On February 1, the UIL released the biennial District realignments. As a result of the opening of the new "Ladybird" Johnson HS in NEISD, and the moving of New Braunfels up from 5A and into District 26-5A, the 2-HS JISD, with Judson and Wagner, was the odd one out and hence for the first time since 1979 Judson found itself out of what had come to be known as the "265," and instead in a District the likes of which it hadn't been in since, that's right, 1979. The different kind of District parking orbit trajectory that the Rockets would be using hence promised to pose its own set of challenges to the Flight Crew and Flight Operations Directorate (FOD)---known in vernacular as the Coaching Staff----in making sure that all of the crew and vehicle systems would be up and fully functioning in the event they received a "go" for "Phase 3"---known as the playoffs---of the 2008 Rocket mission.

On April 9, Rocket Flight Director Jim Rackley underwent quintuple bypass surgery after suffering severe chest pains three (3) days earlier. This in spite of the fact that he had exercised regularly and in many ways looked to be the last person one would expect to arrive at such a point. He nevertheless responded well to the surgery and the long recovery road back to the Rocket launch pad, and was declared fit and ready to go as liftoff day for the 2008 Rocket Mission approached. The Rocket Flight Crew, the FOD, and the Rocket Mission Support Teams took Coach Rackley's cue and went to work with renewed determination to complete a prospective 16-week duration flight to test the Rocket Program's Offensive and Defensive Propulsion Systems, the Defensive Thermal Protection System and the Special Teams avionics systems.

As July turned into August, it also became abundantly clear that the extreme makeover of the Rockets' and T-Birds' main launch and flight operations facility (aka Rutledge Stadium) in Converse would not be completed in time. The T-Birds would be on the road for their opener with Smithson Valley on August 29, and for the moment had nothing to worry about. Not so the Rockets. The Thursday launch date of August 28 remained, but launch and flight operations were moved to the NISD's Gustafson Stadium. Meanwhile, as the Rockets launched their Fall Campaign at Gustafson Stadium on the evening of the 28th, a Fall Campaign of another kind was being launched at a much larger Stadium up in Denver.

Warren (8-2, 8-0)
August 28, 2008: Gustafson Stadium
The Rockets took the kickoff and engineered an effective and efficient 8-play, 63-yard drive. The big gainer was a 52-yard that put Judson in business at the Warrior 10-yard line. The Rockets, however, seemed to have somewhat of an allergic reaction to the red zone, experiencing two (2) consecutive losses back to the 20-yard line. Shortly thereafter Jason Goodwin came in to salvage the situation, splitting the uprights with a 36-yard FG to give the Rockets an early 3-0 with 187 seconds gone in the 2008 mission. The Warriors attempted a fake reverse on the ensuing kickoff, but they nevertheless went 3-and-out. The Rockets thereafter attempted their next drive, and a 20-yard pass reception by Adrian Morgan set the Rockets up at the Warren 15-yard line. A half-the-distance facemask call put Judson in business close in, but the red-zone allergy made a come-back. Goodwin was called in once more to attempt a FG---this one for 35 yards---but this time the kick fell short. Also falling short---of the goal line----was the Warriors’ next drive, and after the punt the Rockets went to work from just inside their own 20-yard line. The drive came to an end when QB Chris Patton hit Michael Hilliard with a 20-yard aerial for the score, the PAT was good, and the Judson advantage was up to 10-0 at the 9:21 mark of the 2nd Quarter. On the concomitant kickoff, Anthony Moore recovered a Warrior fumble to give the Rockets possession at the Warren 36-yard line, but the promising drive stalled out and the Warriors took over in order to conduct a 9-play drive. A pivotal play was the 32-yard dash by Matt Owens, and still one (1) more excellent Warrior run that set them up at the Judson 2-yard line. From there Aaron Salinas punched in for the score, but the PAT was no good. The Rocket lead had nevertheless been shaved to 10-6 with 174 seconds remaining in the Half. The lead threatened to vanish entirely when Gabriel Hilliard bobbled the kickoff, but he nevertheless held on, although Judson was required to start from its own 12-yard line. Undeterred, on the opening play of the drive the Rockets got a big ground gainer that penetrated deep into Warrior territory. The Rockets, however, showed themselves once again to be allergic to the red zone, but this time Goodwin successfully drilled a 27-yard FG with 67 seconds left before intermission.

Coming out of the break, the Warriors took the kickoff but in fairly short order also turned the ball over. From there the Rockets moved fourteen (14) yards in five (5) plays, before Goodwin was called in once more to try for three (3) points. This FG---a 28-yarder---was also good and the Rocket lead was 16-6 at the 9:06 mark of the 3rd Quarter. The Warriors thereafter responded with an 11-play, 43-yard drive that featured two (2) 4th-Down conversions. Anthony Johnson went the final five (5) yards for paydirt, but the kick was no good. The Judson lead had nevertheless been cut to 16-12 with 36 seconds remaining in the penultimate period. Realizing that they needed to start cracking the endzone once more, the Rockets went back to work. On 3rd-and-29, Gabriel Hilliard used his State caliber triple jump skills to evade potential obstacles and had a 44-yard sprint to the endzone to show for it. The PAT was good, and the Rocket advantage was now 23-12 with 10:51 left in the final period. From there, the Warriors would have trouble holding onto the ball, with Courtland Tolbert snapping up a fumble and Robert Shaw hauling in an INT for the Rockets. The Warriors touched the ball only four (4) times in the final period, and two (2) of those were when Tolbert and Shaw also touched the ball---for the Rockets.

