35-0! Rabbits Repeat Last Week’s Rip-Off for Returning Ex’s

By Danny Banister

Forney Messenger
Thursday, 1 November 1973

The Forney Jackrabbits climbed another step higher on the staircase to a district championship as they rolled over the Grand Saline Indians, 35-0. This game gave the Rabbits added confidence as they went without the services of Senior Fullback Steve Collier and Junior back Rusty Roland on the Rabbit offense.

The Rabbits, led by Senior quarterback Robert Runnels’ superb passing and Freshman fullback Sammy Eacret’s splendid rushing, made the going easy in the second half. It appeared in the first half that the Indians didn’t believe in predictions because there was no score at the half. In the third quarter though, Forney began to come alive as they scored the first of their five touchdowns on a 54-yard jaunt by Sammy Eacret. The extra-point failed but Forney had the lead, 6-0, which was all they needed.

In the fourth quarter the Rabbits began to add on some insurance points – 29 to be exact. The first TD was made again by Eacret, this time on a 37-yard pass from Runnels. The extra-point failed, but Forney was on top 12-0. The Rabbits scored their next two touchdowns on the ground. The first TD was taken across by Ronnie Pittmon on a 19-yard run. Tony Jackson made the extra-point good on a pass from Runnels. Runnels then scored the Rabbit’s fourth TD of the night on a five-yard run. Steve Collier took the ball over from the three-yard line for the extra-point and the score stood; Forney … 22, Grand Saline … 0, with Forney having plenty of time to add another touchdown. Which they did on a two-yard touchdown pass to Senior tight-end Tony Jackson, who added a short celebration dance in the end zone following the catch. The extra-point kick was good.

I would like to take this time to congratulate the “Wild Bunch” on the victory and would like to recognize some of the players on the Forney defense that shut-out the Indians. They are: Willie B. Thomas, Tony Jackson, Ronnie Pittmon, Bodie Briscoe, Johnny Briscoe, Gary Zmolek, Larry Runnels, Arvel Woodward, Mark Couch, Robert Runnels, Les McElveen, and Frank Rhea. Next Friday, the Rabbits play Van in another District Contest, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Box Score:

Scores By Quarters:

Forney                    0             0              6              29              35

Grand Saline         0             0              0               0                0

F – Sammy Eacret 54 run (kick failed) F – Eacret 37 pass from Runnels (kick failed) F – Ronnie Pittmon 19 run (Tony Jackson pass from Runnels) F – Runnels 5 run (Steve Collier run) F – Jackson 2 pass from Runnels (Collier kick)