Bucks face last district game against Vernon to decide 3A-1 champs

Historically Speaking

The 1954 Buckaroos arrived at their final District 3A-1 farewell game, since the Bucks had been dismissed from District 3A-1, with a 4-3 vote by the member teams.

Meanwhile, the Texas Interscholastic League tentatively assigned the Bucks to District 2A-9 for the 1955 season. That district included Cisco, DeLeon, Dublin, Graham, Mineral Wells and now Breckenridge.

According to Superintendent John Culwell and Breckenridge High School principal Jim Wilkerson, this did not preclude the Bucks getting an invitation to play somewhere else in 3A football next year.

The Vernon Lions were said to have a very balanced running and passing attack, with two outstanding receivers and a great running back. The Vernon quarterback was said to be an outstanding passer.

The Bucks were coming off the loss to Sweetwater and would tie with Big Spring for the co-championship of District 3A-1, if they beat Vernon. Even so, the Bucks would represent District 3A-1 in any play-off games due to the fact that the Bucks had beaten the Big Spring Steers 35-14 during the regular season.

The Bucks game against the Vernon Lions was set for Thanksgiving Day, in Bucks Stadium, with an estimated crowd of 7,000. The site for the game was set by a coin toss and the Bucks won the toss and elected to play at home.

The Vernon quarterback went to the air for 31 passes but only completed four due to the receivers being so well covered by the BucksF defenders.

There was no scoring by either team in the first quarter but the Bucks got things rolling with 6:20 left in the second quarter. That play began on the Bucks 47-yard line. Bennett Watts passed to Sonny Everett (LE), who took the ball to the Lion

16. Watts took the ball in for the touchdown on a keeper and Clyde Harris kicked the conversion. The score was 7-0.

The Bucks scored again before the half, which began on the Vernon 24 after a freak punt by the Lion kicker from their 21 yard line. The ball went to the Lion’s 45 but then bounced back to the 24. Watts passed to Tommy Beasley (RE) and he took it to the Lion seven-yard line. Harris scampered in for the final seven yards and the second Bucks TD. John Cotten made the conversion kick. The score at the half was 14-0, in favor of the Bucks.

The Bucks scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter. For the third TD, the Bucks began on their own 49 and in three plays, took the ball across the goal-line. Jake Sandefer (LHB) carried the ball to the Lion

38. Next, Watts passed to Sonny Everett (LE), who nearly got loose but got caught on the Lion 12. Sandefer took a pitchout from Watts and then passed to Harris, who took it in for the TD. Cotten kicked the extra point and it was 21-0.

The fourth Bucks TD came later in that third quarter, when the Lions punted to the Bucks, who began on their own

48. Harris ran the ball to the Lion 35 and Dick Carpenter (FB) made it to the Lion 30. On the next play, Carpenter got a pitchout from Watts and went around his own left end, while picking up blocks from Jerry Cramer (LT) and James Jones (LG) and then poured the steam on to barrel across the goal line for the TD. Harris kicked the extra point. and the score was now 28-0.

When the ball came back to the Bucks on the next series, Coach Kerbel sent in most of the second stringers. They made a fifth TD in the fourth quarter. Mike Kingston (QB) attempted to plunge across the goal line but fumbled the ball on the one-yard line, which was recovered by Bill Taylor for the Bucks. Harris kicked the point and the score was 35-0 and a victory for the Bucks and a co-championship with Big Spring. The Bucks had scored 14 points in the second quarter, 14 more points in the third and seven points in the fourth.

At half-time, the BHS Band formed a 3A-1 and played “Farewell To Thee,” as they left District 3A-1 behind them.

The Bucks were slated to play Garland in the Bi-District game in the first stage of the playoffs on Dec. 5.

Jean Hayworth can be reached at news@breckenridgeamerican.com or at the B.A. offices , located at 114 E. Elm St.