Mineral Wells Area News

By Mineral Wells Area News / Photos By Mineral Wells ISD

A fast start wasn’t enough for the Mineral Wells Rams Friday night as unbeaten Quinlan Ford used a rapid ground game to secure a 35-21 win at Ram Stadium.

The Rams (2-2) opened the game with a spark when Jordan Johnson broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. Mineral Wells’ defense held strong through the first quarter, taking a 7-0 lead into the second.

Momentum swung in the second quarter when Quinlan Ford blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, igniting a 21-point surge by the Panthers. After two more rushing scores, Mineral Wells answered late in the half when Javon Johnson connected with Jaidun Fisher for a 27-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-14 at intermission.

The Panthers (4-0) leaned on their power running attack after halftime, adding two more rushing touchdowns in the third quarter. Special teams once again gave the Rams life as Jackson Hicks returned a kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown, but Mineral Wells could draw no closer. Both defenses tightened in the fourth quarter, with neither side allowing points.

Jordan Johnson turned in his second straight 100-yard rushing performance, finishing with 121 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Hicks added 72 yards on 11 rushes and the long special-teams score. Fisher led the receiving corps with three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Grant Facteau led the Rams with 12 total tackles, while Trent Yowell recorded a sack and tackle for loss.

Mineral Wells finished with 274 total yards of offense, including 216 on the ground, but was outgained by Quinlan Ford’s 365 yards, 316 of them rushing.

The Rams will look to rebound Friday, Sept. 26, when they host Godley for Homecoming. Quinlan Ford will travel to face Paris North Lamar.