Conroe High School - Flare Yearbook (Conroe, TX)

Page 286 text:

A CONROE TRADITION CONROE TIGERS: DISTRICT 16-5A CHAMPS With new first year head coach Mike Barber at the helm, the Tigers preparing for district, looking at a much tougher District 16-5A than ever before. Every team was stronger and better than ever, but the Tigers, who were previously ranked sixth in state and first in the Houston Area, had a bright outlook. In their first test, they met the Humble Wildcats, and passed with flying colors, embarrassing Humble 24-0. The always tough Conroe defense held the helpless Wildkats to just 60 yards rushing and only 168 yards total offense. The Tiger offense on the other hand, rolled to a tremendous 295 yards total. Next the Tigers, in a non-district game squeeked by the Waco Univer- sity Trojans 10-7 and then prepared for their next district game against the Spring Lions. After an embarrassment last year, the Lions were out for revenge, but to no avail. The Conroe team stormed the Lions 29-14 and beat them for the sixth straight year, in what was the turning point of the year for the Tigers. They were playing with a lot more unity, intensity and emotion than ever before. Behind the toe of Forrest Sealy (3 fieldgoals), Bubba Jacques ' two interceptions, and a district leading 78 yard kick-off return by Mace Meeks to set up a score, the Conroe team handily dispos- ed of their foe. The Conroe varsity could not savor their victory long though, the next week they were to face a highly talked about Kingwood team, for Homecoming. Conroe has not lost a homecoming game in who knows when, so the pressure was on. Senior runningback Mark Kelm helped to relieve some of that pressure as he rushed for 105 yards to help the Tigers ease by Kingwood 9-8. The following week the town of Conroe perked up for what is always an exciting game when the McCullough Highlanders rolled onto the CHS campus. The Conroe Tigers repeated their win from the previous year, by prevailing over the Macs 21-13. Senior Ed Thorton had an ex- cellent scoring effort with all three of the Tiger scores, and the defensive unit as a whole showed an outstanding performance as well. Coming down off of a big victory, the Tigers still had time to demolish the New Caney Eagles 56-20. Mark Kelm put on a clinic by rushing for 112 yards and scoring three touchdowns. The defensive secondary had a field day with Sophomore Bubba Jacques, Juniors Tim Kelley and Chip DriscoU, and Seniors Gary Meador and Mace Meeks all getting a total of six interceptions. This was the Tigers ' last home game of the season and all reserves got playing time, with Seniors only playing the fourth quarter. The final game of the regular season was against a very tough Westfield team for the district crown. With the trophy in view from their sidelines, the Tigers who were already assured of a play-off spot, took the field and handily beat the Mustangs 17-7. The secondary again prevailed, bagging another three interceptions, bringing their total to a record high 17 pick-offs. Senior Mace Meeks returned a district leading 44 yard punt return to set up an Ed Thorton score, his first of two for that game. Finishing district with an unblemished 6-0 record, 9-1 overall, the Con- roe varsity outscored their opponents 232-107, allowing the fewest points in the district. The offense averaged 269 yards a game while the defense allowed only 1% yards a game. After receiving their district trophy the Tigers set their sites for Bi - District. 1983-84 VARSITY FOOTBALL COACHES AND TRAINERS: Top Row: K. Dove, M. Ferrell, F. Romero, Head Coach — M. Barber, T. Johnson, D. Webb, M. Saly. Bottom Row: J. Howell, C. Bales, R. Eikenberg, M. Crowell, R. Welborn, B. Bonar, D. Smith. TIGER BOSS Mike Barber con- gratulates players after another victory. 286 •Football

Page 285 text:

TIGERS SMACK MAC ATTACK CONROE CRUSHES ARCH-NEMESIS 21-13 Maybe the biggest, and certainly one of the most important, games played in District 16-5A football is the Annual Conroe- McCuUough shootout. This game, for the bragging rights of the county, was scheduled for October 21, this year, and what a game it turned out to be. First of all, there were many different things about this game. Going in Conroe was 3-0 in district and McCuUough 2-1. Even though they each still had two games left, if Conroe beat McCuUough, the Highlanders were out of the play-off scene. Next, McCuUough was scheduled to be the home team, so Conroe fans had to sit on the visitor ' s side. But nonetheless, a very fired up Tiger team walked down the visitor ' s run- way and dominated the first half of the game. By the end of the half the Tigers, behind Ed Thorton ' s three touchdowns and Forrest Sealy ' s three PAT ' s, were winning 21-6. In the second half the Highlanders made a comeback surge and got a quick score to make it 21-13, but that ' s when the tough Tiger defense bowed up. The Highlanders would not see paydirt again. The defensive line led by seniors Odell Benskin and Ed Thorton, along with other stan- douts, punished McCuUough ' s running attack and when they took to the air, sophomore Bubba Jacques picked off two consecutive passes to give him the district lead in interceptions. When the final whistle sounded the Tigers prevailed again for the second straight year, 21-13- The fans storm- ed onto the field, coach Barber was lifted into the air, and the thrill of vic- tory was enjoyed by everyone. MARK KELM cuts around the end for a big gain. SILENCE before the storm. SENIOR Quarterback Bruce WiUiams looks for an opening. Football -285

Page 287 text:

)ANIEL McWASHINGTON shows the hrill of victory. Tiger Pride Never Dies Tigers Fall Short In Bi-District The season was going great for th; Tigers, they had just won district and were now facing a sup- posedly weaker Cy-Creek team. But like all good things, their luck came to an end. The game started out good enough with kicker Forrest Sealy booting the opening kick-off into the end zone. Then, the defense held their ground and forced Cy-Creek to punt. The offense then drove the ball downfield but had to settle for a fieldgoal. Then the tides began to turn. On their next possession, Cy-Creek drove downfield for the game ' s first touchdown and took a 7-3 lead. As time ran out in the first half, Conroe once again took the ball downfield but fell short on a last second attempt for a touchdown. The sec- ond half was a stalemate until there were about three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Cy-Creek was forced to punt from their own endzone, but after a bad snap, gave up a safety. After the kickoff, and an excellent Meeks return, the Tigers drove to the Cy-Creek 31 yard line and faced a third and short. Forrest Sealy, the Tiger kicker took the field and prepared to win the game for Conroe. But then fate struck and a Cy-Creek lineman found his way through the trenches and blocked the attempt, and Con- roe ' s chances of advancing in the play-offs. The opponents then took the ball with under two minutes left and stalled until the clock ticked down. Even though this ended a long season, the Tigers were not desolate for long. One tends to look back on a season and remember not their losses and mistakes, but their victories and their contribu- tions. This was the case of the Tigers. The Seniors reminisced of past seasons and the underclassmen readied for the next year. But most of all, everyone realized that by going 9-2 on the season, winning district, and walking away with their heads up, that they had kept up the tradition and followed the pattern that Tigers of the past had set for years and years before them. SENIOR KELVIN YATES finds a hole behind some excellent blocking. FORREST SEALY racks up another score for the Tigers. TIGERS join together after a victory over McCoUough to sing the school song. FOOTBALL Football • 287