 this wek. Gordon has a deep and talented roster that is hitting on all cylinders in all phases.

Gordon turned back Santa Anna, 56-8 last Friday at home. The Longhorns have had to play into the third quarter just once this season. The Horns have outscored their opponents 266-28.

Meanwhile Gorman has managed to score just 84 points in its five games while allowing 210, The Panthers’ win this season came over Evant. They have been shutout and mercy-ruled its last three games, which includes a 45-0 loss to Strawn, a team Gordon defeated 46-0 in the third week.

Kickoff in Gorman is set for 7:30 p.m.

WARRIORS WIN STREAK

The Mineral Wells Community Christian Warriors have won four straight after dropping their season opener. 

CCS has truly hits stride of late, especially evident two weeks ago in defeating St. Mary’s in the TCAF-District 1 opener on the strength of a sensational game by Price Horton. He was 16-of-22 passing for 324 yards and six touchdowns, ending the game with a remarkable quarterback rating of 154.4 in the private school sixman matchup.

After a bye last week, CCS (4-1, 1-0) visits St. Paul’s Prep (3-3, 2-0) this Friday. Kickoff in Arlington is set for 7 p.m.

The Lions are coming off a 58-8 win last Friday at home over Georgetown Grace Academy.

MILLSAP BACK IN ACTION

After a bye week, the Millsap Bulldogs (2-2) open Class 3A-2 District 5 play at home Friday facing 3-2 Comanche in a slated 7 p.m. game. 

After convincingly winning its first three games over Brady, Bangs and Early, the Indians have dropped their last two contests to Tolar and Albany. Comanche is outscoring opponents 195-80 on the year.

Millsap has played one fewer game because of the game at Archer City cancelled after the first quarter when thunderstorms rolled through the area.

PERRIN OPENS DISTRICT

The Perrin Pirates are winless on the season. They hope to turn their season around in their Class 1A-1 District 9 sixman opener Friday at home hosting the 3-2 Baird Bears. 

The Bears will enter Pirates Stadium fresh off a 63-24 win at Ranger last Friday. The Bears also have wins over Meadow and Moran, while losing to Robert Lee and Veribest. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.