The Rockets’ Offensive Propulsion System finished the launch phase with 74 aerial yards split almost evenly between Chris Patton and Cody Boswell as part of a combined 4-of-7 passing effort that experienced no INT’s whatever. Overall, the Rockets experienced no turnovers, whereas the Rockets’ Defensive Thermal Protection System kept them from getting burned too badly, collecting three (3) fumbles and one (1) INT while yielding 157 ground yards and 51 air yards. Chauncey Harris and Gabriel Hilliard were the key Offensive Rocket Thrusters in this particular boost phase, contributing 206 yards on 29 carries, and 112 yards on eight (8) totes respectively.

Smithson Valley (9-1, 7-1)
September 5, 2008: Ranger Stadium
The Friday before, the T-Birds held the Rangers scoreless through the opening Quarter of their meeting before the Rangers proceeded to keep the T-Birds grounded with a 42-20 verdict. The Rockets, taking a cue perhaps from John McCain's exhortation from the night before of not hiding from history, hoped to make some history in this Friday evening's Detailed Test Objective (DTO). Gabriel Hilliard took the reverse from Phillip Gaines on the opening kickoff and put the Rockets in business at the 23-yard line. Chauncey Harris got a good, 16-yard pickup to the Ranger 45-yard line, but the drive thereafter stalled out and the Rockets punted. The Rangers went a quick 3-and-out from the 14-yard line, and a 45-yard punt caused the Rockets to start their next drive from the Judson 34. A good gainer by Harris and an aerial hookup from backup QB Cody Boswell to Michael Hilliard advanced the Rockets to the Ranger 35-yard line, but on 4th Down a QB draw was stopped cold at the 32. The Rangers got a good gainer on First Down to the Judson 45, but once again a series of misfires and false starts caused the Rangers to elect to punt. The Rocket return man signaled fair catch, but at the last second he headed up-field and this, according to the zebras and hence the NCAA rulebook, was a "no-no." The Rockets were thus forced to start from the 4-yard line. In fairly short order it was time to punt, and Ryan Wood was ready and waiting to block it for the Rangers. The Rockets, however, were able to recover it in the endzone and take a Safety, but the Rangers were nevertheless in front at 2-0 with "four-zeroes" on the 1st-Quarter clock. The Rangers returned the concomitant Free Kick to the Judson 40-yard line, and from there they engineered a deliberate 8-play drive that Garrett Renken finished off by hauling in Trey Reinhart’s 6-yard toss. Taylor Cowart pushed through the PAT and the Ranger lead was now 9-0 with 8:04 remaining in the 2nd Quarter. The Rockets took the ensuing kickoff and went out of bounds at the 12-yard line, and from there the Offense started to get untracked and undertake an 11-play, 88-yard drive. On the final play Harris darted in from 22 yards out, Jason Goodwin added the PAT, and the Ranger advantage had been cut to 9-7 with 3:51 left in the 1st Half. The Rockets forced a quick 3-and-out on the Rangers, they took the ball at the 19-yard line, and on the 2nd play Harris took off on an 81-yard dash for the score. Ryan Wood, however, joined the game once more for a block party, this time killing the Rockets’ PAT kick on the spot; nevertheless, the Rockets were in front for the first time of the day at 13-9 with 92 seconds left in the Half. The Rangers returned the kickoff out to the 44-yard line, and on First Down advanced to the Judson 44. Shortly thereafter an Offensive Pass Interference call set the Rangers back to their own 39, and the drive was summarily terminated when Quinn Reels picked off Jacob Brown’s pass and returned it to the Ranger 33-yard line. The Rockets failed to convert on 4th Down, but on the final play of the Half Jacob Brown experienced his second INT of the day, this one by Phillip Gaines.

The Rangers took the 2nd-Half kickoff and started scrimmage from the 15-yard line. A 1st-Down pickup brought them out to the 26, but numerous false starts, which had beset them all day, threatened to stunt the drive. Undeterred, QB Jacob Brown fired a pass from the 20 that Cody Matthews hauled in at the Judson 42-yard line for a 38-yard pickup. The false start phenomenon, however, reappeared like an old "friend," and two (2) additional instances caused the drive to stall and the Rangers to punt. The punt also caused the Rockets to have to start their first drive of the 2nd Half at their own 1-yard line. Three (3) plays and four (4) yards later, the Rockets punted, and the Rangers returned it to the Judson 38-yard line. In spite of the excellent opportunity (for the Rangers), the ball went over on Downs and Judson took over at their 20-yard line. This basic 3-and-out pattern recycled itself for both teams twice over the next several minutes, but the Rangers seemed to be winning the punt-exchange field-position chess match somewhat, especially after a good run-back by Judson following the second of the two (2) Ranger punts was negated by a penalty. Shortly thereafter a short Rocket punt enabled the Rangers to take it at their own 41 and return it to the Judson 40. The Rangers fumbled near the end of the return but were able to recover in time. Three (3) plays and another false start later, and they were in the endzone as a result of a 38-yard Brown-to-Matthews pass play. Cowart’s PAT was good, and the Rangers had regained the lead with 8:07 left in the game. On the Rockets’ ensuing drive, a 3rd-and-1 play was stopped cold, and they punted to the Rangers. Starting from midfield, on the 1st play Brown "completed" his final pass of the day to the Rockets----the "receiver" in this case once more being Quinn Reels. The INT was snatched at the Judson 29-yard line, but a personal foul infraction set the Rockets back to the 14. The Rockets appeared for a very brief moment to be making their move toward a comeback, but Ryan Wood decided to put an end to such an idea by sequestering Chris Patton’s distressed pass and returning it 50 yards for the score. Cowart nailed the PAT and, with 232 seconds remaining, the Rangers were up 23-13. The Rockets had one (1) more opportunity to salvage the situation, but with less than three (3) minutes left a 4th-and-goal attempt was stopped, and this particular DTO came to a less-than-satisfying close (for Judson).

