1996: Frenzied Response to Adversity

NOTE: Click HERE to view the season record

CC Carroll (2-8, 2-4)
September 6, 1996: Converse
The Rockets required only 103 seconds to have main engine ignition and liftoff in this Friday evening meeting with the Tigers in Converse. Daryl McKnight---previously known as Daryl Hill prior to a name change----put the Rockets up with a 14-yard run, and Bagnato nailed the PAT. The Tigers then fumbled their first play from scrimmage, and Eric Tasby’s recovery facilitated McKnight’s second 14-yard score, which came three (3) plays later. The PAT gave the Rockets a 14-0 lead at the 9:06 mark of the opening period. The Tigers held onto the ball on their next series, but the nevertheless failed to produce and on the ensuing punt return McKnight returned the ball 39 yards to the Tiger 22-yard line. Richard Mendoza then connected on the next play with Adrian Barnes, who caught it at the 20 and took it in from there for the score, and the PAT was good with 6:58 left in the 1srt Quarter. Daryle Stewart recovered still one (1) more Tiger fumble, and Barnes and Bagnato were at it again at the 4:41 mark of the 1st period, this time with Barnes running it in from 24 yards out. Brushaud Callis would then score twice in the 2nd Quarter with

• A 3-yard run at the 9:49 mark
• A 1-yard run with 29 seconds remaining in the Half

Bagnato would successfully drill the two (2) concomitant PAT’s

In the 3rd Quarter, McKnight increased the Rockets’ advantage with a 10-yard run with 129 seconds gone, and Bagnato was good on the kick. A pass interference call against the Rockets in the endzone set the Tigers up at the Rocket 2-yard line, and after going backwards on the next two (2) plays, the Tigers got on the board with an 11-yard pass from Daniel Longoria to Davon Jackson with 3:29 left in the 3rd Quarter. The pass for two (2) points, however, was no good. McKnight then answered quickly for the Rockets by zipping 47 yards for a TD with 2:28 left in the 3rd, and still one (1) more time the Bagnato PAT was golden. Edmon James then stepped in front of a Tiger pass and returned it 27 yards for paydirt with 78 seconds left in the 3rd Quarter, and for the final time of the day Bagnato successfully toed the PAT. A Rocket miscue on a punt then facilitated a short drive for the Tigers’ final scores of the day: A 27-yard pass from Longoria to Marcus Carrales, and another pass for two (2) points with 6:24 left in the game.

The Tigers had 57 yards through the air in 5-of-18 passes and one (1) INT. On the ground they netted 49 yards. They had a respectable 3-punt, 38.3-yard average, but the two (2) lost fumbles were damaging to their cause. The Rockets only experienced one (1) turnover---a lost fumble, while getting a workable 2-punt, 37.0-yard average. They picked up 66 yards through the air on 5-of-7 passes, while on the ground they picked up 340 yards, of which 152 belonged to McKnight on ten (10) snaps, and the balance turned in by six (6) other ball carriers.

Marshall (4-5, 3-2)
September 14, 1996: Gustafson Stadium
This was the fourth Saturday evening meeting for these two (2) teams at Northside-----now renamed Gustafson for the legendary one-time Head Coach for Uvalde and Churchill, and more recently long-time NISD Athletic Director, Marvin Gustafson -----and the only meeting at that location not to end in a tie. In retrospect, one wonders just how close things came to it happening again, or for that matter the Rams actually winning it. The Rockets got on the board first with an 18-yard pass from Richard Mendoza to Robert Laymon, and Rudy Bagnato got the PAT at the 7:57 mark of the opening Quarter. Marshall countered with a TD and PAT with 4:03 left in the 1st Quarter. Less than two (2) minutes into the 2nd Quarter, Darryl McKnight put the Rockets up once more with a 4-yard run, and Mendoza added the PAT. Rudy Bagnato extended the Rocket advantage with a 44-yard FG with 4:55 to go in the Half, but Jeremy Monk narrowed the gap with a 19-yard run with 2:04 to go, the PAT failed, and the score would stand at 17-13 at the break.

The 3rd Quarter was scoreless, but that didn’t mean it was uneventful. The Rams threatened with a 1st Down at the Rocket 23, but Kris Allen and Darryle Stewart shut them off and forced a punt. The Rockets were required to begin the subsequent drive at the 4-yard line, but they used a 15-play, 6-minute drive that ended with a 1-yard run by Brushaud Callis and a Mendoza PAT with 8:23 to go in the game. Jeremy Monk then returned the kickoff 87 yards to the Judson 2-yard line, he scored on the next play, and following a successful PAT the Rams were within reach once more with 7:47 to go. McKnight answered with a kickoff return of his own, this one a 93-yarder for a score that was complemented by a Mendoza PAT to put the Rockets up 31-21. Not to be deterred quite yet, the Rams responded with 2:09 left with a 13-yard TD pass from Ronnie Canedo to Dwight Phillips. The PAT was good, the Rams attempted the onside kick, but the Rockets’ Adam Carter was there to recover, and the Rockets bled the clock. The 10557 witnesses saw neither the Rams nor the Rockets commit a turnover. The Rams picked up 341 yards on the ground and 30 through the air on a 2-of-3 passing effort. The Rockets picked up 106 yards through the air on a 4-of-10 effort by Mendoza and Quill Redwine, which complemented the 206 ground yards.

Ellison (8-2, 5-0)
September 20, 1996: Killeen
Precisely five (5) years to the day that the Rockets visited Killeen and saw Jerod Douglas make his debut, the Rockets made a return visit with the Eagles. The visit would have been five (5) years to the minute, had it not been for a 45-minute rain delay. The 45-minute delay was a good call by the Range Safety Officers (ie "the officials"). As demonstrated by Apollo 12, Rockets don’t do too well being launched in thunderstorms, Eagles don't fare very well either, and whether you’re a Rocket or an Eagle, you want to live to fly another day. Once things finally got underway on the water-logged field, the Rockets drove down and Bagnato nailed a 29-yard FG with 5:10 to go in the 1st period. It was interesting to note, however, that from my vantage point, at least, the kick barely made it through, and the result may very well have been different were it not for the extra inch or two provided by the bent goal posts, courtesy of the relatively severe storm. This was the only score of the 1st Half.

