Mineral Wells Area News

Santo’s big win over Chico boosts ‘Cats playoff hopes

By DAVID MAY / Special to Mineral Wells Area News

After a strong effort last week by the Mineral Wells Rams defense against a high-powered Brock offense, can they repeat that performance against another ranked district foe?

If the Rams are to corral Class 4A-2’s 15th-ranked Graham Steers (6-1, 2-0), they will have to. A win would put Mineral Wells (5-2, 1-1) in control of second place in District 3-4A-2.

Ranked 27th, Mineral Wells is coming off a hard-fought 21-0 loss to then No. 2-ranked Brock Eagles. The Rams’ defense held Brock to 14 points, 31 points below the Eagles’ scoring average entering the contest. The loss snapped a modest four-game home win streak and marked the first time Mineral Wells was shutout in 54 games, dating back to 2019.

The Rams had little time to dwell on what could have been last Friday as they will once again have their hands full this Friday in Graham (7 p.m. kickoff.) Graham defeated the Rams, 55-7, last season.

The Steers are riding high, coming off a 56-0 hammering Friday of the Bridgeport Bulls for their fifth consecutive win. The final marked the Steers’ third straight shutout and fourth in their last five games while scoring more than 50 points in each of those four contests. The Steers’ defense has posted five shutouts this year.

Graham is allowing an average of just 7 points per game while scoring, on average, 46 points per outing.

The Steers’ offense is led by Ty Thompson. Last week he threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns while scoring two more rushing. Running back Jace Gill ran for 165 total yards and two touchdowns. Graham rushed for 231 yards on the Bulls.

Santo in the post-season hunt

The Santo Wildcats greatly increased their post-season hopes with a 42-7 win Friday at Chico.

Santo scored two touchdowns in both the first and second quarters, followed by single scores in the third and fourth quarters. Chico was able to break the scoreboard egg with a fourth-quarter touchdown.

The win improved the Wildcats to 4-3 on the year and 1-1 in District 8-2A-2, putting them in fourth place in the six-team district. Behind Santo in the standings are Chico and Lindsay, both 0-2 in district with three weeks remaining. Santo plays at Lindsay (4-3) in two weeks.

In the meantime, the ‘Cats will have a pre-Halloween visit Friday from the Muensters – make that Muenster. The Hornets (5-2) are tied for first with Collinsville (7-0), each with 2-0 records. Era and Santo are both 1-1, with Era holding an edge over Santo.

The Wildcats close the regular season hosting Collinsville, currently ranked No. 1 in Class 2A-2. A win over Muenster this Friday will go a long way to securing Santo’s playoff hopes. Era takes on Collinsville this Friday.

Santo’s game against Lindsay next week will likely be a must-win game to secure no worse than fourth place and avoid missing the post-season for two consecutive seasons.

Kickoff Friday evening at Wildcats Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

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Gordon goes bye this week

After hammering Ranger, 54-0, last Friday, the Gordon Longhorns (8-0, 2-0) will take this week off, a great chance to heal up and prepare for the final two weeks of the regular season and then their playoff push hoping to repeat as Class 1A-1 state champs.

The ‘Horns are the nation’s top-ranked six-man team. Gordon hosts Baird on Nov. 1, a team sitting in second place at 5-2 on the year and, like Gordon, 2-0 in district. The Bears take on Ranger this week.

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Strawn begins district stretch

After two weeks with no scheduled games, the well-rested 4-2 Strawn Greyhounds return to action Friday hosting Throckmorton, winless on the year in its first seven games.

The scheduled 7:30 p.m. game is a rematch of last year’s bi-district playoff game between the schools, won by Strawn, 67-36.

With Moran and Woodson also remaining on the schedule, the Wildcats are in a strong position to win district for the first time since 2021, when the ‘Hounds went undefeated to win the school’s fifth Class 1A-2 state title.

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CCS hosts Hill County

The Community Christian School Warriors have two games left on its schedule, beginning with Friday’s slated contest hosting Hill County.

After having to forfeit last week’s game against Faustina, CCS hopes to be able to take their home Optimist Field for this week’s 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Warriors are 5-4 on the year and 0-2 in their Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations private school six-man league. Hill County sits at 2-6 on the year and 1-2 in district action.