1973
Gobbled Up

The Rockets lifted off on a very hot first stage with a solid performance against Medina Valley in Castroville on September 7. Scoring highlights included

• Mike Roberson scoring on an 8-yard TD run, a 2-point conversion run and a pass completion for still one (1) more 2-pointer
• Randy Debacker getting a 4-yard run for the score
• James Nolden punching in from a yard out
• Charles Horton zipping in from six (6) yards out.

All told, the performance gave great hope that Judson could take things to another level in the 2nd year of its Class 3A Rocket Program. The optimism, however, quickly proved illusory, as the Rockets took two (2) steps backward in a 13-9 debacle in converse with Poth on September 14. As opposed to a clean, crisp style of play the week before, this Rocket performance involved far too many glitches permitted the Pirates to hang around through Halftime, pull ahead for good following the 2nd-Half kickoff, and thereafter prevent the Rockets from re-asserting themselves. The pattern continued in the Converse matchup with Randolph on September 21. The Rockets played a respectable defensive game, but so did the Ro-Hawks. In fact, Defense was what turned the tide in what in all likelihood would be the final meeting between the two (2) schools. Early in the 3rd Quarter Jon Euss stepped in front of a Rocket pass and returned it for the score. Joey Diquinzio hooked up with Jim Argersinger for the 2-point play, and this would prove to be sufficient as the Rockets got to keep a goose-egg as the Ro-Hawks' going-away gift. Ironically, the 8-0 score was the same score turned in when these two (2) met for the first time eleven (11) years earlier---except it was the Rockets with the "8" in that one. The Rockets did turn away the Ro-Hawks at the 9-yard line in the 2nd Quarter and the 3-yard line in the penultimate period, and in the 2nd Quarter the Rockets got as close as the Randolph 35-yard, where a FG attempt was short and wide. It was, nevertheless, a most unsatisfying result for the Rockets.

The rockets thereafter traveled to Devine for a September 28 meeting with the Warhorses, where the equines pranced away with nine (9) points in the 2nd Quarter and seven (7) in the 3rd. The Rockets essentially had an offensive power failure so bad that they ended up with one (1) First Down, negative rushing yardage, three (3) lost fumbles and three (3) INT's. The Rockets nevertheless got their chance to erase the goose-egg in the final period when they recovered a blocked punt at the Devine 14-yard line. On the very next play, however, the Rockets fumbled it back to the horses at the 6-yard line.

The Rockets returned to Converse on October 5 where they held the Lockhart Lions to a double goose-egg in the 1st Half, and thereafter got the breaks that they needed in the 2nd Half. Midway through the 3rd Quarter the Rockets mounted a 65-yard drive that James Nolden finished off with a 6-yard run. A little later, the Rockets recovered a Lion fumble at the Lockhart 10-yard line. In fairly short order the Rockets got the score and a 2-point play. On October 12, however, it was the Rockets' turn once more to receive a goose-egg, this time courtesy of the Clemens Buffaloes

The Rockets got back to Converse for a November 2 meeting with the Gonzales Apaches, and they managed to stay within reach at Halftime, trailing 13-8. The Apaches nevertheless did what they needed to put distance between them and the Rockets in the 2nd Half. The Rockets would keep it to within 27-14, but they could not get any closer and Gonzales got the win. Getting the scores for the Rockets was Tino Lopez taking a pass from Doug Wingate and zipping 67 yards for the payoff, and Wingate hitting with Jim Polski with an aerial that was then taken to the house on a 73-yard play.

On November 9, Judson closed out its Class 3A Rocket Program in New Braunfels with the Canyon Cougars. The Rockets snatched a brief lead in the opening period with a 24-yard aerial from Andreoli to Lopez, and Tino Lopez' 2-pointer. Thereafter, the cats clawed the Rockets with 33 points to put an end to still one (1) more Rocket era and send Judson where no Rocket had gone before: 4A

The 1973 Class 3A Playoffs
NOTE: Given in RED is the team representing the District Judson was in

Semifinals
Mount Pleasant 26 Lamesa 21
Cuero 35 Henderson 25
Final
Cuero 21 Mount Pleasant 7