The Eagles came out fired up to start the 2nd Half, and David Winbush took off on the 1st play from scrimmage and sprinted 61 yards for the score. The PAT was no good. Late in the 3rd Quarter, the Rockets were in business at the Ellison 6-yard line after the wet ball slithered off the foot of the punter and the Rockets’ Chuck Murphy recovered. Hare would take it in from the 1-yard line, Bagnato was good on the kick, and the Rockets led 10-6 with 1:36 to go in the 3rd. Ellison would regain the lead on a 1-yard run and PAT with 8:17 to go in the game, but the Rockets responded with a 3-yard Callis run with 2:55 to go. The PAT failed, but the onside kick was successful, and the Rockets recovered at the Eagle 45, from where they ran out the clock. Neither team experienced INT’s, but both did experience two (2) lost fumbles. The Eagles snared 17 yards through the air, and the Rockets would have 32. The Eagles picked up 182 yards on the ground, with Winbush being the main contributor with 135. The Rockets netted 268 yards on the ground, with Hare picking up 99, and McKnight and Mendoza picking up 86 and 60 respectively. This was a fun game to watch between two (2) teams that were expecting to fly high by season’s end.

Churchill (8-2, 6-1)
September 28, 1996: Blossom
The Rockets opened up 26-5A play with a Saturday night meeting with the Chargers at Blossom. The Rockets opened the game with an 80-yard drive that ended a little over four (4) minutes later in a 13-yard run for a score by Matt Hare and a Bagnato PAT. The Chargers answered with a 15-yard run by Derek Gary. The PAT was good and the score was knotted with 4:40 to go in the 1st period. The only other scoring activity before the Half came, with 8:42 to go, on a 57-yard pass from Mendoza to CJ Johnson and a Bagnato PAT. The Chargers tied things up again at the 7:27 mark of the 3rd Quarter when Gary scored on a 62-yard run, which was followed by the PAT. Momentum began to swing somewhat in the Rockets’ favor when Adam Carter recovered a Charger fumble (the only turnover by Churchill in the game) at the one-yard line, and Adrian Barnes scored three (3) plays later. With the PAT the Rockets regained the lead with "four zeros" on the 3rd-Quarter clock. In the final period, the Chargers threatened at the Rockets’ 12, 27 and 9-yard lines, but each time the Rockets shut them off. Key contributors to those kinds of phenomena throughout the game were the five (5) sacks recorded by the Rocket Defense for a minus 45 yards. With 7:31 to go the Chargers attempted a FG, but it was wide right. The Rockets shut the Chargers off one final time, and shortly thereafter, with 2:01 to go, the Hare raced 67 yards for the final TD, and Bagnato provided the final PAT. The Chargers finished with a net of 176 yards on the ground but due to the sacks on QB Ry Marek, the total masked the 205 yards picked up by Derek Gary. Marek provided 160 yards on a 12-of-27 passing effort, while the Rockets’ Mendoza would complete 7-of-12 for 137 yards and one (1) INT. The Rockets’ ground team had no lost fumbles while picking up 268 yards. Hare contributed 131 of those on nine (9) carries, while McKnight and Callis contributed 56 and 43, respectively.

New Braunfels (4-6, 1-6)
October 4, 1996: Converse
The Unicorns came to Converse for the first time since 1974, and the Rockets in turn greeted them with a 56-yard drive for a 12-yard Callis run and Bagnato PAT with 7:10 to go in the opening stanza. Matt Hare then scored on a 1-yard run with three (3) seconds gone in the 2nd Quarter, and the Bagnato PAT followed, these coming at the end of a 62-yard drive. The Unicorns would answer with a 49-yard FG with 7:29 to go in the Half, but a Callis 10-yard run and a Bagnato PAT brought the score to 21-3 with 5:27 left. QB’s Richard Mendoza and Quill Redwine would add two (2) additional scoring runs and Bagnato would add two (2) additional PAT’s in the 3rd Quarter, before Matt Hare zipped to a 64-yard TD with 9:00 left in the game. The final PAT was missed. Just prior to the score, the Unicorns would get their sole TD and PAT of the game, these coming at the 9:44 mark. In spite of the final score, the Unicorns gave evidence of the quality of play they were used to producing over the past two (2) decades at the 4A level, as they had no turnovers and had a 40-yard punting average. The Rockets, however, did not need to punt, as demonstrated by the score and by the offensive output: 407 yards on the ground and 68 through the air. Mendoza gained those 68 on a 6-of-10 showing with one (1) INT. The 407 came by virtue of 126 yards each by Hare and Callis, with McKnight also gaining 82, and the balance contributed by five (5) other Backs. Meanwhile, the Unicorns mustered 108 yards on the ground and 43 through the air.

Roosevelt (8-2, 5-2)
October 11, 1996: Converse
The meeting between the two (2) 5A champions from 1995 was missing some of its luster as a result of the two (2) losses the Riders had entering this Friday evening affair in Converse, but it nevertheless attracted 9670 witnesses. The Rockets surrendered a fumble to the Riders on their second play of the game, but on their next possession, Mendoza hit Mike Johnson down the sideline for a 3rd-down, 71-yard pass play for the score, and the Bagnato PAT was good at the 7:29 mark of the opening stanza. Both the Rockets and Riders would then have opportunities to score thereafter, with one of the more serious threats coming on a bad punt snap by the Rockets that set TR up at the Judson 4-yard line, but the Rockets would hold on 4th Down at the 2-yard line. The score would remain 7-0 until late in the 1st Half, but with 3:48 to go TR began a drive at their 40-yard line. QB Ruben Luna hit Terrell Haynes for a 31-yard gain to the Judson 8-yard line on 3rd Down. On 4th-and-2 at the Rocket 6-yard line TR picked up a 1st Down on a pass interference call against the Rockets, and on the next play Haynes took it in for a 2-yard TD, the PAT was good, and the score was knotted at 7 with eight (8) seconds left in the Half.