Pflugerville (8-2, 6-1)
September 11, 2008: SCUCISD Stadium, Schertz
This meeting between the 5A Division I and Division II runners-up from the season before was originally slated to take place in Converse on Friday, September 12 . The Stadium, however was still in "no-go" condition, and the game was hence re-scheduled for Thursday, September 11 at the NISD's Farris Stadium. Then, as game day approached, Hurricane Ike appeared headed for a Friday-Saturday inland visit to the San Antonio area, all ISD's and the UIL were sent scrambling, and suddenly everyone was feverishly re-scheduling all their games for Thursday. As a result of the 9-HS NISD's need to accelerate its schedule, the Rockets were sent looking for another venue, and they appeared for a moment to have a date at the Alamodome for that Friday. This idea soon fell apart, but the Schertz-Cibolo Universal City ISD (SCUCISD) came to the rescue of their greater Randolph area friends and neighbors, and the matchup finally landed in Schertz for a Thursday showdown.

The game resumed its defensive form as the 2nd Half got underway. A pickup by Chauncey Harris netted a Judson First Down at the 21-yard line, but shortly thereafter the Rockets punted from the 30, and Pflugerville got another good return, this time to midfield. The Panthers picked up a chain-mover at the Judson 39, but two (2) consecutive bad---albeit recovered---snaps by the cats set them back; consequently they punted and the Rockets took the ball at the 10 and returned it out to the 25. The Rockets appeared to be mounting a drive, advancing to the Panther 36 as a result of a 24-yard gainer by Gabriel Hilliard. The Rockets, however, were unable to convert on 4th Down and the Panthers took over at the 27. On the 1st Play Chris Mercado rolled out and found that Valentino Bishop was open to receive, so he sent the ball downfield to him, Bishop caught it at the Rockets 36 and he was off to the endzone to complete the 73-yard play. Justin Garelick nailed the PAT and the score was knotted a 7-each with 86 seconds remaining in the penultimate period. The Rocket offensive response was seemingly anemic in responding to this turn of events, going 3-and-out, but Kouri Jones was quick in responding to the Panthers’ ensuing fumble of the Judson punt, and he recovered it at the Pflugerville 25. The Rockets, however, were stymied by a Holding penalty and a major "loss on the play," and on 4th Down Gabriel Hilliard’s Halfback option pass fell incomplete by a hairbreadth, giving the Panthers possession at the 24. On the first play, recent history repeated itself. Mercado once more rolled right and once more found that Bishop was available to take the pass, so he launched it to him, Bishop made the rendezvous and hard dock with it at the Judson 41, and he was once more off to the races, this time for a 76-yard score. Garelick drilled the PAT and, with 108 seconds gone in the final period, the Panthers had their first lead of the day at 14-7. The Rockets this time responded quickly to the turn of events, with Chauncey taking off on a 66-yard dash that came to an end when Depaul Marshall tackled him from behind at the Pflugerville 11. The Panther defense thereafter stiffened, and the Rockets settled for a Jason Goodwin FG that narrowed the gap to 14-10 with 8:02 left in the game. On the Panthers’ next series, Julian Ward took off for a 49-yard run for paydirt with 340 seconds remaining, the Garelick PAT was good once more, and shortly thereafter a second consecutive DTO came to a less-than-satisfying end, thus giving the Flight Crew, FOD and the Rocket Support Teams something to work on in the Flight Simulators (aka practices) during the 2-week hiatus.

As for the Hurricane, just as was the case when Hurricane Rita wreaked havoc on football schedules (and property) in 2005, Ike instead veered toward the upper Texas coast and the greater Houston area (where some Hurricanes of another kind were in the early stages of what would be a landmark football season), and the ultimate landfall and inland traverse day was high and dry for the San Antonio area.

