Graham High School - Steer Yearbook (Graham, TX)

Page 24 text:

 ?oolf)a I P. D. Shabay sweeps around end against Stephen- P. D. gets the hard yard in Brownwood ville while Lasater goes for a Yellow Jacket. game. Jqhnny Mills picks up yardage after receiving pass against Stephenville. Captains Gresham and Shabay ponder the coin flip prior to Brownwood game. page 20 Gordon Nees snares sideline pass enroute to first TD against Stephenville. Fred Gough (24) breaks up a Brownwood pass.

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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

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football P. D. Shabay makes a yard against Weatherford E. A. Gresham moves in for block while with Mills, Ingram, and Davis assisting. Ingram makes his cut during Rider game. John Matzinger scores on pass against Breckenridge. Fierce action filled the Rider game. Shabay waltzes over for TD against Breckenridge. Matzinger snares a completion in action seen during Rider game. an cfUfien cS ome Other Steers who stood out prominently in the successful season with strong effort but seemed to miss the eye of the camera were Neill Edwards, who ran an intercepted pass 65 yards for a TD against Corsicana; Kelly Reeves, a strong blocker good on de- fense; Joe Bill Bennett, outstanding on defense; Dale Shaffer, a fine end; Tommy Martin, who intercepted a pass against Brownwood; Jimmy Henderson, who sparkled consistently with sharp running; Bill McCluer, a junior; Danny Wood, a junior, who sparkled on end runs; Preston Pratt, a sophomore who stood out as a fine signal caller, and Mike Copper, who hustled all the season. page 21