The Riders then came out of the break and picked right up where they left off, taking the lead with 127 seconds gone in the 3rd period on an 8-yard run by Haynes and another Seth McCabe PAT. The Rockets were unproductive on their first series after the intermission, and TR went back to work finishing their next possession with a 1-yard run by Haynes, and another McCabe PAT with 4:20 left in the 3rd Quarter. The Rockets recovered somewhat thereafter, and with one (1) second gone in the final period, scored on a 1-yard Mendoza run. Bagnato, however, was unsuccessful on the PAT. Shortly thereafter, the Rockets added a 38-yard Bagnato field goal with 8:58 to go in the game, cutting the TR advantage to 21-16. Any serious thoughts of a Rocket comeback, however, were blunted on TR's next possession when Luna hit Gilbert Maldonado with a 49-yard pass play for a score, McCabe was good once more on the PAT, and the Riders recovered much of the previous advantage. TR's defense then did what it needed to do on the Rockets' final two (2) possessions, sacking Mendoza on three (3) separate occasions, and the Rockets had once more failed their DTO (Detailed Test Objective) with TR.

The Rockets picked up only 65 yards on the ground, although they did net 159 yards through the air that came as part of a 6-of-10 passing effort that involved no INT's. The Rockets did lose one (1) fumble, and one thing that helped keep the Rockets in this one was a 3-punt, 42.3-yard average. TR, meanwhile, got 113 yards through the air on a 3-of-7 effort and no INT's. The key pickup, of course, was the 49-yard completion for the clinching TD. On the ground, the Riders also did some serious damage, picking up 270 yards, with Haynes getting 178 yards on 37 carries, and Holiday contributing 101 on 12 carries. Another key factor was the fact that TR experienced no turnovers whatever.

Seguin (2-7-1, 1-6)
October 18, 1996: Matador Stadium, Seguin
As was the case in the 1995 mission, the 1996 mission saw the Rockets meeting the Matadors for a Friday evening meeting following an unsuccessful DTO with the Riders and, just as in 1995, the Rockets were slow in getting started. The opening period of this contest held in Seguin was scoreless, but at the 8:11 mark of the 2nd period, Ashley Watters returned a fumble 48 yards to get the Rockets on the board. The Bagnato kick was good. Mendoza would then connect with Redwine for a 34-yard pass play at the 7:10 mark, the Bagnato kick was good, and the Rockets were up 14-0. Daryl McKnight and Bagnato then increased the advantage further with a 64-yard run and a PAT, respectively, with 5:01 left in the Half.

With 58 seconds gone in the 3rd Quarter, a 57-yard pass play and a PAT would narrow the gap for the Matadors, but the Rockets responded on their ensuing drive with a 43-yard run by McKnight, which Bagnato followed up with the PAT. Teyran Patterson, who caught the 57-yard pass for the initial Matador TD, then narrowed the gap once more with a 2-yard run, and with the PAT the Matadors trailed 28-14 with 2:22 left in the 3rd Quarter. They narrowed the lead even further with a 6-yard run and PAT with 3:46 left in the game, but the Rockets answered quickly with a 24-yard run by Mendoza, with 3:09 left, although the PAT was no good. Donnell Washington then returned an INT 76 yards for the final TD of the day, and Bagnato’s final PAT of the day then came with two (2) minutes left to play. The Matadors completed 8-of-23 passes for 214 yards and two (2) INT’s, while on the ground they netted 159 yards. A 5-punt, 49.2-yard average was beneficial to the Matadors, but two (2) lost fumbles probably weren’t, especially since the Rockets experienced had NO turnovers whatever, which went along nicely with their 6-punt, 42.0-yard average. The Rockets were 4-of-12 passing for 85 yards, while on the ground they picked up 207 yards, of which 148 belonged to McKnight on eleven (11) totes.

Lee (4-6, 1-6)
October 25, 1996: Converse
The meeting in Converse was a standard encounter with the Volunteers----Rocket style. The Hare launched the Rockets with a 71-yard scoring dash with 4:28 to go in the 1st Quarter, and Bagnato provided the PAT for a 7-0 lead. With 90 seconds to go in the opening period, Mike Carletti caught a 7-yard pass from Mendoza for the score, Bagnato’s PAT was good, and thus ended the scoring for the First Half. To start the 2nd Half, the Vols burned the Rockets with a 37-yard TD pass from Zach Colvin to George Johnson, the PAT was missed, and the Vols trailed 14-6 with less than three (3) minutes gone. The Rockets responded quickly with 22 points, highlighted by an 8-yard Hare TD run and Bagnato kick at the 8:19 mark, and then again with a 36-yard Callis run and Bagnato kick with 4:19 to go. Zach Colvin would then burn the Rockets again for a score, this one coming on a 16-yard pass to Mike Wallace with 1:23 left in the 3rd, and the score was 36-12 once the run for two points failed. The Rockets' final score came on a 33-yard run by Chris Post with 34 seconds left in the game. Lee picked up 87 yards on the ground and 186 through the air, with a key statistic being the two (2) INT’s pulled in by the Rockets’ CJ Johnson. A 40.2-yard punting average also kept Lee in this one somewhat, and the two (2) lost fumbles by the Rockets also probably contributed to a slow-going game at times. Nevertheless, the Rockets still managed to get a respectable 39.5-yard punting average, and 35 yards through the air with no INT’s on 4-of-9 passes. The big statistic, however, resided in the 438 yards rushing, of which 259 belonged to Hare, and the balance recorded by seven (7) other ball carriers.

Madison (6-4, 3-4)
November 2, 1996: Blossom
The Rockets raced to a 20-7 advantage in the 1st Quarter of this Saturday evening match-up at Blossom with the Mavericks. Barnes scored on a 1-yard run with just over four (4) minutes into the game, McKnight would snare a 10-yard pass from Redwine at the 4:03 mark, Hare picked up a 3-yard scoring run with 69 ticks left, and Bagnato was good on 2-of-3 PAT’s. Madison briefly tied the score at 7-all on a PAT which came after Bobby Alford completed a 78-yard pass play to Chris Costley for the TD. In the 2nd Quarter, Redwine scored on a 2-yard run, and Laymon caught a pass from Mendoza for two (2) points at the 8:55 mark, the Mavs responded with a TD and PAT with 6:28 to go, Hare and Bagnato restored the margin for the Rockets on a 1-yard run and PAT respectively with 2:30 left, and the Mavs would narrow the margin one more time with an 8-yard pass and a PAT with 11 seconds to go. The Rockets began to pull away further in the 3rd Quarter with two (2) Hare scoring sprints and two (2) Bagnato PAT’s. The Mavs would attempt one final time to narrow the gap with a TD and PAT with 9:10 to go in the game, but the Rockets put an end to that idea when Darryl McKnight returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a score, and Bagnato drilled the PAT.

