The first phase of the Rocket Program following the 1983 "moon landing" involved a flight test with Marshall at Northside Stadium. Marshall was actually a slight favorite going in, what with the rebuilding Judson was faced with following the departure of most of the key Flight Crew members from the previous year, and this being DW Rutledge's first mission as Flight Director. The Rockets, in fact, were picked to finish third in District, behind Madison (the favorite) and Churchill. Sure enough, the Rockets were definitely not the offensive juggernaut they once were, as the score remained at 0-0 as time wound down in the 4^th Quarter, although it was quite apparent that the defense was fully up to the task. With time running out, the Rockets had managed to work their way down to the 5-yard line. They got a tad bit closer but, preferring the Endzone to a FG, they were stymied by the Rams, and the game ended in a tie. In many ways, however, it was a major moral victory for the Rockets, because they had for the most part outplayed the highly-regarded Marshall team and, and looked to be in pretty good shape after all. At least the game served as a good "Countdown Demonstration Test." The following week at Alamo Stadium, the Rockets managed to extend their scoreless streak to 6 straight quarters (dating back to the scoreless 4th at Texas Stadium) against Highlands, but then exploded for 21 points in the 2^nd Quarter. The Rockets, with D.W. Rutledge as Flight Director and Frank Arnold as Program Manager, finally had liftoff, and ended the game in orbit with a 35-0 boost phase (the Owls would go on from there and make it to the third round against Madison). The Clark Cougars also seemed to be adding another chapter to their brief history, as they beat Churchill 13-7 in the first meeting between the two the night before.

The next week, in the first game held in Converse since the Bi-district meeting with Clark, the Rockets circularized their orbit with a 29-20 "OMS burn," as they beat Sam Houston (this would be the Cherokees’ only loss en-route to a second visit to the 2^nd Round of the playoffs). Somewhat unusual, in this game, was the use of John Tomasi, the kicker who had previously kicked for Aspermont before joining the Rockets the year before, expecting to only play tennis before someone found out, once the mission got underway, that he could kick. He was put in at running back in the Sam Houston game, and ended up getting 150 yards on 22 carries. All systems were therefore "go" for the Rockets to continue what they hoped would end with a second successful visit to the "moon." The Rockets passed another critical DTO (Detailed Test Objective) the following week by beating MacArthur, 20-6. Next up: A showdown with Madison for what would very well decide the district.

Played under a threat of thunder and lightning and an intermittent drizzle in Converse, Madison was every bit as good as advertised. The Rockets got off to a very shaky start that saw Mitchell Price score early in the 1^st Quarter on a very long sprint from scrimmage. After another "3-and out" for Judson, the Mavericks had another very long run and were knocking on the door again before the Rockets somehow managed to shut them off with little yardage to spare. Meanwhile, lightning was crackling intermittently all through that opening Quarter and, quite ironically, the thunder seemed to sound every time a play took place that threatened to bury the Rockets further. At one point, I heard some lady behind me say "oohhh, someone didn’t like that play." It was at this point that I started to get the distinct sense that maybe we would come out ok after all, even if it took awhile. Sure enough, the Rockets managed to finally slow Madison down a little, and then managed to get a 3-pointer just before the Half. The Rockets then took a 10-7 lead in the 4^th Quarter, and was looking to be in pretty good shape. With less than a minute to go, the Rockets elected to take a safety, making the score 10-9. Following the free kick, Madison then managed to make it down close enough to attempt a FG on the final play of the game. Somewhat ironically, this same basic scenario had played out in Converse in 1981, with the Rockets knocking at the door following the intentional safety by Madison. Similar to 1981, the team that was leading held on to win. The Rockets had thus passed another major "DTO," as the season was suddenly already at midpoint.

The next week against Churchill at Blossom, and with the offense still struggling, the Rockets intercepted a pass early in the 3^rd Quarter, and converted with a TD shortly thereafter to open and also close the scoring. Interestingly, the Rocket offense had been in a consistent scoring "countdown" since the 35-point performance with Highlands. If this trend continued, the Rockets would soon be out of points. Almost as if on cue, this was precisely what happened the next week at Blossom, when Roosevelt scored late in the 3^rd Quarter and held on for a 6-0 win. The Rocket offense got back on track over in Seguin, but then took a 6-6 tie into the 4^th Quarter against mid-season non-district foe Central Catholic, before recovering a blocked punt in the Endzone for a 13-6 final score. Some girl behind me kept saying, "come on ………..this is unreal." Indeed, the game did have kind of a surreal quality to it. In any event, the Rockets were actually still in pretty good shape to win district, if nothing else. But, they had to beat Lee (who had recovered somewhat from their collapse of the previous three seasons), otherwise 3 other teams in addition to Madison were more than willing to take their place. The Rockets, in spite of a relatively low point output once again, had a pretty solid defensive and offensive game, coming out on top 17-0. Madison, meanwhile, clinched the other playoff position with a 9-1 record. Interestingly, if not for the "new kids" Judson and Madison, Churchill would have won the district once more. Elsewhere, Clark finished 10-0, one game ahead of 9-1 Holmes. In all it was a quality regular season for quite a few teams, including those not making the playoffs.

