....light this candle
Alan Shepard

On Friday, May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard, aboard his Mercury Spacecraft named Freedom 7, carried the hopes of Americans and all people in the free world with him that he would launch successfully and above all safely. There were numerous technical glitches and general uncertainty that they were actually ready to go, resulting in numerous holds in the countdown. Finally, Shepard chastened Launch Control to fix their problems and "light this candle." Minutes later, he lifted off atop the tiny Redstone Rocket Booster, and after 15 minutes of flight Americans and all people in the free world were relieved and proud.

On Friday, September 7, 1962, Judson's Rocket Flight Crew traveled to Dripping Springs, carrying the hopes of a tiny school and community with them that they would launch successfully. The launch, however, continued on hold through the 1st Half. Finally, in the 3rd Quarter, Quarterback Ray Miller hit Phillip Bain with a 25-yard pass to "light the candle" for the Judson Rockets and, more significantly, light the scoreboard. Jack Nelson's PAT was good and the Rockets lifted off with a 7-0 lead. In the final period, Miller rolled out and zipped in untouched from 15 yards out to raise the score some more although the extra point was no good, and after 48 minutes of play the school and community were relieved and proud.

The following Wednesday at Rice University, President Kennedy gave a major speech on the Space Program and spelled out more clearly why the United States had chosen the moon as the goal for the manned program in the 1960's. In addition to asking "why the moon?" he asked "why does Rice play Texas?" He said we undertake such efforts not because such challenges were easy, but precisely because they were hard, and that such a goal can measure the best in all of us.

180 miles to the west down US 90 (and what little there was of I-10 at that point), the Judson Rockets, who were seeking to show their best in answering the challenge posed by their inaugural football season, were preparing for their first football game in Converse, set for September 14. Visiting would be the neighboring Randolph Ro-Hawks, likewise taking flight for their first season. Interestingly, because the Ro-Hawks had an open date to start the season, this would be their first game ever in a season that would have them on the road for the duration, given that their new stadium wouldn't be ready until the following year. Even more ironic for both schools, because Randolph originally chose the Rocket as its mascot and was miffed after discovering that Judson had likewise chosen the Rocket; consequently, Randolph chose an amalgamation of the first choice---Rockets---with the second choice----Hawks, thus giving birth to the Ro-Hawks. A Space Race of sorts had come to Northeast Bexar County. The 1st Half was scoreless, but in the 3rd Quarter Phillip Bain took the handoff around left end and Rocketed into the endzone to put Judson on the board. Ray Miller connected with Bain for two (2) points, and the Rockets led 8-0. Following the kickoff the Ro-Hawks rammed the ball down the Rockets' throats, arriving at the Judson 1-foot line, where the Rockets held and subsequently were able to punt and thereafter prevent any further Ro-Hawk threats to give Judson its second win in as many games. So far, so good in this first round of the Space Race.

With two (2) stunning 'W's," the Judson Rockets would soon discover after an Open Date just how quickly and how unforgivingly fortunes in football, just as in rocket flight, can frequently change----and not for the better----as they soon experienced history of another kind: The first "L." On September 28, 1962, the Lytle Pirates had the honors as they raided the Rockets for 36 points. The first points to be scored on the Rockets came courtesy of the Pirates' Inocencio Cruz, who zipped 53 yards to paydirt a few plays after the opening kickoff to initiate the rout. The Rockets, nevertheless, still had some life in their thrusters and in fact had twelve (12) points to show for the effort:

• A 15-yard scoring toss from Ray Miller to Don Sirianni in the 2nd period


• A 10-yard Miller-to-Sirianni hookup in the final period.

On October 3 Wally Schirra successfully completed a 6-orbit flight aboard Sigma 7. Two (2) days later on October 5 the Rockets were back in Converse and were somewhat less successful with Hallettsville Sacred Heart, who evened the Rocket record at 2-2 as a result of a 28-6 Indian verdict. The Rocket Flight Crew avoided a case of 'cat scratch fever' five (5) weeks earlier in their meeting with the Dripping Springs Tigers, but their visit on October 12 with the Tigers of Brackettville would leave the Flight Crew with some definite claw marks in the 33-20 Brackettville victory. Once again, however, the Rockets had a respectable number of points to show for the effort:

• Ray Miller's 40-yard pass to Don Sirianni in the opening stanza


• Miller's 10-yard dash to the endzone and also a keeper for two (2) in the 4th Quarter


• Larry Taylor's 4th-Quarter punch-in from one (1) yard out, also in the final period

All told, this brought the Rockets' inaugural-season record to 2-3. They evened their record at 3-3 and also improved their record with Tigers to 2-1 with a visit to Yoakum for a win over the Tigers of St. Joseph on October 19. A few days later, the US and the Soviet Union appeared headed for a major conflagration over some rockets of another kind that the Soviets had placed in Cuba. That issue, fortunately, was resolved and the Soviets removed those rockets. Judson, meanwhile, removed its Rockets back to Converse where on October 26 the Flight Crew conducted a supremely successful firing test of their offensive engine components in a 45-6 shellacking of the Rocksprings Angoras. They scored in every Quarter, with Miller completing a 40-yard TD pass to Bain, in addition to two (2) other scores he took care of himself. Additional TD's came as a result of:

• Larry Taylor's 75-yard dash


• Sirianni's 29-yard race to the endzone


• Sirianni's 15-yard pass reception from Miller

On November 3, the D'Hanis Cowboys came to Converse for a Saturday matchup that once more brought the Rockets back to reality, and Judson thereafter completed its World Premier Tour with a Friday evening visit with the Natalia Mustangs. The Mustangs got their scores---and hence the win---from two (2) twins:

• Defensive End Wayland Simmons with a 50-yard INT return


• Weldon Simmons punching in from one (1) yard out to cap a 40-yard drive.


• Weldon crashing in from the 1-foot line


• Weldon carrying for two (2) points after his second TD

The Rockets nevertheless hung tough by likewise getting in on the action with

• Ray Miller's 2-yard end-around run in the 2nd period


• Miller's hookup with Sirianni for a 25-yard scoring play in the penultimate period


• The patented Miller-Sirianni connection one (1) final time for two (2) points immediately following their TD hookup.

The World Premier of Judson's Rocket Program gave hope that it would soar to great heights, bring glory and honor, and eventually pass all others by.

The 1962 Class B Playoffs

NOTE: Indicated in RED is the representative from the District Judson was in. Class B playoffs only went through the 2nd Round