Neither team experienced any turnovers, and the Mavs actually out-gained the Rockets in yardage. They picked up 154 yards on the ground, nearly all of it contributed by Guiden Herron, and they netted 159 yards through the air with 9-of-16 passes. The Rockets picked up 220 yards on the ground, with Callis, Hare, and Redwine contributing 95, 85, and 24 of that respectively. Mendoza was 3-of-4 for 39 yards passing, and Redwine gained 26 yards on a 2-of-3 effort. Damon Washington blocked one (1) punt that enabled the Rockets to drive only four (4) yards for pay-dirt, and on another occasion he pressured the Mavs’ punter to attempt a pass instead, which went incomplete and allowed the Rockets to go only 15 yards for the subsequent score. As a result of the Rockets’ outstanding coverage on kicks, the Mavs started no further than their 25-yard line and in fact would start the game from their 8-yard line, and on other occasions begin from their 10, 12, and 16. It was interesting to note, however, that although this win eliminated the Mavs from the playoffs and secured a spot for MacArthur, it did not ensure one yet for the Rockets.

MacArthur (7-3, 5-2)
November 8, 1996: Converse
Failure, if you can call it that had things not quite worked out, was not the kind of option the Rockets wanted to exercise. Although in the real Rocket program operated by NASA an aborted mission can still be regarded as a success provided the crew returns to tell about it, the Rockets were in no mood to have their 1996 mission aborted, even if they likewise could live to remember it. TR’s Rough Riders, still with an outside chance at resuming their own efforts at a second charge up the 5A Division 2 Crown Hill, were hoping that the Brahmas could come to Converse and force such a termination in this Friday evening match-up.

Dario Davis took the opening kickoff three (3) yards deep in the endzone and dashed to the Rocket 25-yard line to put Mac in business early. Luis Servin then scored on a 10-yard pass from Dee Jackson, the PAT was good and the Brahmas led at the 8:33 mark of the opening period. The Rockets responded quickly with a 68-yard pass play from Mendoza to Adrian Barnes, and the score was knotted at the 7:38 mark after Bagnato nailed the PAT. Later in the quarter, Bagnato connected on a 27-yard FG to give the Rockets their first lead of the day with 3:04 to go. The Brahmas retook the lead on a 1-yard run with 3:39 to go in the Half, and they extended the advantage to 14-10 on a successful PAT. Once more, the Rockets answered quickly, retaking the lead with a 33-yard pass from Mendoza to Redwine and a Bagnato PAT with 116 seconds left in the Half. With 5:19 to go in the 3rd Quarter, Matt Hare increased the Rocket advantage with a 39-yard run, and Bagnato's PAT was good. Mac then reduced the advantage to seven (7) points on a 32-yard FG with 50 seconds remaining in the 3rd Quarter. The Brahmas, however, tied things up with 6:00 remaining in regulation. This came on a 16-yard run by Davis for the TD, and the subsequent PAT. Given that TR had beaten Madison, this meant that the Rockets needed the win, or else the Riders would enter the post-season instead and the Rockets would be returning to earth with somewhat less to show for the effort.

Regulation play ended, and the Rockets then had their first experience of the overtime system inaugurated that season for all teams operating under NCAA rules. The Rockets went first, they scored on an 11-yard pass from Mendoza to Carletti, and the PAT was good. On Mac's turn on offense, Jackson was flagged for intentional grounding, but then redeemed himself by connecting with JJ Budd for a 31-yard pickup to the Rocket 1-yard. Jackson took it in on the next play, and the PAT tied things once more. In the 2nd OT, Jackson connected with Jason Moses on a 3-yard scoring toss, but the PAT was no good. The Rockets wasted no time whatever on their turn on offense, Mendoza hit Barnes for a 25-yard pass for the TD, Bagnato was good on the PAT, and by the skin of their teeth the Rockets earned a "GO" to head for the moon and defend their Division I championship. The Brahmas picked up 166 yards on the ground and 144 through the air on an 8-of-14 effort. Jackson was picked off once. The Brahmas also lost two (2) fumbles. The Rockets, meanwhile, picked up 151 yards on the ground, with Hare getting 116 on 13 totes. The Rockets were also good on 10-of-26 passes for 182 air yards and one (1) INT. They did not lose any fumbles.

Semifinals
Lewisville 49 Ellison 0
Judson 30 North Shore 21

Final
Lewisville 58 Judson 34

Bowie (7-2-1, 4-1)
November 15, 1996: Converse
Rocket engines are frequently designed to open up at only 10% thrust, for example, and then throttle up only after the burn has been underway for awhile, as was the case for the Descent Propulsion System (DPS) engine on the Lunar Module in the Apollo Program. Others, like the Space Shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's), have their solid propellants specially sized and shaped to allow less to be burned----and hence with less resultant thrust---for a brief period that allows the vehicle to throttle down while passing the region of maximum aerodynamic pressure (ie, "Max Q", which is usually between 40 seconds and 70 seconds after launch at about an altitude of 10 miles or so), and then the solid propellant assumes a regular shape and size further down the burn length that allows the vehicle to "throttle up." Any number of things can go wrong with rockets: Sometimes they burn with the appropriate amount of thrust, sometimes they don't, sometimes they burn "hot" and shut down early after achieving the desired velocity, sometimes they have low thrust, sometimes they have no thrust with things such as early shutdowns for any number of reasons. Sometimes they fail to start altogether.