Semifinals
Permian 20 Highland Park 7
French 22 Madison 12

Final
Permian 21 French 21

The Rockets met up with Holmes and Ternell Washington at Blossom, and shut down what was purportedly a more superior offensive team with a 14-0 win. Meanwhile at Northside, Madison hung on for a 14-12 win over slight favorite Clark, and this after having to weather two consecutive FG attempts following penalties and with no time left. Everyone knew by now, based on the previous two seasons, that the Rockets and the Mavs were probably going to meet again. Sure enough, Madison beat Highlands 42-16 at Alamo Stadium to do their part, and then Judson scored twice in the 4^th Quarter of its 3^rd Round game at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi to beat Edinburgh 14-7.

Similar to the 1982 Judson-Churchill series, everyone knew that it would probably be a much tougher game for the Rockets to beat the Mavs again, especially in view of Madison's having gotten their offense untracked a little bit following the previous meeting, and the lower-scoring (but improving) offense of the Rockets. Either way, about 18000 showed up for the game. Once again, the Rockets had a very inauspicious start, and quickly found themselves in a 10-0 1^st-Quarter deficit following a Mitchell Price punt return. The Rockets finally came alive as the 2^nd Quarter wore on, and had managed, following a 48-yard Mark Christian FG, to tie it up 10-10 as time expired in the 1st Half. Madison’s Tom Nalepa had no problem kicking 3-pointers in this game, as he added another just after Halftime to regain the lead for the Mavs. Then, toward the latter stages of the 3^rd Quarter, the Rockets snatched their first lead of the day, on a 42-yard Roland Cravey dash, although the PAT failed. It looked for a very few seconds that the Rockets were maybe on their way when they recovered a fumble a few seconds later; however, they returned the favor two plays later, and shortly thereafter Madison tacked on another FG. Then, early in the 4^th period, Madison snatched Jr. QB Steward Perez’ pass and, once again, added still another three-pointer to regain the lead for good. The Rockets then experienced some more turnovers so that the narrow, three-point differential all of a sudden seemed like Mt. Everest. Either way, the Rockets definitely had their chances and, with a relatively young team, looked fully prepared to pick up in a few months where they were being forced to leave off for now.

Madison, meanwhile, went to Kyle Field for a match-up with Beaumont French, who was writing a story not much unlike Westbrook’s from two years before, at least from the standpoint of entering with a 6-4 record, and dead on arrival at that both throughout the season and then entering the playoffs, suddenly coming alive and leaving their victims in denial that they’d been had by a very small but very quick opponent. The Mavs got back into the game with a TD run as time ran out in the 1^st Half, and then, still trailing 7-6, they kicked two FG’s as the 2^nd Half progressed. French actually did a pretty good job of moving the ball all day, they also had a strong southerly breeze at their back in the 4^th Quarter, and hence it seemed like only a matter of time before they would break through. Nevertheless, Madison wasn’t just letting them run all over the place. French had to earn its yardage and thus, Madison was still clinging to a 12-7 lead as things moved under the 5-minute mark. Then the roof caved in, as French scored, got a two-point conversion and then, on the kickoff, recovered a Madison fumble that French killed a large portion of the remaining time with before scoring for a 22-12 advantage. French then came back from a 21-7 deficit at Texas Stadium and tied Mojo to share the title. In view of the two games that followed Judson’s final game at Alamo Stadium, everyone was left realizing how close Judson had perhaps actually come to doing it all over again. In any event, it was a fine moment, for the most part, for San Antonio area football overall, as notice was being served to the rest of the State that there truly was life after Churchill, and now perhaps even Judson. Also much more pleasing for Clemens was the fact that, having been moved down to 4A, they won district and made it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1958. And, in a very gritty performance, under-sized Medina Valley defeated the defending champ Daingerfield for the 3A championship

The 1984 Madison Mavericks: 13-2