1955 Bucks beat DeLeon in first district 2A-8 game

The first game of District 2A-8 for the 1955 Breckenridge Buckaroos was with the DeLeon Bearcats, which had a heavier team that averaged 180 pounds per man.

Bennett Watts injured finger had healed but was tender and therefore was taped as a precaution. Joe Bob Jackson (RE) was still nursing a bad knee but was ready to play as was Buddy Hamilton (RHB) with his own knee problems.

The Bucks dominated at all stages of the game, with the Bearcats only passing the 20-yard marker once to the Bucks 16, where they were shut down altogether.

The Bucks only appeared to have one weakness and that was the kicking of extra points. Out of the eight touchdowns in this game, there were only three conversions made successfully.

The Bucks had a trio for game captains, which included Bennett Watts (QB), Jerry Payne (LE) and Buddy Hamilton (RHB) and they won the toss and elected to receive the kick-off.

The ball went to the Bucks 21, where Bill Taylor (FB) fielded the pigskin and took it to the Bucks 45, a gain of 24 yards. Next, Hamilton added four and Watts tallied three yards. Unfortunately, Taylor fumbled the ball on the next play, which was recovered by DeLeon on their own 45. Five plays later, the Bearcats quarterback fumbled the ball on a pitchout and Hamilton fell on the ball at the Bucks 35. Nine plays later, Taylor had tallied 27 yards, Eddie Offield (LHB) got 11 and Hamilton tallied 17 before Taylor took the final 10 yards in for the Bucks first touchdown.› Hamilton’s kick was good and the score was 7-0 for the Bucks.

The kick-off to the Bearcats went to their 7-yard line and was returned to their own 34, where Watts stopped the runner from advancing any further. Three downs later, the Bearcats were facing a 4th and 21. They punted to the Bucks 43. On the second play, Watts’ pitchout to Offield got loose and a Bearcat pounced on the ball at the Bucks 37.

After four more plays, the Bearcats only advanced two yards and the Bucks took over on their own 39. However, the Bucks were hit with two 15-yard penalties and it was now 4th and

21. Watts punted to the DeLeon 36. Three downs later, the Bearcats had gone only nine yards but they took a chance and made a first down on the Bucks 46 but a 15-yard penalty made it 4th and 20 yards, so they punted once again. Watts took it on the Bucks 26 and jaunted down field for 26 yards to the Bearcat

48. Taylor followed that gain with three more and Hamilton got two. Watts then passed to Hamilton for an 11 yard gain to the DeLeon 32. On the next play, Watts was looking for a receiver but found no one open so at the last moment, he took off for the 32 yards and a second Buckaroo TD. However, the kick failed. The score was now 13-0.

The kick went to the Bearcats 22 and they returned it 13 yards to the DeLeon 35. Three more plays gained them five yards so they were forced to punt once more and it went to the Bucks 30. On the first play, Watts hit Hamilton for a five yard pass and then Taylor took off on the next play and ran 65 yards for what he thought was another Buckaroo TD. However, officials ruled that he stepped out of bounds at the 50, so it was only a 15-yard run.

Next, Watts threw his only incomplete pass of the night but on the next play, hit Hamilton for 25 yards and then another pass of 15 yards took the Bucks to the Bearcat 11. Watts faded back to pass but again there were no receivers open so he ran in for the third TD. Hamilton missed the kick. The score was now 19-0.

Taylor kicked to the DeLeon 20, which was returned to the Bearcat 35. On the first play, the Bearcats fumbled and Hamilton recovered his second fumble by the Bearcats on the Bearcat 35. On the very first play, Watts hit Jerry Payne for 25 yards and then Hamilton scored from two yards out. The kick failed and the score was now 25-0.

As time ran out for the first half, Watts intercepted a Bearcat pass on the DeLeon 48 and he raced to their Bearcat 17 as the half ended. DeLeon fumbled on their first play of the second half and this time both Hamilton and Joe Fonville (LG) recovered the ball. On the first play, Watts went over the right guard and hit his stride for a 35 yard jaunt down the field and another Bucks TD. Watts also made good on the extra point kick and the score was now 32-0.

About three minutes later, Johnny Swan (RG), in for James Stanford, picked up another Bearcat fumble. Watts hit Payne for another TD but Hamilton missed the kick. The score was now 38-0. Coach Bellard almost emptied the bench by this point and the Bearcats marched down field to the Buckaroo 16 and were stopped cold.

Watts took off on a keeper and raced 84 yards for another six points. His kick was blocked so the score was now 44-0 Bobby Goswick took over at quarterback for Watts and went to Freeland Morgan, who was in for Taylor (FB), and moved the Bucks to the Bearcat 23 before having to give up the ball on downs.

After the Bearcats fumbled again for the sixth time, Goswick was back in and moved the Bucks down field and then a final pass to Bill Langford, in at (RHB) for Hamilton, for an 11 yard pass and another Buckaroo TD. Watts made the kick good and the final score was 51-0.

The Bucks had scored 7 points in the first quarter, 18 in the second, 19 in the third and the reserves made one more in the fourth quarter. The Bucks made a successful start in District 2A-8 and was looking forward to the next team on their schedule, the Mineral Wells Mountineers.