November 15, 1996. The Rockets on this Friday evening encounter with Bowie in Converse started late, with little to no thrust, throttled up very late, and finally achieved the desired velocity just as their window necessary to escape their regular-season parking orbit and begin their post-season translunar flight was about to expire. The Rockets went 3-and-out on their opening series, and after the Bulldogs took over Victor Ike took off on their second play for a 63-yard TD. The PAT was good, and the 'Dogs were up 7-0 with 136 seconds gone in the opening stanza. The Rockets were unproductive on their next series as well, and with 4:51 left in the 1st period the Bulldogs connected on a 30-yard FG. The Rocket defense then began to get a handle on the damage that Ike was doing. For example, Ike's first four (4) carries went for 119 yards, but his last 16 totes would net only 37 yards. The Bulldog defense in the 2nd Quarter, however, got what for sure can stop the Rocket offense and make for a long defensive evening as well: Turnovers. Mendoza would be intercepted twice and both times the 'Dogs would produce TD's with a short field to work with. They moved deliberately if not somewhat slowly toward the goal-line, eating up a lot of clock in doing so and hence also keeping the Rockets' still-stuttering offense on ice as the 1st Half wound down. The first TD of the 2nd period would come on a 3-yard run by Ike with 4:27 to go in the Half, the second would come with 61 seconds remaining on a 14-yard pass, and both PAT's were good, giving the Bulldogs a hefty but not insurmountable 24-0 advantage at the intermission.

Going into the 2nd Half, the Rockets, in spite of the situation facing them, entered with a high level of confidence that they would "work the problem" successfully. The Bulldogs, however, were also still intent on putting the Rockets in a hole that they would be hard-pressed to get out of. Indeed, Bowie came out and picked up where they left off by completing a 70-yard pass that set up still one more Ike score, this one a 2-yard run at the 8:20 mark of the 3rd Quarter. The PAT put the Rockets in a 31-point hole. That disadvantage was quickly reduced back to 24, however, when Matt Hare took the ensuing kickoff and dashed 77 yards for the score, and Rudy Bagnato drilled the PAT with 8:07 left in the 3rd period. This was what was needed to fire up the Rocket defense and force the Bulldogs into a quick 3-and-out. The Rockets quickly drove 50 yards downfield on their first sustained drive of the day, Matt Hare scored with a 25-yard run, Mendoza was then successful on a 2-point play, the Bowie advantage had been quickly cut in half with 4:12 to go, and suddenly the 4060 witnesses knew there was a very good chance they were in process of seeing a truly stunning turn-around. The Rockets forced Bowie into another 3-and-out, and after getting possession once more the Rockets drove 77 yards, scoring on a 2-yard run by Adrian Barnes, the Bagnato kick was good with ten (10) seconds left in the 3rd Quarter, and the Rockets trailed 31-22.

The final period began with still one more unproductive Bulldog series, the Rockets went back to work one more time, and with 5:25 left in the game Mendoza connected with Mike Carletti for a 20-yard pass on 3rd-and-15. The Bagnato PAT brought the score to 31-29. The Rockets forced still one more Bulldog 3-and-out, and with about 2 and 1/2 minutes left, the Rockets had their chance to move in for the kill. By now, the Bowie defense was in the process of wearing down somewhat. They would not go down willingly, however. Hence, they forced the Rockets into a 42-yard FG attempt with 48 seconds left. The Bagnato kick was partially blocked, however, but the ball still moved forward, a Bowie player touched it but failed to recover it, but a Rocket would recover instead. At this point, you could hear a pin drop for about 30 seconds or so while the zebras conferred on things. They then ruled that the Rockets retained possession because since Bowie failed to recover, it was a live ball which, as a result of it being advanced beyond the line of scrimmage, was fair game for the Rockets to recover. The Rockets hence had 1st-and-goal at the 8-yard line with 37 seconds remaining. The Rockets moved it to the 1-yard line, and after the Rockets used the final of their two (2) remaining timeouts, Bagnato drilled the 18-yard FG with 11 seconds remaining. It wasn't over yet. On the kickoff return, Victor Ike took the ball on a handoff, spiriting it to the Rocket 30-yard line, where Daryl McKnight tackled him with "four zeros" on the clock.

Although the Bulldogs did pick up 379 total offensive yards in the game, 273 of this came in the 1st Half, and 70 of it came on one (1) play to begin the 2nd Half, which means that after Hare's kickoff return Bowie netted only 36 additional yards for the day and hence the season.

In the 3rd Quarter, John Kesl recovered a fumble for the Raiders at the Rockets' 33-yard line that enabled the Raiders to score on a 25-yard run by Ray with 4:01 gone in the 2nd Half. The PAT cut the Rocket advantage to 31-14, and of course everyone had to go no further than the previous week to remember what started to happen at this same point in the game---except this time it was Judson with the lead against a dangerous, volatile offense and a defense fully capable of creating breaks for that offense. The Rockets, however, were able to respond on their ensuing possession, scoring on a 20-yard TD run by Brushaud Callis and one (1) more Bagnato PAT kick with 5:01 left in the penultimate quarter. This would ultimately prove to be more than sufficient, as the Raiders were able to provide only one (1) more score, which was facilitated by Enrique Garcia's fumble recovery at the Raider 37-yard line late in the 3rd period. Ray then capped the ensuing drive with a 17-yard run, and then provided two (2) additional points with a conversion run with 7:57 left in the game. On the Raiders' next possession, however, CJ Johnson intercepted a Raider pass at the Rockets' 13-yard line, and hence the final tally was 38-22.

The Raiders picked up 209 yards on the ground, with Ray providing 176 of that on 29 totes. Through the air they netted 18 yards as part of a 1-of-7 effort that also involved two (2) INT's. The Raiders experienced no lost fumbles, and had a workable 38.5-yard average on six (6) punts. The Rockets, meanwhile, had a 40.5-yard average on two (2) punts, and the only turnovers they experienced were the two (2) lost fumbles that unfortunately resulted in Taft scores. The Rockets picked up 35 air yards on a 2-of-5 effort by Mendoza. Meanwhile, on the ground the Rockets had 496 yards, of which 350 belonged to Matt Hare on 22 carries, and the balance was distributed between five (5) other contributors.

Eagle Pass (8-2, 6-1)
November 29, 1996: Alamo Stadium
The Rockets and Eagles met for the 3rd time in four (4) seasons in this Friday evening post-Thanksgiving affair at Alamo Stadium, this time the score did not end in a severe blowout as in the past, but nevertheless the result was never really in doubt. One thing that was left in doubt was the continued status of Matt Hare, who left after the Rockets' sixth offensive play with a sprained ankle. For whatever reason---inspired play by Eagle Pass, the loss of Hare, or some combination thereof----the Rockets were slow in getting started, and by the end of their second offensive series, they only had 49 yards total offense, and even less to show for it on the scoreboard. The Eagles also did a good job of controlling the ball although not having much to show for the effort, either. That changed, however, on the Rockets' third series when they drove 79 yards in five (5) plays, with Callis picking up gains of 30 and 26 yards, and then punching it in from the 3-yard line. The Bagnato PAT was good with 2:08 remaining in the 1st Half, and the 7-0 score would stand at the intermission.

