Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY / Special to Mineral Wells Area News

GORDON – Nazarene Christian Academy is a quality private school sixman football team. But the previously undefeated Lions would prove no match for the nation’s best.

Gordon quarterback Noah Kostiha threw for three touchdowns, including two to receiver Brayden Walters, Ry Reed scored three times and Stryker Reed added two more as the nationally and Texas top-ranked Longhorns claimed a 52-0 win. 

The game ended at halftime. In winning for the 31st time in its last 32 games, Gordon (4-0) has played into the fourth quarter just twice over that span of two seasons plus four games, with one of those being the third-round playoff loss that ended the 2022 campaign.

The ‘Horns wasted no time getting things rolling Friday, scoring four times in the first quarter. Kostiha’s first of two touchdown passes to Walters created the first Gordon score, going for 26 yards. The point-after try was unsuccessful.

Stryker Reed produced the second touchdown of the night on a 71-yard run. Asher Salinas booted the PAT for a 14-0 Gordon lead.

Kostiha and Walters hooked up again in the opening frame, a 9-yard toss and score followed by another Salinas PAT for a 22-0 Gordon advantage.

Ry Reed’s 20-yard run to pay dirt was his first score of the night and the last of the first quarter as Gordon went into the second frame leading 30-0.

The ‘Horns would add three scores in the second quarter, the first on Stryker Reed’s 20-yard run. Ry Reed (no relation) scored again, this time on a 64-yard romp. He and Kostiha provided the game’s final touchdown on an 18-yard scoring pass.

Once again, Gordon’s offense was highly efficient and explosive, needing just 11 offensive plays to produce the seven touchdowns while amassing 238 total yards.

Gordon ran the ball seven times. Stryker Reed had four of those touches, totaling 96 yards (24 ypc) and the two scores. Ry Reed’s two runs both ended in scores as he produced 84 ground yards (42 ypc).

Kostiha was 3-of-4 passing for 53 yards and two touchdowns, with all three completions resulting in touchdowns. He added 5 rushing yards.

Hailing from Crowley, the Lions dropped their first game of the year (3-1). Senior quarterback Aidan Adams threw for 164 yards on a 13-of-31 night, with one interception. His top target was senior back Carlos Canelos, who hauled in five catches for 76 yards. 

NCA rushed for 36 yards to total 200 yards on 43 offensive plays, but failing to find the end zone against the swarming and hard-hitting Gordon defense.

Gordon has outscored opponents 231-26 in its first four games this season.

Two games remain before Class 1A-13-1 district play begins. The ‘Horns next host Fort Worth Covenant Classical (2-1) this Friday at 7 p.m. at Longhorns Stadium. The Cavaliers are coming off a 45-0 loss to Abbott on Friday.