Kaufman defeats Forney by 19-8 Collier injured

By Jimmy Shepard, Staff Writer

Terrell Tribune
Sunday, 11 November 1973, Page 11

KAUFMAN – When all is said and done about the ball game this night one factor is going to stand out loud and clear. Forney has the ballclub equal to any in the district in every respect but one. They do not have the bench strength to hold up to the more in-depth ballclubs. The thinness showed in the 19-8 defeat at the hands of the Kaufman Lions.

After leading statistically the entire first half, all the Rabbits had to show for it was a 7-0 deficit going into the dressing room.

Robert Runnels fielded the kick-off on his 28 yard line and set sail down the right sideline and came to rest on the Lions 21-yard line. Working by inches against a tenacious Lion defense, the Rabbits scored from four yards out with Runnels gaining the honor. With a bad snap from center on the PAT, Runnels carried across for the two-pointer putting the Rabbits in the lead for the only time of the night.

Jimmy Dan Elzner, the magnificent field general of the Lions, came to the rescue repeatedly Friday night by completing crucial pass after pass.

With Big Steve Collier out with an undetermined injury, with Runnels slowed with a leg injury and many other of the Rabbits feeling the effect of playing a big physical club, the heart of the Rabbit offense was brought to a stop. Time after time in the first half great drives were brought to a standstill because of fumbles and mistakes.

Hobbled and hurting, the “Wild Bunch” held on as long as they possibly could and finally gave up the go ahead points on a seven-yard strike from Elzner to Gill Smith. Gaining encouragement from the fact they had nothing to worry about up the middle, the Lion defense grew stronger by the minute. Norman Scott scampered 17 yards for the final and clinching TD with 2:09 left in the game to sale the game away for the Lions. It was quite a turn-around for the Rabbits because so much depended on this game.

In a little over one half, Collier rushed for 85 yards before going out. The Rabbits are a proud team and one year is a long time to think about what a certain team did to them on a muddy field. This is not a team of quitters and they will not sit down and play dead in the future. A well drilled team beat them Friday night, but I’m not sure the best team won on the battlefield. Kaufman is a sporting town with a great attitude. It was shown after the game by the fact that so many of the Lions sought Collier out as he limped from the field and shook his hand.

There’s nothing more need to be said. There is only one fact left that is loud and clear. The Rabbits can quit or they can play and prove to the people what they are made of. Restitution, one year’s wait against a team that tried their best to mount the score means a lot to this group of individuals. This team remembers and remembers well.

There will be a lot of eyes on Forney, Texas the 16th and the “Wild Bunch” needless to say, will be there, here’s only hoping that they will all be well. One third of the pie is better than none. It is left up to these 19 men to get that much deserved dessert. I think they can do it and I’m behind them 100 per cent. THEY MUST WIN WHEN IT COUNTS AND NEXT WEEK IS WHEN IT COUNTS THE MOST.

Statistics:

Forney                                                       Kaufman

13                   First Downs                         13

5-10-0            Passes                                   10-17-1

46                  Passing Yards                        147

3-3                 Fumbles                                 1-1

154                Rushing Yards                       131

3-25              Penalties                                 3-15

Special thanks to Tony Jackson for providing this article.