It was still slow-going in the 3rd period, but Callis got his second score of the day on a 14-yard run, Bagnato got his second PAT of the day, and the Rockets led 14-0 with 4:47 left in the 3rd Quarter. With 6:47 left in the game, Callis got his final TD of the day when he broke away for a 54-yard dash, and the Bagnato PAT provided the Rockets with their final points in the contest. The Eagles, who actually dominated in time of possession with a ten (10) minute advantage over the Rockets, then got on the board, with 150 seconds remaining, on a 2-yard run by David Zapata, but the PAT was no good. The Eagles finished with 65 yards through the air via 3-of-10 passes. On the ground, the eagles netted 107 yards. The only turnover the Eagles experienced was an INT. The Rockets, meanwhile, experienced zero (0) turnovers. They picked up 23 yards through the air on a 2-of-5 passing effort by Mendoza, while on the ground they netted 252 yards, with Callis providing 133 on 15 carries and Barnes chipping in 76 yards on 12 carries. One troublesome statistic for the Rockets, however was the penalty yardage: Eleven (11) infractions that were assessed 105 yards, and which gave the Eagles four (4) First Downs. Nevertheless, the Rockets had arrived in Lunar Orbit (ie, the Semi-finals).

Going into the clear, sunny Saturday afternoon meeting with the Mustangs at Rice University, the Rockets knew they would be without the services of Matt Hare, still nursing the ankle injury from the week before. They also knew they would be facing an undefeated team with size and speed, and an offensive line averaging 275 pounds. But, as alluded to in the 1990 write-up, it was never meant to be easy. Indeed, at the very stadium that the Judson Rockets would face their challenge in 1996, and only five (5) days after the Judson Rockets played their first varsity game (with Dripping Springs) in 1962, JFK articulated literal "rocket" pride:

The Rockets then came out of the intermission and picked right up where they left off by taking the opening kickoff and driving down to go up 16-7 on a 1-yard run by Callis and a failed PAT with 120 seconds gone in the 3rd Quarter. The Rockets were back at it again following an unproductive Mustang possession, and they drove down for another TD, this one a 6-yard pass from Mendoza to Ronnie Riley with 6:58 left in the 3rd period, and the Bagnato PAT was good . The Mustangs were able to reach the Rocket 37-yard line on their next drive, but on 4th-and-1 Mike Fant stopped Lavar Johnson and, in a scenario eerily reminiscent of the Rockets' breakaway 3rd Quarter in Austin against Ike in 1992----albeit minus the clouds, cold and sleet---- the Rockets scored again, with 53 seconds remaining, on a 9-yard run by Gabe Torres. Bagnato drilled the PAT, and the Rockets had a startling 30-7 advantage. As if the breakaway 3rd Quarter weren't enough to mirror the 1992 contest with Ike, the 4th Quarter didn't seem to want to wind down fast enough as the Mustangs---just as the Eagles had done, and just as quickly----finally came to their senses somewhat after having been knocked silly for nearly all the of 3rd Quarter. Lavar Johnson scored with a 9-yard run to narrow the gap to 30-13 with 80 seconds gone in the final period. The run for two (2) points, however, was unsuccessful. It was then be the Rockets' turn to "fail to produce" on their ensuing series, the Mustangs got the ball back in fairly short order, and with 7:37 left Johnson got away for a 93-yard dash, this time a pass for two (2) points was good, and the Rockets' advantage was whittled to only nine (9) points. On their subsequent drive, the Rockets were able to bleed a larger part of the time, and even got close enough for Bagnato to try and miss a 40-yard FG. From there, the Rockets were able to hang on and, in spite of many doubts that the Rockets would not be able to pull a rabbit out of their hat as a result of The Hare's absence in this game, they were able to earn their "GO" to attempt the Division I moon landing.

The Mustangs, in spite of the two (2) Comier fumbles early in the game, did not lose those, and in fact they experienced only one (1) turnover overall---an INT by Mike Fant---that came as part of a 3-of-16 effort for 47 yards. On the ground they picked up 439 yards, with Johnson getting 245 on 25 carries, and Comier picking up 173 on 18 carries. They were hampered, however, by ten (10) offensive penalties and a 4-punt, 29.3-yard average. The Rockets, on the other hand, did a little better with their 4-punt, 33.5-yard average, and at least they didn't get nailed on 4th Down like the Mustangs did late in the 1st Half. They experienced only one (1) turnover, in this case a lost fumble. Mendoza was 7-of-12 passing for 84 yards, and on the ground the Rockets netted 313 yards, with Callis providing 174 yards on 26 totes, and the balance contributed by five (5) other ball carriers.

Seven (7) days after the Rockets completed their Back-2-Back Award Tour in 1993, people were treated with a classic back-and-forth match-up between the Lewisville Farmers and the Aldine MacArthur Generals in the Division II Final. A classic scene for the ages was that of Lewisville Head Coach Ronnie Gage happily jumping nearly 3/4 his height when the Farmers scored with 21 seconds left to take the lead for good. The scene had been replayed so many times in the days, months and years thereafter that it had become somewhat embarrassing for him. Nevertheless, he told Craig Way of Fox Sports Southwest (the outfit responsible for the live television for the 1996 Final Exams) in the lead-up to the 1996 Final that he hoped he could jump that high again. Indeed, in helping facilitate that opportunity, the Farmers blew through their opponents even more impressively than they had in 1993 with their Wishbone Offensive attack that actually featured, for 1996, somewhat more of a passing attack than in 1993. While Rudy and the Rockets were doing a number on Cedric Comier and the Mustangs at Rice, the Farmers were busy thoroughly demolishing the Ellison Eagles in the northern bracket Semi-final. In doing so, the Farmers ended the possibility of a rematch, between the Rockets and Eagles, of the water-logged September 20th pre-district game in Killeen that saw the Rockets' winning margin provided by Rudy Bagnato's opening-drive FG that narrowly cleared a wind-bent upright courtesy of the wind and lightning storm that delayed the kickoff by 45 minutes.

