Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY / Special to Mineral Wells Area News

Photos By Amy Meyer

Mineral Wells ends a successful season with 7-4 mark

WEATHERFORD – Spotting a football often comes down to whether the side judge uses their left foot, or their right, to mark the point of forward progress. The Mineral Wells Rams apparently got a right foot spot and were left one inch short of their effort to mount a game-winning fourth-quarter drive before losing a hard-fought contest to the Benbrook Bobcats, 35-24, in a Class 4A-2 bi-district game Friday night at Weatherford’s Roo Stadium.

The questionable spot came on a critical fourth-and-one play with Mineral Wells trailing Benbrook, 28-24, with just four minutes to play. The Rams were operating at their 28-yard line. Fullback Trayvon Berkins took a handoff and plowed into the line, pushing forward along with his teammates trying to pick up that much-needed 3-feet of real estate. A measurement showed the ball’s placement a few blades of turf grass short, turning the ball over to the Bobcats as the Mineral Wells coaching staff pleaded their case on the mark to the officials.

Benbrook was then able to score the game’s decisive touchdown, putting the Rams in an 11-point hole with 1:30 remaining. A deep-ball ball by Mineral Wells quarterback Owen Gadd from midfield was picked off near the end zone to allow the ‘Cats (10-1) to kneel and seal the deal, advancing to face Greenwood.

The game marked Mineral Wells’ first playoff appearance since 2021. They end the season with a 7-4 record, taking a step this season head coach Cody Worrell hopes will propel his program going forward.

“I hate it for our kids that it came down to that,” said Worrell of the critical fourth-down call. “But I am so proud of our kids and the way they fought all year. Especially these seniors. I can’t brag on these seniors enough. They are a special group. They are some great kids and they gave it their all. They led our team. They did a fantastic job all season.”

Worrell felt his team positioned itself to mount a late game-winning drive, but it wasn’t to be.

“We capitalized down there and made a field goal to make it 28-24,” he said. “We knew we were going to have to get a stop either way. They made plays. We got them to punt and got to a fourth-and-short and ran the play and thought we had the first down. We got a questionable spot. … It is what it is and we’ve just got to learn from it.”

Completing his second season as Mineral Wells’ head coach, Worrell said a third-place finish in a district with two top-ranked Class 4A-2 powerhouses and making the playoffs is an achievement he hopes his team will build from.

“It’s a big step forward and the reason it’s a big step forward is because of our seniors. They completely bought into our program and I can’t thank them enough,” he said.

The Rams lose a bevy of talent, leaving some big shoes to fill next season. Among the seniors playing their final high school game Friday are Gadd, receiver and Texas Tech-commit Preztynn Harrison, running backs Kayden Montalvo and PR Mendez, Berkins, tight end Holden Hering, receiver Kadin Kaspar, kicker Aldo Tejeda and linemen Michael Tuggle, Aedyn Menchaca, Shannon Rogers and Tyler Smitherman.

The Rams totaled 288 yards of offense, 220 of those yards on the ground, to 231 total yards for Benbrook. The Rams had 26 first downs to 15 for the Bobcats. The game came down to a few critical plays – the biggest being a turnover deep in Rams’ territory that Benbrook turned into a touchdown. A big Benbrook punt return, and the questionable fourth-down spot were also key to the outcome.

Like the high-profile boxing matches in Arlington on Friday, the Rams and Bobcats fought toe-to-toe throughout the game, trading blows and touchdowns in what was a chirpy and sometimes chippy game on the field. Every time Benbrook scored, Mineral Wells had an answer.

The Bobcats landed the first blow, taking the opening kickoff at their own 49 after fielding a high pooch-style kick. Benbrook moved to the Rams’ 1-yard line where quarterback Brennan Barton finished it off on a keeper to put the ‘Cats up 7-0.

Mineral Wells countered on its first possession with a 12-play scoring drive, overcoming consecutive false start penalties and a holding call that nullified a touchdown run by Cassius Johnson. Undeterred and pushed back to Benbrook’s 18, Gadd completed an 8-yard pass to Kaspar and then one to Mendez swinging out of the backfield for a touchdown and a 7-7 game following Gabriel Borjon’s conversion kick.

The Rams’ defense halted Benbrook at the Mineral Wells 42, forcing a Bobcats punt that was downed at Mineral Wells’ 8-yard line. On second down from its 10, Gadd’s pass attempt was batted into the air by a defensive lineman and intercepted by Kade Cross at the 7-yard line.

Following a loss of yards on a high snap, Benbrook’s Carlos Harris scored from 11 yards out, turning the Rams’ unfortunate miscue into a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter, a pivotal turn of events that would factor in the outcome.

The Rams didn’t blink. Mineral Wells started its next possession with great field position at its 47. Five consecutive carries for Johnson created a first down at the ‘Cats 28. Mendez had two carries followed by two Gadd runs for first-and-goal at the 3. Montalvo found his way into the end zone on a run to knot the game at 14 points apiece with 4:43 remaining in the first half.

The Rams’ defense began the next series with a tackle for a loss that forced a Benbrook three-and-out series. The Rams got the ball back at its 39. Facing a fourth-and-two at its 47, the Rams offense lined up to go for it, drawing a defensive offsides penalty and a new set of downs. But a sack of Gadd and two incomplete passes forced a Rams punt that led to halftime with a 14-14 tie.

Mineral Wells punted on the opening possession of the third quarter, resulting in a long return by Benbrook to the Rams’ 24. Following a motion penalty, Barton hit ‘Cats receiver Christian Dwight for a 25-yard touchdown pass to give Benbrook a 21-14 advantage midway through the quarter.

But again, Mineral Wells answered with a touchdown of their own. Taking over at their 33, Montalvo ripped off a 30-yard run on the series’ first play to the ‘Cats 37. A quarterback roughing penalty several plays later gave the Rams first-and-goal at the 9. Benbrook thought they had an interception but a defensive holding call kept the ball in Mineral Wells’ possession. Montalvo scored his second touchdown on the night from the 1-yard line to again tie the game.

Benbrook answered again, this time on a 30-yard touchdown run to give the Bobcats a 28-21 lead with 2:34 remaining in the third quarter.

The Rams took the ball at its 37 and embarked on a 12-play drive that moved the game into the fourth quarter. Moving to the Bobcats’ 8-yard line, Mineral Wells was unable to put the ball in the end zone, settling for a 22-yard field goal off the foot of Tejeda, leaving the Rams trailing 28-24.

Mineral Wells’ defense again came up big, thwarting a Benbrook drive and forcing a punt from midfield that bounced to the Rams’ 4-yard line. This turned into the critical fourth-and-1 call that left Mineral Wells an inch short of continuing the drive, turning the ball over to Benbrook at its 28.

The Bobcats turned that into the game’s final points and then ending Mineral Wells’ season with the interception in the game’s final minute.