By Brian Gosset
MINERAL WELLS – Friday night marked one of the biggest football games in Mineral Wells history as the Rams and visiting Graham Steers were both undefeated at 6-0.
It was the best start for Mineral Wells since 1995.
But three first-half turnovers cost the Rams a perfect regular season as the Steers won 29-7 in District 4-4A D2.
The Rams (6-1, 1-1) will try to get back on track in Week 9 with a road game against Bridgeport. Graham (7-0, 2-0), #9 in the Week 8 state rankings by Dave Campbell’s, will host Burkburnett.
Graham took the opening possession and faced a quick fourth-and-1 at its own 34-yard line. The Steers got enough to move the chains and then went quickly downfield. Only a couple plays later, quarterback Cooper Corley tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead with 7:37 left in the opening period.
Mineral Wells’ opening drive started promising as on the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Javon Johnson and Barron Burkhall connected for a 31-yard pass and catch across the 50.
But on the next play, the Rams fumbled (one of three turnovers in the first half). The Steers recovered and scored on Corley’s 1-yard TD pass to a wide open Brodie Martin in the end zone that extended the lead to 14-0 with 4:36 left in the quarter.
The Rams were able to cross midfield again, but committed their second lost fumble while attempting to run a double reverse.
Graham also turned that takeaway into points as the Steers got a 10-yard touchdown run from Colt Taylor and led 22-0 with five minutes left in the half following a successful two-point conversion.
Mineral Wells had a chance to score late in the half when the Rams had a goal-to-go opportunity. But on third down at the 11, Johnson was hit while attempting a pass and the ball was intercepted by Taylor, who returned it to the Mineral Wells side of the field.
Graham ran out the clock and led 22-0 at the intermission.
Mineral Wells moved the ball to start the third quarter, with a long pass from Johnson to Jaxon Cox that got it to the Graham 48. But the drive stalled as the Rams couldn’t convert on fourth down as the Steers took over on downs.
Parker Hale took the first play of the ensuing Graham drive 45 yards and inside the red zone. On third-and-goal from the 4, Corley rolled to his left, bought some time and floated a TD pass to Martin, who was once again left alone in the end zone for a 29-0 lead with 5:36 left in the third.
Mineral Wells’ lone score came just before the two-minute timeout in the fourth quarter when Aleck Gonzales bounced off several defenders on left side for a 13-yard touchdown.
Despite the hiccup on Friday night, Mineral Wells came into the game with wins over Vernon, Pilot Point, Andrews, Carrollton Turner, Boyd and Iowa Park, which the Rams beat 27-24 in Week 7.
The Rams will go into the Bridgeport game averaging just under 31 points per game this season.