South San (2-8, 1-6)
September 26, 2008: South San Bobcat Stadium
The launch and flight operations facility in Converse was still not ready; consequently, the meeting with South San was moved instead to the Bobcats' stadium, thus providing the Rockets with their first visit to that venue since the first Friday of October, 1978. After three (3) consecutive games in which the Offensive Rocket thrusters had muttered and sputtered at times, the meeting with the Bobcats was just what the Flight Surgeon ordered, and the Rockets thoroughly skinned and gutted the 'Cats by scoring on all five (5) of their 1st-Half possessions. The scoring festivities got underway on Judson's 3rd play from scrimmage when Chauncey Harris lifted off for a 66-yard dash to the endzone. The PAT was good and the Rockets were up 7-0 with 87 seconds gone in the game. In fairly short order the Rocket Offense was back at work, this time to undertake a 7-play, 39-yard drive that Harris capped with a 1-yard run which, supplemented by the PAT, extended the Rocket advantage to 14-0 at the 6:22 mark of the opening period. Still in the 1st Quarter, Michael Hilliard caught a 9-yard pass from Chris Patton to finish off an 8-play, 63-yard drive. Once more the PAT was good and, with 55 seconds remaining in the Quarter, the Rocket lead was up to 21-0. The Rocket Defense was likewise in a killing mood, and this fully manifested itself when, following another non-productive 3-Down set for the Bobcats, Phillip Gaines broke through to block the punt, enabling Jonathan Petty to snatch it up and return it 18-yards for the score. The PAT once more was good, and the rout was on, at 28-0, with eight (8) seconds gone in the 2nd period. Four (4) more scoring events took place for the Rockets before the Half expired

• A 22-yard TD pass from backup QB Cody Boswell to Adrian Morgan to culminate a 7-play, 40-yard drive at the 6:10 mark of the 2nd Quarter.
• A 49-yard dash by prime QB Chris Patton that polished off a 3-play 58-yard drive with 118 seconds remaining
• Two (2) additional PAT's by Jason Goodwin to complete his perfect record in the game thus far

The Rockets were a little more deliberate to start the 2nd Half, but the pattern established in the 1st Half continued, as Jason Goodwin nailed a 34-yard FG to extend the Rocket lead to 45-0 at the 6:19 mark of the penultimate period. Shortly thereafter, Kouri Jones snatched an INT and, on the next play, Gabriel Hilliard zipped in from 30 yards out. The PAT was good once more and the Rocket lead was up to 52-0 with 262 seconds remaining in the 3rd Quarter. Joe Morales thereafter helped mitigate, at least momentarily, the damage for South San by racing in from 41 yards out to put the 'Cats on the board. The PAT, however, was no good and the Rockets still led 52-6 with 98 seconds remaining. The FOD thereafter inserted the Backup Flight Crew for the remainder of this match-up, and Christian Cooper used his opportunity to shine to the fullest by punching in from two (2) yards out to bring the final tally to 58-6 with 7:56 left in the game.

Wagner 6-4, 6-1)
October 3, 2008: Converse
The T-Birds had played with a high level of resolve in their first three (3) games of the season---with Smithson Valley, Roosevelt (a game in fact played at SCUCISD Stadium on a Saturday night) and Tivy---but nevertheless soon found themselves in an 0-3 hole as a result of their having met teams that were already seemingly in late-season form. While the Rockets were blowing away the Bobcats, the T-Birds got out to a big lead in Corpus Christi and then held on to get their first win against King, and this set the stage for the 3rd annual JISD Battle of the Hammer. Also setting the stage was the fact that the rebuilt Rutledge Stadium was finally and sufficiently ready enough to accommodate the showdown. Although the Rockets would be the so-called "visiting" team, everyone on hand---Rockets and T-Birds alike----was simply glad to finally be there.

The Rockets took the opening kickoff and three (3) plays later were in the endzone, with the TD coming on a 65-yard dash by Chauncey Harris. Although the PAT was no good, the Rockets were nevertheless out front at 6-0 with only 56 seconds gone. Shortly thereafter the Rockets recovered a T-Bird fumble and were in business at the Wagner 20-yard line. From there they worked things down toward the 1-yard line in four (4) plays, and on the fifth play QB Chris Patton punched in. Rashawn Davis caught the pass for two (2) points, and the Rocket advantage was up to 14-0 with 4:13 remaining in the opening Quarter. The T-Birds were unable to do anything of any significance with their next possession, but on the Rockets' next possession they essentially picked up where they left off, mounting a 6-play, 67-yard drive. The drive came to an end with Chauncey's 38-yard dash to the endzone. Jason Goodwin toed the PAT, and the Rocket lead was now 21-0 with nine (9) seconds gone in the 2nd period. Things settled down somewhat thereafter, but with time expiring in the 1st Half the Rockets were inside the Wagner 5-yard line, threatening to score again. They advanced things to the 1-yard line, but the drive was terminated by a fumble into the endzone that gave the ball to the T-Birds for a touchback out at the 20.

