Forney Flies Into Semifinals With Keller Crushing

by George Pharr

Dallas Times Herald
Saturday, 3 December 1966

HALTOM CITY – Forney sure enjoyes the revenge bit. Or so it looks.

The Jackrabbits had a wonderful time paying off an old debt. If you don’t believe it, ask Keller’s battered, bruised and badly beaten Indians.

They will describe with horror what happened here Friday night. For Keller, it was an evening filled with nightmares.

Forney just walked out and slapped Keller with a mighty 41-0 punch. Things like that aren’t supposed to happen in the quarterfinal round of the schoolboy playoffs.

But a year ago, Keller made a social blunder. The Indians upset these same Jackrabbits at the same stage of the playoffs.

Forney remembered. It made sure no such thing would happen this time.

With the win, the undefeated District 14-A champs move into the Class A semifinals. They’ll face the winner of Saturday night’s White Deer-Sonora battle.

Using its familiar grind-it-out offense and push ’em back defense, Forney showed why it is the state’s top-ranked outfit.

The Jackrabbits limted Keller to four first downs, a total offensive output of just 94 yards and stopped everything resembling a threat with five pass interceptions.

Yardstick

Sammy Beeler turned two steals into instant touchdowns, racing 57 and 45 yards for the game’s most exciting plays.

Fullback Larry Bush banged in three times, scoring twice from the one and going six for his finale. On that trip, the bruising 190 – pounder stormed through four Indians to paydirt.

Forney’s first touchdown and lone pass completion came at the same time. Thomas Cheney flipped 13 yards to end George Schlebach on a fourth and nine situation.

The Jackrabbits pushed 65 yards in 14 plays, but were momentarily stalled by a penalty. But the Cheney-Schlebach combo clicked perfectly with 37 seconds left in the first period and that was all for Keller.

Short punts kept Keller in trouble throughout and Forney started its second touchdown march after a 13-yard kick. The Jackrabbits sauntered 48 yards and Bush made it 13-0 on a one-yard plunge with 3:31 to go before the half.

Beeler’s first interception return upped it to 20-0 with 9:14 left in the third quarter. For awhile, that looked like the last of the scoring.

But during a wild 8:10 span of the final period, Bush scored twice and Beeler picked off another pass.

Forney traveled just 46 and 44 yards for two of those fourth period tallies.

Bush clubbed out 131 yards on 31 carries to pace Forney’s assault forces, while Cheney added 66 on 16 tries.

The Jackrabbit defense was sparked by Beeler, who stole three passes; Bunyan Humphries, Gary Whittemore, Kenneth Brooks and Dale Penny