Photo by Brian McLean
By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
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ARLINGTON— Seven months after a devastating tornado tore through the small town of Gordon, Texas, the Longhorn football team gave the town of 470 a reason to celebrate. After back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, Gordon was only able to play one home game in the last week of the regular season due to the rebuilding of their stadium after the storm.
However, that did not bother head coach Mike Reed, or his strong senior class that had played incredibly over the past two years. The Longhorns were true road warriors in 2025, winning every game by mercy rule, except the one 11-man game they played against Thorndale.
In its return to AT&T Stadium, Gordon was a heavy favorite to defeat the Rankin Red Devils. They did just that, winning the game by 45-point mercy rule, 69-22 with 6:46 left in the third quarter.
Gordon had a total of nine offensive possessions, 16 total plays for a total of 351 yards and a total possession time of 3:56.
Things started quickly as on the first offensive snap, senior quarterback Noah Kostiha connected with Asher Salinas from 25 yards out to give the Longhorns an 8-0 lead.
After forcing another three-and-out, Gordon needed just three plays to score again when Ry Reed plowed his way in from the one. The defense then came up with a big play when Brayden Walters intercepted a pass from Rankin’s Kayin Hanna. Walters then was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from Kostiha, extending the lead to 24-0.
Walters was named defensive MVP after a performance of seven and a half total tackles, one tackle for loss of three yards, and an interception.
The Red Devils then finally got some momentum on a seven play drive covering 60 yards, capped off with a 20 yard scoring run by Matthew Ramos. Ramos was a bright spot for Rankin in the game, rushing for 78 yards and a pair of scores, also adding 94 yards on three receptions.
The Longhorns only needed one play to score again on a 48-yard run by Ry Reed, ending the first quarter with a 32-8 lead. Rankin had some momentum to open the second quarter, but turned it over on downs at the 14 yard line. On the next play, Stryker Reed broke free and raced 68 yards to the endzone.
Ramos took control offensively for the Red Devils on the ensuing drive, needing only three plays to find the end zone and make the score 40-16. Once again, it was Stryker Reed with the Gordon response from three yards out. After a defensive stop, Stryker Reed pulled the Longhorns within the reach of the mercy rule with a 12-yard scoring run.
Rankin tried to get points before the half, but Salinas came up with an interception in the endzone, sending the game to the break.
Gordon only needed one score to end the game, but the Red Devils came out with an onside kick to open the third quarter and were able to come up with the ball. Two plays later, Gage Lopez threw the out route to Issac Armendarez who took it in from 15 yards out.
As usual, it did not take the Longhorns long to respond, as Kostiha completed a pass to Ry Reed who turned and ran 42 yards to paydirt, once again putting Gordon in striking distance for the mercy rule.
The defense made one last stop, setting up Stryker Reed to race 44 yards on the game’s final play and ultimately solidifying the three-peat for Gordon. Stryker was named the offensive MVP after rushing for 160 yards and four touchdowns and completing 2 of 2 pass attempts for 53 yards.