The Rockets started the 2nd Half the way they started the 1st Half, mounting a 9-play, 59-yard drive. The final play that netted the points was an 8-yard Harris run with 4:55 remaining in the 3rd Quarter, and Goodwin's PAT increased the lead to 28-0. With time running down in the 3rd Quarter, the Rockets were once again knocking at the door at the T-Bird 1-yard line and appeared on the verge of pinning a severe blowout on their fellow JISD friends and neighbors. The T-Birds, however, decided it was time to take things---starting with the ball---into their own hands. A bad exchange on the handoff mixed with a quick Defense that had Rocket Pride-like (or more appropriately T-Bird pride-like) roots allowed Bernal Ruiz to take the ball at the 5 and return it 95 yards to put Wagner on the board with 54 seconds remaining in the 3rd Quarter. The PAT was no good but the Rocket lead had been reduced to 28-6 as a result of this quick-change 13-point swing. The Rockets took the kickoff and advanced the ball out to the 47-yard line, but they soon fumbled the ball back to Wagner. Shortly thereafter a 40-yard completion to the Rocket 1-yard line was called back on an Illegal Formation call. A little later, on 4th-and-22, a Defensive Pass Interference call gave the T-Birds renewed life on the drive, and on the very next play Tyrea Brown broke numerous tackles at the line of scrimmage and got away for a 33-yard pick-up to the Judson 1-yard line. On the next play Brown punched in for the score, and the 2-point conversion pass from Tavis Grant to Decarez Barry-King further reduced the Judson advantage to 28-14 with 7:51 left in the game. Judson then proceeded to fumble the ensuing kickoff back to Wagner, and in fairly short order some runs by David Glasco moved the ball to the Rockets' 25-yard line. Shortly thereafter Phillip Gaines hauled in an INT to terminate the T-Bird drive, but two (2) plays later the T-Birds got it back on a Rocket turnover at the Judson 25. From there Wagner engineered the short drive in seven (7) plays, with Glasco leaping over the line for the score. Jacob Garrison split the uprights with the PAT, and with 206 seconds remaining the T-Birds were within reach at 28-21. The onside kick, however, was recovered by the Rockets, from there they held on long enough and far enough to facilitate a punt that rolled dead at the Wagner 2-yard line, and Wagner got started with no timeouts and only 39 seconds left. Quinn Reels, however, also got started for the Rockets, and he got the INT to seal the deal for Judson.

Although the ultimate outcome of this particular celestial encounter between the Rockets and T-Birds proved, unlike the one in 2007, to be more to the Rockets' liking, in many ways the T-Birds were able to claim the moral victory and, in spite of being saddled now with a 1-4 record, showed many bright spots indicating that their 27-5A peers would soon have much to fear.

The Rockets, meanwhile, got off to a hot start, but it was too hot for their own good. A 51-yard dash by Chauncey Harris for apparent paydirt was called back, the drive was henceforth short-circuited, and the Owls soon had their chance to go to work on offense. Luke Boswell, however, had other plans with the Rockets on defense, and he hauled in the INT on a tipped pass to put the Rockets in business at the Highlands 24-yard line. On the 3rd play, Harris took it in from seven (7) yards out, this time it was for real, and Goodwin's PAT increased the Rocket lead to 7-0 with 143 seconds gone in the game. The Owls held onto the ball on their next series, but they nevertheless failed to produce, and a short punt set the stage for a 5-play, 41-yard Rocket drive that upped the count, at the 7:22 mark of the opening period, to 14-0, this coming on a 3-yard Harris run and a 1-point Goodwin PAT. Soon the Rockets were back on offense, and Harris polished the 1-play drive off with a 62-yard sprint for the score, Goodwin supplemented things once more with the PAT, and Judson was now up 21-0 at the 4:34 mark of the 1st Quarter. The next Owl drive was killed by still one (1) more INT, this one hauled in by Chris McAllister at the Owl 24-yard line. On the second play Chris Patton punched in from a yard out, Goodwin drilled the PAT, and the Rocket advantage had ballooned to 28-0 with 212 seconds left in the opening period. The Rockets lost their focus somewhat thereafter, and this allowed the Owls to pick up a few 1st Downs and arrest the hemorhaging---for the moment at least. Eventually, the Rockets got back to business, starting at their own 20-yard line, and Harris likewise got back to business, finishing the 4-play drive off with a 63-yard dash. Goodwin's PAT was once more good, and the Rockets led 35-0 with 247 seconds remaining in the 1st Half. The Owls quickly went to work with a 5-play, 66-yard drive that culminated in an 8-yard toss from Jonathan Armijilo to Nick Cisneros for the score. Victor Chirinos toed the PAT, and the Judson lead had been shaved to 35-7 with 2:09 left in the Half. Judson attempted to beat the clock on its next possession, but time expired with the Rockets at the Owl 1-yard line.

Things slowed down somewhat as the 2nd Half got underway, but Chauncey Harris and Jason Goodwin still managed to do some more damage for fourteen (14) additional points. The second of the two (2) Harris TD's in the penultimate period came when he hauled in a 26-yard pass from Cody Boswell. This finished the Rockets' scoring for the day, but the Owls got back on the board when Armijilo hooked up with Tyrice Hill for a 9-yard aerial for the score at the midway mark of the 4th Quarter. The Rockets thereafter bled the rest of the time off the clock so that they had the ball at the Highlands 3-yard line when the game clock said "four-zeroes."

Once more Cody Boswell and Chris Patton contributed air yards for the Rockets, this time on a combined 5-of-7 passing effort for 82 yards and no INT’s. The Rockets’ Offensive Propulsion System did not lose any fumbles while picking up 382 rushing yards. 237 of those were turned in by Chauncey Harris on twelve (12) carries. The Rockets’ Defensive Thermal Protection kept them from getting burned on the ground, limiting the Owls to only 27 yards. The airways, however, once more proved somewhat problematic, where they yielded to the Owls for 145 yards that came as part of an 11-of-24 effort by the Owls that also experienced two (2) costly INT’s that the Rockets were able to use to their advantage. The Rockets’ nine (9) penalties for 95 yards nevertheless were another issue that needed to be addressed.

