Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

Two of Texas sixman football’s best, who happen to be Palo Pinto County neighbors, advanced to the area round of the UIL Class 1A playoffs after capturing bi-district crowns last week. The Gordon Longhorns and Strawn Greyhounds are alive and playing at high levels.

For Millsap, their 2023 season came to a first-round end.

Let’s review last week’s playoff action and take a look ahead at this week’s second-round action:

GORDON LONGHORNS

Playing in a chilly drizzle Thursday night in Weatherford, the top-ranked and undefeated Gordon Longhorns advanced in the Class 1A-Division I playoffs with a first-round win over Saint Jo, 64-14.

The game marked the first time this year Gordon played into the fourth quarter, ending the game on the 45-point six man mercy rule with 4:06 remaining.

The Longhorns advance to the area round and will face Milford, 68-28 winners over Penelope. The game will take place Thursday, Nov. 16, at Dublin High School. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Milford Bulldogs are 9-2, winners of District 11 with a 4-0 league mark, and will present Gordon  its toughest test to date. Coming in riding a seven-game winning streak of their own, Milford is ranked 15th in Class 1A-I by Maxpreps.

Only twice in the regular season did the Horns (11-0) play past the second quarter. Head Coach Mike Reed said playing longer and getting more players involved last week will help the team in its title chase.

“We knew they were going to be one of the best teams we played all year,” Reed said of Saint Jo afterward. “It was kind of nice because we have been going at a certain pace for a while. They have got a good football team. Very, very well-coached. They are a familiar opponent. We have had to play them the last two years.”

Gordon is 24-1 since the start of the 2022 season.

Milford averages 58.8 points per game to 56.5 for Gordon. The Bulldogs have scored 647 points in their 11 games, compared to 622 by Gordon. A big difference is in points allowed. Milford has allowed 310 points on the season, or 28.1 ppg, to just 58 points allowed by the Gordon defense, an average of 5.2 ppg.

The teams have one common opponent this season in Gorman. Milford defeated the Panthers, 55-0, while Gordon took a 61-0 win.

The winner will advance to the quarterfinals round to play the winner of the Abbott vs. Union Hill game.

STRAWN GREYHOUNDS

For the second consecutive week, the Strawn Greyhounds used a dominant second half to win. The first one got them in the playoffs, the second earned them a bi-district crown and advancement to the area round.

The Hounds last Friday defeated Throckmorton, 67-36, at Buckaroo Stadium in Breckenridge. Strawn (8-3) entered the game runners up in District 8-1A-II and took down the winners of District 7-1A-II. Throckmorton ended their season 6-5 overall record after going 4-0 in district.

Strawn scored on offense and defense, including a safety and fumble returned for a score. Special teams got in on the fun with a punt block.

Strawn held a slim 22-20 lead at the half, but outscored Throckmorton 45-16 in the second half, including a meaningless touchdown on the game’s last play, to bring home the bi-district trophy.

The Hounds will take on the Jayton Jaybirds, ranked by Maxpreps as the No. 1 team in Class 1A-II and the third-ranked six man team in the nation. 

The Jaybirds are 11-0, and enter this week’s game on the heels of a 61-16 win over Crowell. They have won back-to-back District 5 titles. On the season the Jaybirds are averaging 58.6 points per game while allowing just 11.2 ppg.

While Strawn is playing its best football of the year over its last three games, and are a playoff-savvy team under Head Coach Dewaine Lee, they will have to play near flawlessly on both sides of the ball and on kickoffs if the Hounds are to keep their season alive.

The teams face off Friday, Nov. 17, at Trent High School with kickoff set for 7 p.m. The victor will play the Newcastle vs. Benjamin winner.

MILLSAP BULLDOGS

Millsap’s season ended in a Friday night bi-district playoff round loss to Wichita Falls City View by a score of 38-15.

It was a tough end to the season for the Bulldogs, losing their last three games. Millsap (5-5) finished the regulars season as runners up in District 5-3A-2, setting up the first round game against WFCV, which finished third in District 6-3A-2.

City View’s defense was able to keep Millsap’s potent offensive attack in check. Bulldogs junior quarterback CR Tippie was just 4-of-12 passing for 33, with 30 of those yards coming on one completion to senior receiver Kai Hanog.

The Bulldogs were limited to 108 yards rushing, led by Hanog’s 81 yards on nine carries with a touchdown. Junior Reid Green had 72 yards on 19 touches with a touchdown. Two lost fumbles hurt Millsap. Sacks and tackles for losses also hurt the Bulldogs, as Tippie had minus 41 yards.

Among the Millsap seniors who played their last game were Hanog, Tripp Moore, Caden Pitt and Noah Perricone.