Lobo Stadium Here Site as Unbeaten Teams Play
Longview Daily News
7 December 1951
Longview Morning Journal
7 December 1951
Two undefeated and untied elevens, the powerful Forney Jackrabbits and the impressive Garrison Bulldogs, clash for the regional Class B championship at Lobo Stadium here Friday at 8 p.m.
Forney, highest-scoring eleven in Texas, has rolled to 11 consecutive victories while Garrison, also a flashy offensive outfit, has notched ten straight triumphs, one of them on a forfeit that prevented the Bulldogs from boasting their season’s point total.
Forney has amassed the staggering total of 537 points to date for an average of almost 49 points per contest while Garrison has scored 327 points in the nine games actually played by the Bulldogs for an average of 36.3 points per contest.
The Jackrabbits also boast the highest individual scorer in Texas schoolboy circles in Halfback J.C. Mitchell. During the regular season he tallied 186 points and in the bidistrict playoff added seven more for a total of 193. Not far behind Mitchell in scoring is his teammate, Fullback Brooksy Roland who has piled up 160 points as the two between them have accounted for 353 of Forney’s 537 points to date.
Against this pair Garrison will counter with Halfback Fred (Jigger) Bussa, a swivel-hipped, high-scoring star in his own right who has tallied 120 points for the Bulldogs this season.
All indications point to a wide-open offensive battle when the two teams tangle here tonight, although each eleven has exhibited a remarkably stout defense.
Forney has given up but 45 points to the opposition while Garrison’s even more iron-clad defense has yielded only three touchdowns all season and a total of 20 points.
In non-conference play Forney trounced three Class A teams and Garrison two.
The Jackrabbits hold victories over Ferris 28-7, Seagoville 20-7 and Rockwall 51-6. The Bulldogs’ Class A victims were Diboll 37-6 and Timpson 12-0.
Forney, representing District 17-B, won the bidistrict championship last week by storming past the Judson Blue Devils, District 18-B titleholders, 40-13. The Jackrabbits ran up a lead of 33-0 before the Blue Devils were able to push across a touchdown.
Garrison, winner of the District 19-B crown, won the bidistrict title without even having play when Deport of District 20-B forfeited.
Although Mitchell is the leading scorer for Forney, Roland is the club’s leading ground gainer. He has accumulated 1,504 yards from scrimmage while Mitchell is second in that department with 1,344.
The real work-horse of the Forney eleven, however, is Right Halfback Frank Carmichael. During the campaign Carmichael has carried the ball 57 times for 342 yards and has scored 31 points. On defense he plays part-time center, halfback and linebacker.
Both teams have rolled up amazing total yardage for the season. Forney has gained a total of 5,295 yards – 4,249 rushing and 1,046 through the air – while limiting opponents to 1,526. Garrison has gained 3,844 yards and has held the opposition to only 654.