King (3-7, 1-6)
October 17, 2008: Cabanis Field, Corpus Christi
For the 2nd week in a row, the Rockets had a hot, premature ignition---all for naught. This time, Phillip Gaines faked a reverse on the kickoff and raced 95 yards for the apparent score. The TD, however, was nullified by a holding call, and the Rockets were required to start at their own 22-yard line. This arrested the drive's development sufficiently so that the Mustangs eventually got the ball. They nevertheless punted in fairly short order, but the Rockets---likewise in short order---muffed the punt, giving the Mustangs possession at the Judson 18-yard line. The Rocket Defense nevertheless held, and a FG was no good. The Rockets thereafter undertook a 79-yard drive, but it was terminated by a fumble at the King 1-yard line. Nevertheless, following a quick 3-and-out by the Mustangs, the Rockets finally got going, and on the first play Chauncey Harris zipped in from 43 yards out to put the Rockets on the board. The PAT by Jason Goodwin gave the Rockets a 7-0 lead with time expiring in the opening period. The Rocket Defense continued its assault on the Mustang Defense, but the Rocket Offense continued to be its own worst enemy, and the ensuing Judson possession was short-circuited by an INT at the King 30-yard line. The horses were nevertheless soon required to punt, and Robert Shaw was ready and waiting to take it for the Rockets and return it 44 yards to the King 15-yard line. Four (4) plays later the Rockets were once more in the endzone----once more courtesy of Chauncey Harris and this time from four (4) yards out-----the PAT was good and the lead was up to 14-0 with 6:38 left in the Half. King’s ensuing possession was terminated when Quinn Reels hauled in a tipped pass and returned it 33 yards to put the Rockets in business at the Mustang 27-yard line. Chris Patton ended the short drive by punching in from a yard out, Goodwin once more did his thing with the PAT, and with 148 seconds left in the 1st Half the Rockets had extended the advantage to 21-0.

The Mustangs started the 2nd Half with a 4-minute possession that yielded no points whatever. Phillip Gaines thereafter took the punt for Judson and zigged, zagged, and shifted directions numerous times to get to the King 15-yard line. The play was partially negated by a penalty that required the drive to begin at mid-field, but the ensuing 8-play drive was polished off by a 4-yard Harris run for paydirt. The PAT by Goodwin was good, and the Rocket lead was 28-0 with 5:15 remaining in the 3rd Quarter. On the first play following the kickoff, Robert Shaw put a good hit on the scrambling and determined QB Aron Alexander, jarring the ball loose and making it available for Reels to once more take into custody for the Rockets. Shortly thereafter Chris Patton zipped in from eight (8) yards out, the PAT was good and the lead was 35-0. The Mustangs failed to produce points once more, and Judson’s next time on offense came to an end when Elliot Hudson hauled in an 11-yard toss from Cody Boswell, and the PAT brought the count to 42-0 with one (1) second remaining in the 3rd Quarter. The Mustangs bled the clock substantially, but it was insufficient in producing points. The ensuing punt was nevertheless sufficient to allow Robert Shaw to take it and return it 62 yards for still one (1) more Rocket score. The PAT netted the Rockets’ final points of the day, and thereafter the Mustangs continued to bleed most of the remaining time in driving down to allow Aron Alexander to take the ball in from four (4) yards out. The PAT by Jack Rosenthal produced the final points of the day, and the Rockets were able to leave town with a 49-7 verdict.

Meanwhile up in Converse, the T-Birds made history by winning their second game in a row for their first-ever win streak. The week before they thoroughly dismantled the Victoria Memorial Vipers in Victoria. On this evening, while the Rockets were dismantling the Mustangs, the T-Birds jumped out to a 21-0 1st-Quarter lead over the 6-0 Carroll Tigers and went on to pin a 34-14 verdict on them.

East Central (3-7, 3-4)
October 24, 2008: Converse
In March, 1982, STS-3 featured a DTO involving a full colony of honey bees. In the years to come some additional flights involving flying insects of the stinging variety would take place; hence such tests have been rooted in the history of the rocket program operated by NASA. In the Rocket program operated by Judson, the Hornets of East Central have been part of its DTO schedule at various times---with the first instance coming in 1970 when Judson was still in 2A. Rocket Flight crews had been stung during the first several encounters, but with the exception of the 1981 launch day DTO in 1981, the Rockets had gotten the better of EC since 1977. Such tests had nevertheless been shown to be very risky and fraught with some danger, with numerous close calls or at least "pesky" encounters, and the renewal of this kind of experiment proved to be no different. The Rocket Defense was once again "on" from the start, but once again the Offense required a little time to get through its ignition sequence. In fact, this process underwent what NASA would call a "scrub turnaround" in the 1st Quarter when a promising drive was terminated with a turnover inside the Hornet 25-yard line. The Rockets eventually got untracked and mounted a 6-play, 64-yard drive that Chauncey Harris polished off with a 39-yard dash at the 8:09 mark of the 2nd period. Jason Goodwin drilled the PAT and the score was 7-0. The Hornets responded to this turn of events by undertaking a 65-yard drive in seven (7) plays, with Chris Johnson zipping in from 27 yards out, and the PAT evening things up at 7-each with 6:15 remaining in the Half. The Rockets nevertheless got back to work and finished off a 60-yard drive in seven (7) plays with a 27-yard dash by Harris for paydirt. The Goodwin PAT was good, the Rockets were back in the lead---this time at 14-7---with 187 seconds remaining before intermission, and this lead held up through the break.