The Rockets, meanwhile, were looking to complete their second Back-2-Back Division I visit to the "moon" in the past five (5) missions. The stout Defense of the Farmers, the triple-threat option of the Farmer Offense, and the still-questionable status of Matt Hare nevertheless provided a stiff challenge. The Powered Descent to the "moon," set to begin at Baylor's Floyd Casey Stadium, hence required of the Rockets one of the more challenging flight profiles of any of their previous landing attempts. Nevertheless, just as in the real rocket program operated by NASA, the Rocket Program operated in Converse, Texas, requires that the Flight Crew, their FOD and the Support Team answer the challenge, "work the problem," and try to get the best deal obtainable as long as there is still time. Already well-tested in overcoming numerous challenges over the past 15 weeks that threatened to abort the 1996 mission, the Rockets were ready and willing to "work the problem" in the mild, partly-sunny conditions and the strong southerly breeze.

With 17200 witnesses on hand, the matchup began as the Farmers kicked off with the strong breeze. Darryl McKnight fielded the kick and returned it to the Rocket 32-yard line, Brushaud Callis proceeded to get good yardage on the first play from scrimmage, but he also fumbled on the play, and Jessie Del Rio was ready and waiting to recover for the Farmers at the Judson 38. On the Farmers’ first play Luke Taylor got away for a 38-yard TD, John Grace was good with the PAT and the Farmers were up early---literally, as only 21 seconds had elapsed. The Farmer kickoff went out of the endzone, and the Rockets went to work. On 1st Down Callis carried up to the 29-yard line, and on the next play Callis picked up the First Down at the 32. Adrian Barnes and Richard Mendoza then contributed enough ground yardage to pick up another chain-mover at the Rocket 45. Following Callis’ 6-yard pickup to the Farmer 49, Matt Hare entered into the action with a gainer to the 41. Shortly thereafter Hare carried to the Farmer 24-yard line. He temporarily left the action thereafter, and it was obvious that he still wasn’t at 100%. Callis advanced the ball to the 22, but the drive stalled after two (2) consecutive incomplete passes. On 4th-and-8 Callis was stopped by Ronald Paris at the Lewisville 21, and the Farmers took possession.

The Rockets were able to force a 3-and-out after Farmer QB Mike Odle failed to convert on a 3rd-and-inches play when his knee touched the ground before he had a chance to extend the football the required distance. McKnight fielded the concomitant punt at the 17, returning it to the Lewisville 36. It was then the Rockets’ turn to "fail to produce" on their ensuing series, and they punted from the Judson 40-yard line. RJ Bond took Mike Carletti’s punt at the 20-yard line, returning it to the 26. On the first play Danielle Brazzell took a reverse from Kenan Gray and advanced to the Rockets 42-yard line, with CJ Johnson and Ashley Watters running him out of bounds before he could do any more damage-----for now. The Rockets got two (2) more momentary reprieves when Luke Taylor recovered the Farmer’s fumble at the 48-yard line for a 4-yard loss and also when the Farmers were set back five (5) yards on an illegal motion penalty; however, on the first play following those two (2) momentary debacles Odle got away for a sprint down to the Rocket 1-yard line, and Luke Taylor took it in from there on the next play. Grace toed the PAT and the Farmers had a 14-0 advantage with 3:32 remaining in the opening period.

Once more aided by a good kick and a strong wind, the Farmer kickoff went into the endzone. On 1st Down Dustin Grimes stuffed Matt Hare for a 5-yard loss and on 2nd Down Hare was nailed for no gain. A holding call against the Rockets was declined, and a wrap-around draw play by Barnes on 3rd Down got to the Rocket 16-yard line. RJ Bond once more fielded the ensuing punt but this time was dropped for a 6-yard loss back to the Lewisville 39. No problem----for the Farmers, that is. Luke Taylor got loose on 1st Down for a 61-yard score, Grace was good once more on the PAT, and the Farmer lead was now up to 21-0 with 105 seconds remaining in the 1st. This particular powered descent to the moon was fast turning into a can of worms for the Rockets, but, if you’ve got true Rocket (or even NASA-style rocket) Pride, you’re not about to fold the tents on the mission quite yet. As long as there’s still time, there’s still a chance, and you’re going to "work the problem."

The Rockets began their efforts at working the problem by once again starting from their own 20-yard line after still one (1) more kickoff went out of the endzone. On 1st Down Matt Hare returned to the action and got a pickup to the 31. The Rockets nevertheless were soon faced with a 4th -and-short situation, but Hare converted to keep the drive going and put the Rockets in business at their 48. On 1st Down Callis carried to the Lewisville 46, and on the next play Barnes advanced the Rockets to the 35 by hauling in a Mendoza pass along the sidelines. After Callis carried to the 30, he immediately followed this up with a sprint to the 11-yard line, being careful not to step out of bounds as he raced along the sideline. Hare took it to the 7-yard line, and Callis hit paydirt from there on the following play. Bagnato notched the PAT and the Rockets narrowed the gap to 21-7 with 116 seconds gone in the 2nd Quarter. Alvin Butler took the kickoff but slipped down immediately, causing the Farmers to start their drive at their own 4-yard line. The drive quickly failed to produce after three (3) very unproductive plays, and the Farmers were forced to punt. The shanked punt into the strong breeze went out of bounds at the Lewisville 21. Callis carried to the 12-yard line and got another two (2) yards. Barnes advanced to the 7-yard line on 3rd-and-1, and Hare took it in on the following play. Bagnato’s PAT hit the left upright but nevertheless ricocheted in, and the Rockets had narrowed the gap to 21-14 with 6:56 remaining in the 1st Half.

The ball went out of bounds on the kickoff, and the Farmers elected to start at the 30-yard line on the out-of-bounds penalty. The Farmers advanced gradually and deliberately up to the 45-yard line, on the subsequent 1st Down Odle advanced to midfield, but a penalty set the Farmers back to the 45. Taylor picked up three (3) yards, and on the following play Odle picked up 52 yards and a score by faking the handoff to the inside and then looping around the corner of a gaggle of defenders to go the distance. The PAT was wide left and hence no good, but the Farmers had recovered their advantage at 27-14 with 195 seconds remaining in the Half. Once more Darryl McKnight fielded the kickoff for the Rockets, putting Judson in business at the Rocket 26-yard line. Matt Hare dashed to the Farmer 43-yard line on First Down, breaking numerous tackles along the way before he was stopped by Travis Fields. Callis pushed things to the 40, Mike Carletti caught a short pass from Mendoza at the 33-yard line, and The Hare then got loose for the score. This time it was the Rockets’ turn to experience a missed PAT, and once again the Rockets had narrowed the gap with 118 seconds remaining in the Half.

