Graham High School - Steer Yearbook (Graham, TX)

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JooiU GRAHAM STEERS. AAA STATE SEMIFINALISTS 1963 The 1963 edition of Steer football team started the season with a tremendous handicap. Although the team boasted only four returning regulars from the fine 1962 team, it was picked by one magazine to win the AAA State title and picked high in state polls in most newspapers. The Steers met the challenge like real men, defeating their first seven opponents by decisive scores. They met their first defeat of the season against Brownwood in a bitterly fought game played in rain and on a wet field. After the Brownwood defeat many skeptics and critics thought that that was all for Graham, that the team would fold like a wet paper sack. Such was not the case. Like true champions they picked themselves up from the field of despair to fight again. And again they surged to victory, becoming the only Graham team in history to defeat Breck enridge two years in succession and on Breckenridge home field. The following week they faced Wichita Falls Rider, a team now favored to win the District Championship. Rider had defeated Brownwood by a score of 33-0, and since Brownwood had defeated the Steers 14-13, everyone thought this game would be a rout. The Steers did not forfeit, however, and went to Wichita Falls to play football and play to win. After spotting Rider a 7-point lead early in the first quauer, the Steers stiffened their defense, and their offense began to jell. Receiving the second- half kickoff, the Steers were never stopped until they reached paydirt and kicked the point to tie it up. Ahead in penetrations and first downs, they were content to settle for the Co-Championship with Rider by virtue of the 7-7 tie, and ran out the clock. Kenny Powell rolls against Cleburne with Lochner and Henderson moving in to help. Oops, Terry Collins seems to say in diving for pass against Bowie. P. D. Shabay runs against Cleburne as Boomer Davis prepares to block a pursuing defender. Steve Denny puts crush- ing block on would-be Bowie tackier. Kenny Powell races 67 yards for TD against Bowie.

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BOOMER DAVIS GEORGE HAYS page 17 GORDON NEES BUDDY PONDER

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footba I Advancing to Bi-District play against Snyder the next week, the Steers looked like a great team in defeating the Tigers 19-0 for their first Bi-District championship since 1956. Everyone was happy over the Snyder victory, but, alas, ahead stood the mighty Demons from Dumas, defending State Champions for two straight years, winners of 23 consecutive games, and sporting a 11-0 record. It was a cold, windy day in Borger, site of the Quarter-final contest. December 7 was the day. It is a date that will go down in history as the Steers' finest hour. It was a day of victory. Blocking and tackling as though their very lives depended upon each play, the fighting Steers from Graham, decided underdogs, pulled the most earth- shaking upset of the season, and downed the mighty Demons 13-0. It was. without doubt, the greatest victory for Graham in gridiron history. None of the players or fans seemed to notice the biting 20 degree temperature after the game en route to the after- game meal. It could have been 100 below; they could not have cared less. Although they lost a heartbreaker to Corsicana in the final minute of play, 14-13. they proved to a lot of people that they were truly a group of fine young men with stout hearts and strong morals. This was the first time in history that a Graham team had advanced to the Semifinals. But they were winners in other ways, too. They were a group of which Graham will always be proud. Billy Ingram rolls be- hind wall of blockers led by Powell (32), Matzinger (84), Ponder (61). and Hays (72). Kenny Powell is sur- rounded by tacklers in the game with Burkbumett. Steers Gough (24) and Ponder (61) halt a Burk- burnett drive. Steers Pete Wood, James Jackson, and Terry Collins defend against Vernon pass. Behind good blocking, Powell streaks 65 yds. for first TD against Vernon. James Jackson watches as Pete Wood moves against Vernon. page 19