Waco High School - Daisy Chain Yearbook (Waco, TX)

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most of the afternoon, was a tremendous one, but it took a heavy toll and left the Tigers in a weakened condition for the state final the following week. VVe cannot say too much for the line. Orville Post played a fine game, not only at end but also at quarterback after the injury of McCollum. McCollum's blockingand sig- nal calling were magnificent. Vogel play- ed another great game. The speedy Boyygl and the powerful Pulattie were at their best. But once more, the Tigers wan by team work, not by individual brilliance., Lubbock .20fI,ylIl'0 If-ff we 5 In the Tigers' last game of the sea- son, the state final, they met a defeat that ranked even above the one in their opening game as a heart-breaker. VVith the state championship hanging in the balance, Waco, battered and worn by the Houston game, fought its great heart out against the worst of breaks and the in- spiration of a fine Lubbock team, only to lose in the closing minutes of the game, Early in the first quarter, after prodi- gious punting had pushed VVaco back deep into its own territory, the VVesterners took over on the Tiger 17, from which point their great back, Alford, carried over on a fine run. Waco came back with that fighting determination that had al- ready been responsible for so many vic- tories, and drove down to the Lubbock 2, where a tragic fumble lost an almost cer- tain touchdown. For the time, the Tiger spark dwindled and once more the mighty VVesterners started to move. They inter- cepted a Waco pass in their own territory, gse.t.ting off-ga furious drive which netted them, another 6 points. So when the .Tigers started the third quarter, they were -behind lg, too- But early in that period VVaeo'recoverecl a fumble on the Lubbock 42, from ivliehfpoint it fought its way to the 2 yardline. Then Pulattie carried over on last down. Bowen's conversion left Waco only 6 points behind. A few minutes later the Tigers fought from the Westerner 77 to the 5 from where Blan- ton crashed over, carrying a good portion of the Lubbock team along with him. The conversion put VVaco ahead by i point. VVaco had fought its way to the lead by sheer determination, had come back after being behind by iq points. But the Tigers were not in the physical shape that they had been in for their other games, and were playing a great team and an inspired team. Lubbock had the wind in the final Bo-zt'r'11 'zt'mft's Iflrougfl I4'0l'f7ll.l' Clzrixffx Burr.

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contributed so nobly in the line that the Tiger backs might cover themselves with glory, had his own moment of personal triumph, The staying power of the Tigers was truly wonderful in this offensive classic. They proved once again that they were true champions. Blanton's passing, the line play of Myers, Gardner, and Vogel, the excellent play of Post at end, and the magnificent blocking of McCollum, were stand-out personal performances. But all of the Tiger players fought with savage fury and played with clocklike precision, so that no one could really be called VVaco's star. They were all stars. IIYIIVO 77Sft'f1lIt'lI F. iflhffl-ll U The Tigers had to go to Houston for their semifinal contest. There, at Rice Stadium, they met and defeated the huge Stephen F. Austin High School team of Houston on a rain drenched field. The game was as bitter and bruising as any the Tigers ever played. All afternoon it was a battle of lines. It was pound, pound, pound, with every man on the field taking a tremendous physical beating. The VVaco defense held magnificently in this, the one game in which the Tiger offense was throttled. VVaco fought its way down al- most to the Nlustang goal time and again, only to be thrust back hy that heavv fight- ing Houston line. At last, as the final seconds of the first half approached, VVaco took the ball on the Stephen F. Austin zo, after it had been repulsed from the very goal line a few minutes before. From here, Bob Burke faded back and heaved one of his famous long passes to Orville Post who was waiting on the 2 yard line. But Post was not in the clear. He was surrounded by Nlustang players. However, this fact didn't seem to bother him, for he leaped up from their midst, making a miraculous catch, and stepped over the goal, giving the Tigers their only store and a victory. Never did Stephen F. Austin seriously threaten, though it made one penetration in the third quarter on a long pass that was good for about go yards. The VVaco-Stephen F. Austin game will go down in history as one of the truly great defensive battles of all time. Such fury is seldom seen on a football field as was shown by both teams that day. The achievement of the VVaco line in holding the powerful Mustangs scoreless and in keeping the ball in Houston territory Pzllrlffic rr111't quite' t'Ilfl'lI il 115 Tyler closes in. '-if

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period. and once again kicking put VVaco in a deep hole. Finally, in the waning moments of the last quarter, Lubbock got the ball on the VVaco 38. From there Al- ford, the Westerner fullback, started a run that was the sensation of the game. He hit the center of the line, and twice he seemed stopped but he finally broke into the clear to give the West Texas team its margin of victory. Waco made one last, desperate, drive. Starting from mid- field, the Tigers fought to the 27, but an-s other heart-breaking fumble ended the drive and Waco's chance for victory. i a Yes, the Tigers lost the state champ- ionship to Lubbock, They were fairly beaten. But in defeat they were as great as ever they had been in victory. '1 hey went into the game riddled with injuries and hampered by fatigue. They had fumbles and penalties to contend with at the most inopportune times. They had every kind of break to go against them. 'Yet they would not be discouraged. They struggled against the inevitable and near- ly won. They fought with a savage fury that has seldom been equaled. And, even though much bereaved by their defeat, when the game was over, with the hearts of true sportsmen they were the first to congratulate the great new football State Champions. Post did a fine job at quarterback, but McCollum, who had to leave the game early on account of a shoulder injury, was sorely missed not only for his own magni- fiee-nt -ability, but also because had he been able to play, l'ost would have been a-ble to fill his regular end position and Qve the Tiger line some much needed help. Pulattie- played a brilliant game both offensively and defensively, and Bowen and Blanton made many beautiful runs. Myers and Sprowl rose to titanic heights in the middle of the line. But once more there was no one who could be called VVaco's star , For the team of IQQQ was no conglomeration of individ- uals. lt was a team in the truest sense of the word, with every cog performing its function in perfect coordination with every other cog, and every man accom- plishing his own task well. Therein lies the secret of the Tigers' success. Tigers mziwrgf nn Corjmx ball rnrrirr.