Danielle Brazzell fielded the kick at the 3-yard line, returning it up to the 20. On First Down Taylor got a 4-yard pickup and thereafter Odle got some yards on a keeper to bring up 3rd-and-inches. Odle then faked the handoff and advanced to the 37-yard line. Alvin Butler then took a reverse and dashed down to the Rocket 11-yard line, with Darryle Stewart delaying the potential score. Taylor took it in on the next play, however, Grace’s PAT was good, and the Farmers had a 34-20 advantage with 32 seconds remaining before the break. Although kicking into the wind, the Farmers sent a boomer on the kickoff that went into the endzone. On 1st Down Mendoza carried to the 25-yard line, but with the clock still running Mendoza dropped back and hooked up with McKnight, who caught the pass at the 40 and raced in from there with "four zeroes" on the clock. The PAT was good, and the Farmers once more had their lead reduced to seven (7) points, this time at 34-27. At intermission the Rockets had 316 yards offense, and the Farmers---with all their yardage picked up on the ground---had 342. Hence, the Rockets still had a chance of pulling this particular moon landing off in spite of the supremely inauspicious start.

The Rockets came out of the break and kicked off with the wind. Brazzell fielded the kick at the 10-yard line and returned it to the 28. Mike Odle got a 5-yard pickup, and on 2nd Down Kenan Gray took off on a 67-yard dash for paydirt. Grace was good once more on the PAT, and the Farmers now had a 41-27 advantage with 55 seconds gone in the 2nd Half. Darryl McKnight fielded the kickoff at the 1-yard line, and it was his turn to return it to the 28-yard line. On 2nd-and-7 Mendoza connected with Mike Carletti on a sprintout pass for a pickup out to the 45-yard line. Matt Hare got two (2) short gainers to advance the Rockets to midfield, and on 3rd Down Mendoza hooked up with Robert Laymon for a chain mover to the Farmer 35. Hare carried to the 29-yard line, Mendoza advanced to the 26, and on 3rd-and-inches Mendoza picked up the 1st Down. On 1st Down Adrian Barnes was dropped for a 2-yard loss, but on 2nd Down Mendoza faked a handoff and instead handed off to McKnight down to the 1-yard line. On 2nd-and-Goal Matt Hare took a leap up the middle for the score, the PAT was good, and at the 7:07 mark of the 3rd period the Rockets had narrowed the gap---AGAIN. Numerous glitches---or rather Farmers----were trying their darnedest to cause the Rockets to abort their Division I moon landing. The Rockets----their Flight Crew, FOD and Support Team----still had no intention whatever of letting this happen. Not if they had anything to say about it or, more importantly, do about it.

Alvin Butler fielded the kickoff for the Farmers at the 1-yard line, returning it to the 22-yard line after a stop by Rudy Bagnato. The Farmers advanced up to their 41-yard line, where they were faced with a 4th-and-3 situation after Donnell Washington made a key stop. The Farmers kept the drive going by successfully completing a fake punt play and Taylor’s associated carry picked up the First Down by just inches at the 45-yard line. The Farmers then converted on 4th-and-2 at the Rocket 47. Shortly thereafter Brazzell got a 22-yard pickup on a reverse down to the Rocket 19-yard line, with CJ Johnson saving the possible TD to end the 3rd Quarter. On 1st Down to start the 4th period, Taylor got a pickup to the 14-yard line, Gray carried to the 9-yard line for a First Down, and on the following play he pushed on down to the 2-yard. On 3rd-and-goal an illegal motion call set the Farmers back, and Odle was stopped for no gain on the subsequent 3rd-Down play. The Farmers' John Grace nevertheless drilled a 23-yard FG with 8:48 remaining in the game to finish off a mammoth 19-play drive that burned up 10:19. Although the Farmers’ needing to settle for a FG could be regarded to a certain extent as a moral victory of sorts for the Rockets, time was starting to run short, and time for a Judson Rocket is what fuel is to a rocket-rocket in the actual NASA program. And, that’s assuming that there aren’t any other anomalies that threaten to abort a particular maneuver or DTO (Detailed Test Objective). One of those anomalies, unfortunately, was about to visit the Judson Rockets. The ensuing drive began innocently enough, with Matt Hare getting a 6-yard pickup to the 26 on First Down. At the end of a pickup out to the 37-yard line, however, the ball was knocked loose by Jacob Cheney and Joe Snyder recovered for the Farmers. The Farmers did a good job of bleeding the clock on the ensuing short drive, and Luke Taylor went in for a 1-yard score for his 5th TD of the day----a 5A record in a Final Exam. The PAT was good once more, and the Farmers had a 51-34 advantage with 203 seconds left to play. Darryl McKnight returned the kickoff to the 22-yard line, but on First Down Jessie Del Rio, who started the game with a fumble recovery, likewise did so again at the 24 with 191 seconds remaining, and on the Farmers’ First Down Brazzell exploited numerous missed tackles to go in with 180 seconds remaining. The PAT was good for what would prove to be the final time.

On 2nd-and-19 Matt Hare got a pickup to the 18-yard line, and McKnight made a catch and went out of bounds at the 11-yard line. Finally, on 4th-and-11 Mendoza’s pass went in and out of the hands of Redwine, and with 52 seconds remaining the Farmers took over and kneeled down twice to seal the win. Just because a landing attempt is unsuccessful in the NASA rocket program doesn’t mean the mission as a whole is a failure. Similarly, the Judson Rockets had quite a few successful experiences, useful collective and individual discoveries, and soul- and faith-inspired responses to adversity----known as expressions of Rocket Pride---to show for the 1996 mission overall and on this afternoon in particular. The Rockets---their Flight Crew, their FOD, and their Support Team----could still have their dreams.....and live them in the even bigger game known as Life.