Forney humbles Lake Dallas 34-0
By Jimmy Shepard, Staff Writer
Terrell Tribune
Sunday, September 23, 1973, Page 5
FORNEY – Emotion is defined in Webster’s as follows: “A psychic and physical reaction subjectively experienced as strong feeling and physiologically involving changes that prepare the body for immediate vigorous action.
On a young ball club such as Forney’s “Wild Bunch” it is left up to the seniors to instill this ingredient into the younger players and keep it there throughout the year just by their actions alone. A tradition is without meaning when this word is missing as was the case last week; this Friday night the real Jackrabbit team took the field and left the battleground with a convincing victory, 34-0.
Senior Leaders
Big Steve Collier, 18 carries for 168 yards; Johnny Briscoe and Tony Jackson – the leaders of the “Wild Bunch” defense that gave potent attack only five first downs; Ronnie Pittmon – a demon on offense and defense (a sparkplug with the will to win); Robert Runnels – the young and learning field general who passed for 167 yards; provided the spark.
Starting off like a daring gambler, the Rabbits came out of the blocks with fire. Losing their first possession via the fumble, the Rabbits started a drive that took ten plays and was climaxed by a 27-yard TD strike from Runnels to Collier with 5:47 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter the explosive Rabbits, using their new found aerial exploration to open up the Falcon defense, put 21 points on the board. With 9:58 left, Runnels hit Scott Rogers over the middle from 20 yards out for the score. With 5:55 Collier went over from 11 yards out, and with 58 seconds remaining Pittmon again went into the softened middle of the Falcon defense for 6 more from 5 yards out. Utilizing the toe of Robert Runnels the Rabbits went to the dressing room with a 27-0 lead secure in their hands.
Not to be denied this night in any venture the Rabbits moved the ball at will, scoring 7 more points in the third quarter and letting their miscues ruin any chance of putting more points on the board in the final stanza. After an interception by Rogers, Collier got the call from the 34 and responded by putting the ball beyond the end stripe for the final seven.
Pride
Taking pride in what they do best the “Wild Bunch” gave up but five first downs, minus 11 yards in passing, and trying new formation in the final quarter donated only 53 yards to the visitors over the land. It will be this group, playing without linebacker Willie B. Thomas, that will make or break this team in the future games to come. They cause mistakes just by the way they play the game. They back away from no one.
After the comeback that was made Friday night the Rabbits have a week off to get everyone in shape for district warfare that starts in two weeks. Last year the Rabbits ended up almost on the top, this year the “Wild Bunch” again has something to prove, not to themselves but to the many people who keep saying they can’t be as good as their record says they are.
As happened Friday night, Robert Runnels stepped back into the pocket and fired a perfect strike to his brother Larry Runnels, the biggest 154 pounder around. The only trouble being Larry is a down lineman. After getting creamed, Larry could still return to the huddle laughing; that’s the way it is with this ’73 version of the Rabbits they can laugh a lot but from now on never at themselves.
Statistics:
Special thanks to Tony Jackson for providing this article.
