By Kellci Ford-Sports Reporter

The Rams saw their season come to an end in the bi-district playoff match up with Benbrook after a hard fought game and season. 

In what seems like an entirely new program, the Rams have shown tremendous growth in the last two seasons under new leadership at the coaching level, not just skillfully, but in depth and mental toughness. Mineral Wells showed a new side of themselves, a side many Ram fans knew was in the players, but needed the right group of coaches and support to foster it. 

The Rams started their season with a four-game winning streak before losing three of their next four, all to fellow playoff teams, including two district opponents, state ranked Brock and district champion and state ranked Graham. They found their rhythm again and bounced back from those losses to win their final two games in high stakes games where all parties were trying to claim a playoff spot. 

The Rams clinched third place with a 3-2 district record, 7-3 overall, and found themselves facing off with the Benbrook Bobcats in round one of the UIL State Playoffs, a team they have met in regular season play in the past. Benbrook came into the matchup in second place in their district, boasting a 9-1 overall record. The Rams knew they would have to rise to the occasion to this big, aggressive Bobcats team as the underdog. 

The two teams met in the middle and played at Weatherford’s Roo Stadium on Friday night in a competitive, emotional, and controversial at times, game which ended with the Rams falling just short to the Bobcats, ending their season and playoff advancement hopes.

The Rams had some nerves to shake off early in the game, giving up an early touchdown but recovered well and answered in the first quarter when senior quarterback, and team captain Owen Gadd, found senior running back PR Mendez on a four-yard pass to the endzone for the Rams first points on the board. That score kept the game tied up as the first quarter ended. 

The second quarter was similar with both teams trading turns finding the endzone, this time for the Rams was another senior, and captain, Kayden Montalvo, on a quick one-yard run right through the middle of his offensive line. That touchdown led into halftime with a tied ball game, 14-14. 

The Rams struggled with some penalties during the game, some questionable, like a delay of game call which moved the Rams back at a crucial time where they had some forward momentum. The Rams ended the game with six penalties, compared to only three for Benbrook.

The Bobcats took full advantage of their opportunities and found themselves ahead at the conclusion of the third quarter, where they scored twice, compared to the Rams only scoring once, on another Montalvo touchdown run, ending the quarter 21-28 in favor of Benbrook. 

The fourth quarter didn’t do the Rams any favors either, with another questionable call by the referee’s on a 4th and 1 where the Rams went for it, with big fullback Trayvon Berkins running the ball and seeming to make it 2 or 3 yards, but when the chains came out the refs called the Rams inches short, causing a turnover on downs. The Bobcats once again took advantage of that opportunity, moving ahead with a touchdown soon after, pulling away and lengthening the lead they already had. The Rams eventually ran out of time, only able to put three more points on the board by a Aldo Tejada field goal. 

The game ended, with the Bobcats ahead and celebrating a bi-district championship, and the Rams headed back to Mineral Wells looking back on a season of growth and challenges. The Rams showed that they are a team that can compete with some of the best and have what it takes to shake things up in district 6-4A and will only continue to get better, now with the added confidence of a playoff appearance and a group of juniors who will lead the team well next season, with a chip on their shoulder from this season looking to extend their playoff run in 2025.