The Pilot Point Bearcats hit the road and traveled to Mineral Wells to clash with the Rams in Worrell War I, with the Rams pulling the close win 24-19 on Sept. 4.
Both teams moved the ball well in the contest, combing for over 700 yards of total offense, but the Rams were able to make key stops to take the victory.
“It was probably the most physical [game] we’ve had in the three years since I’ve been back here in Pilot Point,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach. “[Mineral Wells] is a physical team, and we knew their size was going to be an issue, and we didn’t have every bounce or call go our way, which is going to happen in the game of football, but our kids battled to the end.”
The Bearcats received the opening kickoff and moved the ball into Rams territory, powered by plays from running back duo Hastings Fischer and David Pickrel, but their drive stalled with a turnover on downs at the Rams' 16yard line.
Mineral Wells took over on its own 16-yard line and capped its opening possession with a 27-yard touchdown run by Slade Evans, taking a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.
The Rams got the ball right back with a successful onside kick in the ensuing kickoff but gave the ball back to the Bearcats after missing a field goal attempt from right outside of Pilot Point's red zone.
The two teams continued to trade punts until the Bearcats moved the ball into field goal range near the end of the second quarter, but time expired before the kick could be attempted, sending the teams into the locker room with the Rams leading 7-0 at the half.
Mineral Wells received the secondhalf kickoff and scored four plays later when Alec Gonzalez ran for a touchdown, pushing their lead to 14-0 after the successful extra point kick.
Pilot Point would answer quickly on their next possession when Fischer ran for a 21-yard touchdown, making it a one-score game at 14-6 after missing the extra point attempt.
On their next possession, the Rams moved the ball to the Bearcats' 19yard line, where they were able to add to their lead with a short field goal, extending their lead to 17-6 near the end of the third quarter.
Four plays later, the Bearcats got into the end zone for their second touchdown of the contest with a 12-yard touchdown run from Pickrel, making it a one-score game at 17-12 after a failed 2-point conversion attempt.
Gonzalez helped Mineral Wells maintain its lead with a second touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Rams lead to 24-12.
Pilot Point would answer on a 12play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by Fischer, but the Bearcats would not see the ball again as the Rams were able to run out the clock with a 7-play drive to take the win 24-19.
“They knew they had a size advantage, so they didn’t try to do too much and just ran it at us,” Worrell said. “Our kids fought, but we had a hard time stopping them for negative yards early in the game, and in the second half they changed up their running backs, and we had a hard time getting off the field.”
Fischer led Pilot Points’ rushing attack with 82 yards on 8 carries, followed by running back Josh Chumley, who added 81 yards on 15 carries, while Luke Daniel completed 8 of 13 pass attempts for 103 yards.
Worrell spoke highly of the Bearcats' effort in the loss.
“We were moving the ball at will in the second half and were just a stop away from winning the game, but I couldn’t be more proud of our kids,” he said. “… They were just exhausted because it was that type of game, and they played with everything they had. Sometimes after a loss you don’t feel like you’re going to get any better, but this was definitely not the case. I walked off that field knowing we’re going to be a better football team.”
Assistant editor Martin Edwards contributed to this report.
