Gordon Goes Back-To-Back
ARLINGTON — The Gordon Longhorns outlasted Whiteface 70-24 to run their winning streak to 30 and claim their second straight 1A Division I state championship.
The Longhorns jumped out to a 16-0 lead but saw the Antelopes score on their next possession and hang around through the first quarter and early into the second.
Gordon was on top 36-16 after one quarter, and Whiteface got as close as 36-24 before the Longhorns scored the final five touchdowns of the game to win by mercy rule.
Noah Kostiha and Brayden Walters hooked up on a pair of long touchdowns to make it a 64-24 lead going to the break, and Gordon scored on the first play of the second half, a Stryker Reed 45-yard run, to seal the deal.
“I made the wrong read, to be honest,” Stryker said. “I made the wrong read, but it all ended up working out. Once I got past that first line, we had phenomenal downfield blocks.”
“They are the greatest group I’ve coached,” said head coach Mike Reed. “They would beat any other team that I’ve coached.”
Reed said many of his former players would argue that statement, but the Longhorn defense has a place in the record books that cannot be debated. Gordon ended the season giving up 7.2 points per game, the fewest allowed by a UIL state champion in Texas high school football history. 1985 Jayton now slides to number two on the list at 7.57 points allowed per contest.
Graphic courtesy Leman Saunders
Reed said, “I don’t put too much stock into it, to be honest with you. I’m proud. It’s nice to be able to say that we were able to do it, but in the end, to be 15-0, I’d have taken a one-point game 101-100 to put this thing (the gold medal) around our neck.”
Stryker Reed earned Offensive MVP honors for the game, throwing for 86 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 90 yards and two more scores.
Ry Reed was the Defensive MVP with four tackles and an interception. He also ran for 99 yards and three touchdowns on offense.
The Gordon offense did it’s damage by scoring 70 points on just 16 plays from scrimmage and a 46-yard kickoff return for a score by Aiden Shank.
