WYLIE - The maturity of a football team took place Friday night on the home field of the Wylie Pirates. By the tune of 35-0, the Forney Jackrabbits proved to everyone that they are not a one-man team. Taking nothing from "Big Steve Collier," the Rabbits won this one without his heroics. Injured on the second play from scrimmage, Collier went to the sidelines and from there into the middle of the third quarter the maturity of a ball club took place.

"A Team Effort"

After a defensive first quarter, the Rabbits took control of the ballgame with eleven minutes left in second quarter. Robert Runnels, the ever improving leader of the "Wild Bunch," pulled off a 54-yard quarterback sneak for the initial touchdown; with the PAT being no good, the Rabbits led 6-0. Not wasting any time, the Rabbits again led by Runnels, with a fumble recovery, started from 60 yards away and covered this distance with a pass from Runnels to Arvel Woodward good for 56 of the necessary yardage. The six was totaled by Runnels with the try for two good. At the half the score read 14-0.

"A Team of no Individuals"

Arvel Woodward, a young man in the distant background until Friday night, intercepted a pass on his own 20 yard line and returned it 80 yards for the TD with great support from his teammates on the downfield blocking. The PAT was good with Runnels running it over and from this time on there was no doubt what the ultimate outcome would be.

With 6:59 left, Runnels under a great rush by the Wylie front four, hit Pittmon for a 45-yard TD and the rout was on. The Rabbits did not try to run up the score but by diversifying their attack, they did end up with the total of 35 points.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Rabbits scored quickly again with Pittmon good for 37 yards. Runnels split the uprights and the score mounted.

Big Steve returned in time to gain 36 yards on 5 carries and receive 2 passes for 45 yards. This year's version of the well oiled machine is not one of one individual but of a dozen plus seven playing together to achieve one goal.

"The Wild Bunch"

"Defense" played the way it was Friday night should be outlawed. The 'Wild Bunch' gave up but six first downs and three pass completions good for 10 yards. Wylie finished the game with 92 yards and 10 passing and a total of 102 total offense; most of this coming in the latter stages of the game when Forney was playing the pass instead of the run.

Willie B. Thomas, played his greatest game as a Rabbit. If not in on every tackle, he was so close it was unreal. He is a team member not an individual.

The Rabbits beat a team tonight that may not have a gawdy record but a team that prided itself in its defense. Not being beaten by more than eight points previously, they took it on the chin from an offensive and defensive unit that is only now beginning to realize their potential.

The "Rabbits," "The Wild Bunch," or "The Dirty Dozen plus Seven" played tonight their first game as a complete team. They scored by every means and looked great doing it. There will be tougher games down the road but it makes one wonder what the polls are judged by. This team is good; how good is yet to be determined. Judgment day is coming but it comes one game at a time.

Runnels, Pittmon, Thomas, Jackson and fifteen others make up the ingredients of a winner. The standings at the "end" of a season shows who is the also ran. It is up to this team of individuals to prove they don't belong in this category.

"The Wild Bunch" is on top, it will take four more games to prove to everyone they can stay there.

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Special thanks to Tony Jackson for providing this article.