Standing in their way is the Abbott Panthers who will have something to say about which team reaches Arlington
By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News
Photos By Lily Cormack
HICO – You can’t stop them, you can only hope to contain them.
That old sports adage has applied to Gordon’s football team the last two seasons. On Friday night in Hico, Jonesboro did a fairly good job containing the ‘Horns early. But the dam blew wide open in the second quarter and Gordon (13-0) claimed its second-consecutive regional quarterfinals championship with a 56-6 win.
It was yet another ‘Horns game shortened to two quarters because of Texas sixman football’s 45-point rule. The national and state top-ranked defending Class 1A-1 champs have won 28 straight and 40 of their last 41 games over the past three seasons.
The Eagles, winners of District 14-1A-1, end their season with a 13-2 mark.
Gordon advances to face familiar playoff foe Abbott. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Godley. Gordon will be the visiting team. The Panthers (13-0) advanced with their 58-8 win over Aquilla. Abbott is a consensus No. 2-ranked team in the polls behind Gordon.
Gordon and Abbott met last year in the post-season, with the Longhorns claiming a 64-16 regional quarterfinals win. Abbott ended young Gordon’s title run in the 2022 season with a 32-24 quarterfinals win.
The winner will play in the state championship game at AT&T Stadium at 2 p.m. on Dec. 18 against the winner of the other semifinal contest between Whiteface and Water Valley.
THE GAME
The Gordon defense nearly recorded its eighth shutout of the season. The ‘Horns have allowed just 14 points in its last seven games and have held opponents below 10 points in 12 of their 13 games to date. The ‘Horns picked off three passes, returning one for a score.
Brayden Walters had three touchdown catches, Stryker Reed threw three touchdown passes and caught another while quarterback Noah Kostiha threw two scoring passes.
The one negative for Gordon is missing on 4-of-8 extra-point kicks after touchdowns. Unlike 11-man football, PAT kicks in sixman football are worth two points. Leaving eight points on the field can be costly in sixman – unless you are Gordon.
The ‘Horns scored three times in the first quarter. Stryker Reed connected with Walters on a 22-yard passing score. Kostiha hit Walters on a 4-yard passing touchdown and Reed and Walters connected again on a 45-yard touchdown passing play. All three PATs failed, and Jonesboro was able to begin the second quarter down just 18-0.
But then all ‘Horns broke loose. Kostiha’s second touchdown pass went to Ry Reed for 31 yards. The PAT was good. Reed then recorded a pick-six from 47 yards out. The PAT was no good. Stryker Reed threw his second TD of the game to Asher Salinas for a 42-yard strike with the PAT good. Big Juan Cabrera pounded his way into the end zone from 5 yards out with the PAT good.
With the score 48-0, Jonesboro found the end zone and got on the scoreboard with a 59-yard run by quarterback Jeremiah Forest. The Eagles’ point-after try failed.
Gordon salted the game away when Ry Reed hit Stryker Reed on a 20-yard passing play. The successful PAT provided the final margin.
As a team, Gordon amassed 323 yards on 25 offensive plays, mostly through the air as the ‘Horns were 11-of-17 throwing for 259 yards.
The Eagles ran 37 offensive plays, totaling 180 yards (98 rushing, 82 passing). Jonesboro mustered just three first downs, while Gordon racked up 14.
Walters eclipsed the 100-yard mark receiving, hauling in four passes for 104 yards and three scores.
Stryker Reed was 4-of-5 passing for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Kostiha finished 6-of-11 for 99 yards and two TDs.