The Rockets’ first possession ended the way their opening-period possession ended---with a turnover. This setback was likewise nevertheless a temporary one that proved to be harmless, and in short order the Rockets executed an 8-play, 74-yard campaign that came to an end with a 36-yard run by "the cricket"---Region IV Triple Jump specialist Gabriel Hilliard---with 29 tics left in the 3rd period. Shortly thereafter as the final period unfolded, Robert Shaw snatched a Hornet pass and returned it 32 yards for the score. The PAT was good and the Rockets led 28-7. A little later, the Rockets took possession at the Hornet 38-yard line, four (4) plays later Harris scored once more for the Rockets----from fourteen (14) yards out-----and Goodwin nailed the PAT to give the Rockets a 35-7 advantage. Gary Coleman took the kickoff and returned it 85 yards to put EC in business at the Judson 12-yard line, but the promising drive came to an unfortunate end---for the Hornets---when the ball was fumbled into the endzone and the Rockets recovered for a touchback. The Rockets then finished things off with a 7-play, 80-yard drive, with Harris taking it in once more for a 9-yard run for the score, and Goodwin closing out the scoring for the day with his final PAT to put the final stinger on the Hornets.

This showdown featured some pretty good RB’s. Chris Johnson stung the Rockets with 174 yards on 24 carries for the Hornets, and the Rockets’ Offensive Propulsion System burned up the Rutledge Stadium turf for 414 yards, with Chauncey contributing 276 of that on 27 carries. Harris’ effort was supplemented by five (5) other ball carriers.

Victoria Memorial (5-5, 3-4)
October 31, 2008: Converse
’Snakes in Space.’ For the second consecutive week the Rockets had a DTO involving critters capable of inflicting a painful experience. The Vipers sprung out of the bottle early in the test and nearly tricked the Flight Crew into treating them to an opening score and an early lead when Kyle Moczygemba took the opening kickoff and returned it to the Judson 10-yard line. The Rocket Defense, however, stiffened and a chip-shot FG was blocked. From there the Flight Crew went to work in getting the Vipers back in the bottle so they could conduct the DTO on their terms, driving 80 yards for the go-ahead score, which came on a 28-yard pass play from Chris Patton to Jacob English. Jason Goodwin nailed the PAT and the Rockets were up 7-0 at the 5:06 mark of the opening period. The Rockets thereafter recovered a fumble at the Viper 34-yard line, and soon Gabriel Hilliard hauled in Patton’s 11-yard toss. The PAT, however, hit the upright, so the lead remained at 13-0 with 139 seconds left in the 1st Quarter. The snakes failed to produce on their next possession, the Rockets started their next possession at their own 20-yard line, and on the 2nd play Chauncey Harris lifted off for a 75-yard run for the score. The PAT was good this time, and the Rockets were up 20-0 with 49 seconds gone in the 2nd Quarter. The Rockets’ next possession ended in a fumble, but the Vipers returned the favor a few plays later, and the Rockets worked their way downfield on a 7-play drive that netted a successful 36-yard FG by Goodwin as time expired in the 1st Half.

The Rockets took a squib kickoff at the Judson 40-yard line to start the 2nd Half, and from there they engineered an effective and efficient 5-play drive to the Viper 34-yard line. On the 6th play, Harris took the handoff and launched a pass that Michael Hilliard hauled in at the 5-yard line and thereafter carried in from there to complete the 34-yard play and increase the Judson advantage to 30-0. The concomitant PAT brought the score to 31-0 with 140 seconds gone in the 3rd Quarter. The Rockets thereafter recovered a Moczygemba fumble on the kickoff at the 28-yard line. A 5-yard penalty set the Rockets back, but on the first play Harris took off for a 33-yard dash, the PAT was good and the Rocket lead was up to 38-0 only 22 seconds after the previous score. It was then déjà vu time. Moczygemba once more fumbled the kickoff, and once more the Rockets recovered at the 28-yard line. This time, the Rockets executed a 7-play drive, with Patton punching in from two (2) yards out for the score. The PAT was good once more, and the rout was on with a 44-0 Judson lead at the 7:10 mark of the 3rd period. The Vipers held onto the ball on the next kickoff, allowing them to start at their 30-yard line, but on the first play Trent Matthews picked the pass off at the Memorial 40-yard line and returned it to the 20. Arturo Reyes carried in from nine (9) yards out, the PAT once again was good, and the Rockets had a 51-0 count. The Vipers held onto the ball through all phases of their next possession, and their 51-yard punt rolled to a stop inside the Judson 10-yard line. Shortly thereafter, however, Reyes took off on an 85-yard dash, the PAT was good and, with 96 seconds remaining in the 3rd Quarter, the damage had been done. The Flight Crew safely bottled up the serpents, and this particular life-sciences DTO was for all intents and purposes over.

