Gordon Rolls through Westbrook to a Six Man State Championship

1st Quarter

The Wildcats and Longhorns seemed evenly matched early in the game. Both teams traded touchdowns, but a missed 2-point attempt from Westbrook gave Gordon a two-point lead with six minutes remaining in the 1st quarter.

That missed opportunity fueled the Longhorns as Gordon seemed more and more unstoppable after that. The Longhorns continued to score on offense, and the defense shut down the Wildcats. Westbrook struggled to convert third downs and went 0-3 in the first quarter. This gave Gordon two extra opportunities to score, and the Longhorns led at the end of the 1st quarter, 32-14.

2nd Quarter

Gordon opened up the 2nd quarter with a 10-yard run from Brayden Walters. The 2-play, 38-yard drive took only 19 seconds off the clock and gave the Longhorns a 40-14 lead. Westbrook had to score soon or risk losing any chance at climbing back into this contest. #10 did the lion's share of the work, pushing the Wildcats down the field to 10-yard line. Faced with a 4th and five, Westbrook could not move the ball into the end zone. Gordon took over at the Longhorn’s 6-yard line.

The Longhorns responded to the stop with another explosive play. Riley Reed took the football to the outside and sprinted 74 yards to the house. Gordon blew the game open with under seven minutes to play in the half, 48-14.

Brannon Larson gave the Wildcats a spark with 3:08 to play. The young man took an inside handoff up the middle and then bounced to the outside. No one could catch him on his way to a long touchdown run. Westbrook kept the score within 45 points but trailed at halftime, 64-20.

3rd Quarter

Westbrook received the second-half kickoff and needed a score to stay alive. In six-man football, if any team leads the other by 45 or more points anytime after the 2nd quarter, a mercy rule is enacted, and the game is over. Westbrook drove the football down the field with some hard nose running on the ground. The Wildcats reached Gordon’s 5-yard line before the Longhorns stepped up. Gordon stymied three straight runs from Westbrook to force a 4th and goal at the 5-yard line. Westbrook attempted to run to the outside, but the Longhorns were ready. Another stop by the Gordon defense gave the Longhorns the ball and the opportunity to go with themselves a state championship.

Stryker Reed made a moment he will remember forever as after he dropped back to pass, he saw a clear path to the end zone. Reed weaved his way through traffic to score the final touchdown. The Gordon Longhorns are the 2023 Six-Man Division I Champions after they felled the Wildcats 70-20.