Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Amy Meyer / Mineral Wells Area News

Video By Michael Qualls/ Edifly

Photo by Lily Carmack / Gordon ISD

Gordon capped one of the most dominant seasons in six-man football history Wednesday, overwhelming Rankin 69-22 to claim the Class 1A Division I state championship at AT&T Stadium.

The victory marked Gordon’s third consecutive state title and extended the Longhorns’ winning streak to 44 games, a run that has cemented the program’s place among the elite in Texas six-man football.

Gordon wasted little time taking control. The Longhorns scored nine touchdowns while running just 16 offensive plays, piling up 351 yards and averaging nearly 22 yards per play. Rankin became only the third team all season to reach the third quarter before Gordon triggered the 45-point mercy rule.

Senior Stryker Reed, an Air Force Academy commit, earned Offensive MVP honors after rushing for 160 yards and four touchdowns on seven carries. He also completed two passes for 53 yards, continuing a season in which he scored more than half the times he touched the ball.

Ry Reed, an Army commit, added to the onslaught, while Brayden Walters was named Defensive MVP after recording 11 tackles, an interception and a tackle for loss.

The championship performance capped a season defined not only by dominance on the field but by adversity off it. In May, an EF-1 tornado tore through the town of Gordon, damaging dozens of homes and destroying much of the school campus, including their athletic facilities.

For much of the season, the Longhorns did not have a home field. Gordon opened the year without usable athletic facilities and did not play on its rebuilt field until late in the season, after repairs were completed. The team played just one home game during the regular season as the community worked to rebuild.

Despite the disruption, Gordon maintained its focus. Practices were relocated, routines adjusted and preparations continued, with the team relying heavily on each other and the support of the community.

Head coach Mike Reed said the season strengthened an already close-knit program.

“This group has been through a lot together,” Reed said. “What they’ve accomplished says a lot about who they are, not just as football players, but as young men.”

The championship celebration was more reflective than raucous. For Gordon’s seniors, many of whom had lost just one game since their youth football days, the title served as both a finale and a milestone.

As the Longhorns left the field with another trophy, the accomplishment resonated far beyond the scoreboard. The story of a small town rebuilding from disaster, sending its team to the top of Texas six-man football once again will be heard around the world.