John H Reagan High School - Spur Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Varsity Football New Season Begins Another Climb to Top HOWARD SHAW SLAMS solidly into a Wheatley ball carrier at the quarterfinals match. The steamy locker room was the scene of a jubi- lant celebration. Ecstatic football players were shout- ing, We ' re number one and for good reason, as these players had just accomplished a feat that few other teams in the history of Texas Class AAAA football have been able to do. The Reagan Raiders clinched their 2nd straight undisputed state cham- pionship and eventually their 2nd straight national co-championship (tied with Coral Gables, Florida) with a 17-11 victory over Odessa Permian. Many people thought that the Raiders would have a weaker team in 1968. The question was often asked, What will Reagan do for a suitable encore? With a determination to win and with strong sup- port, the Raiders accomplished the only suitable encore. The team was heartily supported from Church- ill to Permian by a school that wanted the Number 1 on the gym to remain there for another year. Spirit, though, was not the sole factor which helped the Raiders to become the successful team they were. The Reagan team of 1968 had some of the most talented players in the city and in the state, but they also had the ability to work as a team. Even though 27 seniors graduated from the 1967 team, the Raiders had three returning all-staters in Donald Ealey, Howard Shaw and Mike Bayer. Ealey and Shaw led the team in rushing, while Emory Bellard and Bayer provided the passing attack. This two- pronged offense of Reagan was one of the best in the state. Ealey and Billy Schott scored more points than any of the other Raiders. Schott scored all of his points by kicking. A surprise addition to the team was Alan Moore, whose magnificent punting helped the Raiders immeasurably. The Raider defense, Number 1 in the state, was utterly brilliant. The hard tackling of Shaw, Hap Feuerbacher, Jimmy Williams and Jerry Carpenter stopped many offensive drives. Feuerbacher and Williams led the team in recovering fumbles. Rusty Campbell seemingly got to the right place at the right time as he intercepted five passes. James Hendricks led the Raiders in punt blocking with three. In the rushing department, the Raiders gained 3,227 yards while limiting their opponents to a mere 974 yards. The Raiders overshadowed their oppon- ents in the passing category too. Reagan opponents passed for 943 yards while the unstoppable Raiders threw for 1463 yards. The capability of the Raider defense and offense is shown once again by the fact that Reagan opponents were forced to punt 100 times while the Raiders had to punt only 47 times. The remarkable success of the Reagan Raiders can be best summed up as extremely talented players, superb coaching, an overwhelming support by the student body and a desire to accomplish what many had said could not be done. COACH RAVEN RECEIVES congratulations and well-wishes from the Wheatley coach, Henry Carroll. 122— Sports