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Bucks get past Panthers on penetrations

Wed, 11/14/2018 - 12:00 am

Historically Speaking

The 1954 Breckenridge Buckaroos were set to play the Lufkin Panthers in one of the semi-final games. It was set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 1954, at Baylor Stadium in Waco. This was the schoolboy match-up that sportswriters from across the state marked as, “the game to see,” of all the playoff match-ups. Some had it as a tossup with a slight edge to Lufkin but others were equally as resolute the Bucks would prevail.

This tilt would decide one of the finalist for the 3A State Championship. The other contest was Port Neches against McAllen.

In the regular season, the Lufkin Panthers averaged 43.1 points per game and allowed opponents only an average of 6.8 points per game. The closest game that season was with Freeport and the Panthers edged them out 14-7. The Panthers had won most of their games that season with a 21-point margin, except for the Freeport game. As an example of their prowess, the Panthers beat Orange 76-0 and Marshall 53-0.

The Lufkin Panthers were measured as the biggest challenge ever for the Bucks. The Panthers were described, “as the best football team ever seen in Texas,” according to some sportswriters, at that time.

The Panthers had rolled over 11 opponents and racked up a total of 457 points and averaged 43.1 points per game. The Panthers dominated District 3A-4 and used the T-Formation, with their attack planned around their fullback, Bobby Bounds and halfback, Charles Frederick, who were both recognized as All-State material. Bounds had scored 110 points and rushed for 1,045 yards, at 6.6 yards per carry, during the season.

The Panther defense was led by David Musselwhite, who played at quarterback or halfback. Their defense had All-State tackle, J.E. Driskell and Milton Hawkins, also All-State at tackle.

The Bucks would have their regular starters and support from Buddy Hamilton to spell Clyde Harris at a back position and on defense, plus John Cotten on defense, who would help out James Jones at guard.

The 3A districts in Texas football had only been established four years previously and the Bucks had won the State Championship in 3A football in 1951, 1952, tied for district in 1953 and were now in the state semi-finals match-up in 1954.

The Bucks averaged 31.5 points per game against the Panthers at 43.1 points per game. The Bucks had given up an average of 9.5 points per game and the Panthers had only given up 6.8 points.

The weight on the front lines were about equal but the Bucks were slightly heavier in the backfield while being a hair faster.

The Panthers ran from the T-Formation in what they called the “Belly Series,” which is explained as a play that is executed by the quarterback dropping back at a 45 degree angle, instead of floating along behind the line like Bennett Watts did for the Bucks. The halfback goes his own way for the Panthers and the quarterback puts the ball in the belly of the fullback or he may take it and pitch the ball to the other halfback, who by this time had come around behind the quarterback and fullback or the quarterback may decide to run with the ball himself.

On game day, it was rainy and wet, with a slippery turf and the Bucks had a total of six fumbles, with a deluge of a down pour during the third quarter.

The Lufkin Panthers scored first in the second quarter, after a fumble was recovered from the Bucks. Dick Carpenter had dropped the ball on the Bucks 30-yard line and the Panthers took five plays to score on a four-yard keeper by the quarterback, in the first play of the second quarter. The extra point was made as well and the score was 0-7, for the Panthers.

The Bucks came right back with an 80-yard breakaway run by fullback, Dick Carpenter for the first Bucks touchdown. John Cotten kicked the extra point and it was a tied ball game 7-7. The Panthers were forced to punt and the Bucks’ fullback took the kick on the Bucks’ own 20-yard line. Carpenter burst down the field and beat out the Panther defenders to the goal line for the Bucks touchdown.

The Bucks lost a golden opportunity to score on the next series, when they drove 79 yards to the Panther 1-yard line, where Sandefer fumbled the ball into the end zone, which was recovered by the Panthers. However, it was that drive that proved to be the difference and the deciding factor on penetrations inside the 20-yard line.

The rain deluge in the third quarter kept either team from scoring. In the fourth quarter, Jesse Chaney recovered the slippery pigskin on the Lufkin

48. Watts, Jake Sandefer and Carpenter pounded out the yardage to the Panther 2-yard line and Watts took the ball over with a keeper and Cotten kicked the extra point. The score was now 14-7 for the Bucks.

Then in the fourth quarter, the Panthers took five plays to score and tied the game at 14-14.

With 6:34 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Bucks lost the ball on downs at the Panther 31-yard line. On the very first play for the Panthers, Bounds fumbled and John Cotten recovered the fumble. Three plays later, Watts fumbled the ball and the Panthers recovered.

The Panthers were stalled out on the Bucks’ nine-yard line as the game ended with an excessive time-out penalty on the Panthers. That took the ball back to the 14. The Panther quarterback attempted to pass the ball but it was too high and then time ran out.

With a tied score, it went to penetrations. The Bucks had four and the Panthers had three. The Bucks would have also won the game if it went to first downs, since the Bucks had 18 and the Panthers only 13.

Meanwhile, the Bucks placed four on the First Team, All-District, with Jake Sandefer, (B) 125 votes, Jerry Cramer (T) 110 points, W.L. Pevey (T) 75 votes and Jerry Payne (C). The Second Team, All-District included Bennett Watts (QB), Dick Carpenter (FB), James Jones (G), Tommy Beasley (E) and Sonny Everett (G). Honorable Mention honors went to Clyde Harris (B/K) 30 points and Jesse Chaney (G).

The 3A State Championship game was set between Port Neches and the Breckenridge Buckaroos.