Mineral Wells Area News

Steers record fourth-straight shutout

By DAVID MAY / Special to Mineral Wells Area News

GRAHAM – Mineral Wells became the fourth-straight team – sixth on the season – unable to score on the Graham Steers, falling 37-0 Friday night at Newton Stadium. It was the second consecutive game in which the Rams failed to put points on the board.

It was a rough start for Mineral Wells, and it rarely got better as the game went on. The Rams’ defense fought to keep the game close through the first half, but eventually mistakes and the inability to gain offensive traction proved too much to overcome.

“I was really proud, honest to God, with all of the mistakes that we made in the first half, our kids kept fighting. I told the kids if we want to have a chance to try and win the game we have to play a perfect game,” Rams head coach Cody Worrell said afterward. “No matter how bad things were going, and they got bad, our kids fought for four quarters and I’m proud of them.”

Now with ranked Class 4A-2 foes Brock and Graham in the rearview mirror, the Rams (5-3, 1-2) must focus ahead with two important district games remaining and their goal of making the playoffs for the first time since 2021 in front of them. Mineral Wells currently sits in third place in six-team District 3. The top four teams advance.

A win this Friday over first-year program Eagle Mountain will lock up a playoff berth. A loss will make matters, similar to last season, more tenuous. Eagle Mountain is also 1-2 in district, 3-5 overall, after losing, 16-10, to Bridgeport on Friday. The Bulls also own a 1-2 district mark, including a loss to Mineral Wells.

The Rams then close the regular season at Burkburnett (0-3, 1-7). Brock battered the Bulldogs on Friday, 80-13. The district title is on the line this week when Brock travels to Graham.

“It’s been a hellacious two weeks,” Worrell said. “I told the guys at the coach’s breakfast (Friday) morning that guys across the state said you might go to the state championship game and not play two tougher back-to-back games than you are playing right now. I told our kids that. We’ve got to get better. We’ve got to win. Next week is the most important game on our schedule right now.”

Six sacks by the Steers resulted in a net of only 1 yard rushing by the Rams. Mineral Wells quarterback Owen Gadd threw for 116 yards, with receiver Preztynn Harrison accounting for 72 of those on two catches. Graham totaled 253 yards, including just 79 passing yards.

The Rams surrendered a safety on the game’s opening possession when quarterback Gadd was dragged down in the end zone while trying to roll left and escape on a third-down pass play from inside the 5-yard line.

A long kickoff return by Graham was nullified by a holding call. A tackle for a loss on second down helped force Graham to punt on its first possession.

The Rams’ offense appeared ready to respond. On second down from its 9, Gadd connected with Harrison for 57 yards to Graham’s 39. Another 10 yards was gained on a pass from Gadd to running back Kayden Montalvo.

Operating from the Steers’ 24, Gadd threw a pass that was picked off by Jayton Hearne. A facemask call against Mineral Wells was added and Graham’s offense was in business near midfield. Seven plays later, Graham running back Rylan Monsey scored on a 9-yard run for a 9-0 Steers lead late in the opening quarter.

Mineral Wells’ offense went three-and-out on its next possession. The Steers took the ball at its 23 early in the second quarter. Picking up two first downs, its nine-play drive was stopped on fourth down by the Rams’ defense at Mineral Wells’ 35.

The Rams were again unable to collect a first down and were forced to punt from its 33. A high snap caused Michael Borjon to leap as high as he could to collect it and try to get off a running kick that took several short hops and was recovered at the Rams’ 18. The Steers needed just three plays before Monsey ran in for another score and a 16-0 advantage.

With just under 5 minutes before halftime, the Mineral Wells’ offense revved up. Montalvo had a 12-yard run on the first play. Gadd found Holden Hering for 20 yards and another first down at the Rams’ 46. Another completion to Hering had Mineral Wells in Steers’ territory.

But consecutive sacks sent the Rams backward. A Gadd keeper was followed by the third Steers’ sack in four plays, sending the teams to intermission.

As he did against Brock, Worrell rolled the dice and called an onside kick to open the third quarter. Graham recovered and promptly fumbled on second down. The recovery by Kayson Jenkins set the Rams up at Graham’s 36-yard line. Mineral Wells moved to the Steers’ 28 and attempted a field goal that was blocked to keep it a 16-0 game.

Punts followed on the next three possessions – two by Graham and one by Mineral Wells. The second Graham punt pinned Mineral Wells at their own 4. Gadd was hit and fumbled in the end zone, recovered by Graham for a touchdown a 23-0 lead late in the third quarter.

Mineral Wells was again forced to punt. Starting from its 46, Graham hit on a 45-yard pass to the 1-yard line. A fumble on the next play was recovered by the Steers. Quarterback Ty Thompson ran it in from the 2 for a 30-0 advantage with the third-quarter clock expiring.

The Rams were agin forced to punt early in the fourth. A Thompson 34-yard run on third-and-9 was followed by another Monsey score for the final 37-0 margin.