Doing Well in Any Class
Forney Jackrabbits Exhibit Winning Spirit—and Win
Dallas Morning News
Thursday, 25 October 1951, Page I-23
FORNEY, Texas, Oct. 24 – One glance at the record of the 1951 Forney Jackrabbits of District 17-B indicates why Class A schools in the Dallas County area – or elsewhere – are happy the Kaufman County school was dropped a notch in the most recent Texas Interscholastic League reshuffling.
The Jackrabbits have tallied 245 points while allowing the opposition just 20 in six games. Naturally, they’ve won all of them.
Forney opened with a 28-to-7 triumph over Class A Ferris; followed with a 39-to-0 rout of Wylie; bounced Malakoff, 37 to 0, before running roughshod over Kemp, 70 to 0; then polished off two more Class A schools on successive weekends, Seagoville, 20 to 7, and Rockwall, 51 to 6. A Class B school has yet to cross the Jackrabbit goal line.
The Jackrabbits have stacked up 1,962 yards rushing to 493 for the opposition, and in the air they’ve gained 660 yards to opponents’ 193.
”A fine bunch of boys with the spirit to win,” has led to this record, says Forney Head Coach Weldon Strain, an East Texas State graduate. “The town is behind us, too,” he added.
After going into detail on the traits of his backs, Coach Strain pleaded, “Don’t fail to mention the linemen. They’ve played a prominent part.” He pointed out Guards Sonny Miller and Jimmy Shipley, Tackles Luther Hutto and Frank Maykus, and Ends Jack Bannister, Robert Griffin and Jack Cook as stellar performers. In face, he mentioned the entire squad, highly praising Guard Thomas Tanner, End Pat Murray and Center Erlan Evans.
J.C. Mitchell, Brooksy Roland, Frank Carmichael and Charles Osborne are the mainstays of the Forney backfield, which operates from the split-T.
Left Half Mitchell, the school’s leading scorer with 114 points, has carried the ball 73 times for an even 700 yards. He’s passed 8 times for 198 yards and 4 touchdowns. Six times he’s converted after touchdowns. Mitchell was all-district last season.
Osborne, the quarterback, has completed 40 of 66 passes for 660 yards and 9 touchdowns. He’s carried 24 times for 85 yards while scoring 9 points. Osborne has punted 12 times for a 33.6 average.
Carmichael, the right half, has lugged the ball 36 times for 192 yards, has caught 3 passes for 94 yards and has scored 19 points.
Actually, Forney was not dropped in the TIL reshuffling. The Jackrabbits remained in Class B, while six of their seven opponents in the 1950 District 18-B were elevated to Class A.
Anyway, the Jackrabbits, their coach and Asst. Coach Arch Ferguson Forney followers wish that they were in Class A this year.
1951 Jackrabbits