For the game the Rockets bottled up the Vipers quite nicely, limiting them to only 123 yards on the ground and 16 through the air. Meanwhile, the Rockets picked up 605 yards of total offense. 381 of those came on the ground, with Chauncey Harris contributing 140 of those on ten (10) carries, Arturo Reyes getting 100 on only three (3) carries, and the balance picked up by a whopping eight (8) additional ball carriers. Significantly, through the air the Rockets got 227 yards through the air on a 14-of-18 passing effort. All of that, with the exception of the 34-yard pass by Chauncey for the score, was turned in by Chris Patton.

Interestingly for the Vipers, in spite of this debacle (for them) they still had a shot at the playoffs should they get past the EC Hornets the following Friday.

Carroll (8-2, 5-2)
November 7, 2008: Buccaneer Stadium, Corpus Christi
Gabriel Hilliard returned the opening kickoff 36 yards to the Carroll 47-yard line, and from there the Rockets skillfully went the distance in five (5) plays. The fifth play featured a 25-yard dash by Chauncey Harris for the score, the PAT was good and Judson was out front at 7-0 with only 99 seconds gone. Shortly thereafter Travis Phelps stole a Tiger pass and returned it 15 yards to the Carroll 20. The drive stalled out, but Jason Goodwin nevertheless tacked on a 21-yard FG to increase the Rocket advantage to 10-0 at the 8:09 mark of the opening period. The Tigers recovered their own fumble on the ensuing kickoff and started from the Carroll 24-yard line, and thereafter served swift and certain notice that going down in an early blowout wasn’t necessarily in their plans; hence, Tiger QB Jake Sims delivered an aerial that Ramon Garcia caught at the 40 and raced in from there with to complete a 71-yard play. Brandon Edwards split the uprights for the PAT and all told it meant that the Judson advantage had been narrowed to 10-7 with 6:27 remaining in the 1st Quarter. The Rockets had trouble fielding the subsequent kickoff, returning it up to the 15. A penalty, however, also caused them to start their next drive from the 7-yard line. The drive was basically dead on arrival, and Judson punted to Carroll at the Tigers’ 46-yard line. Some busted plays and penalties short-circuited that possession as well as the subsequent one for the Rockets, but soon some short-circuiting of another kind took place. After the Tigers took the Rocket punt, they completed a 15-yard pass, and as that took place four (4) of the six (6) stadium light towers went dark.

In the history of the NASA-operated rocket program electrical problems, ranging from lightning strikes to balky fuel cells, to damage resulting from an explosion, have threatened to terminate various missions (and in some cases did). The electrical problem besetting the Tigers and Rockets was not nearly as threatening, but it was nevertheless an issue that needed to be addressed so that the game could be completed----sooner or later. The people dressed in red were obviously hoping that this issue could be resolved fairly soon so they could get out of town sometime before midnight, and hopefully with the win. Finally, after 45 minutes the issue seemed to resolve itself, and the teams came back out to resume the game.

The Tigers went 3-and-out, and the Rockets mimicked that performance. The Tigers soon broke the cycle by starting from their 20-yard line and undertaking a 10-play drive to reach the Judson 14-yard line. Travis Phelps, however, decided that he’d seen enough, so he popped the ball loose from the Tiger QB and Kouri Jones snapped it up and returned it to the Carroll 42-yard line. Chauncey Harris advanced things to the 1-yard line, and on his second sneak attempt Chris Patton punched in to increase the Rocket lead to 16-7 with 3:56 remaining in the Half. The PAT, however, was no good. Kouri Jones was thereafter able to collect the live, bouncing ball on the concomitant kickoff to put the Rockets in business once more, this time at the Tiger 31-yard line. They converted on a 4th-and-8 play to keep the drive alive, and with 61 seconds remaining Harris took it in from inside the 5. The Tigers were thereafter unable to do anything of consequence, and actually were forced to punt to the Rockets with nine (9) seconds left. Judson was also unable to do anything on such short notice, and the Half expired.

Coming out of the break, the teams traded punts, but on the first play of the Rockets’ second possession Harris lifted off for a 65-yard TD run that increased the lead to 29-7 with 189 seconds remaining in the 3rd Quarter. Once more, however, the PAT was no good. The Tigers came back somewhat, narrowing the gap to 29-13 with a 1-yard run by Anthony Davis at the 9:27 mark of the 4th Quarter. This time, however, it was the Tigers’ turn to experience a failed PAT. The Rockets thereafter bled the clock with a drive that culminated in a 23-yard FG by Kweku Tailey to extend their lead to 32-13 with 198 seconds to go. The Tigers scored the final points of the day, with sixteen (16) seconds remaining, on a 7-yard run by Sims and a 2-point pass play from Sims to Tony Bocage.

The previous Tuesday Barack Obama successfully completed his Fall Campaign. On this particular Friday evening, the Rockets completed "Phase 2" of their Fall Campaign, and apparently were "GO" for Phase 3 of their mission: The Division I post-season. They would be joined in the playoffs by the Wagner Thunderbirds in Division II, whom on this evening up in Converse clinched their first winning season at 6-4. And, the Vipers took care of business, redeeming themselves and clinching a winning season at 5-4, and in turn knocking the Hornets out of the 4th-place playoff seeding in 27-5A and earning a Division I appointment with the Clark Cougars-----those venerable pumas from De Zavala Road who were enjoying a 2008 edition of "The Year of the Cat."

Semifinals
Allen 23 Stony Point 21
Hightower 28 Clark 7

Final
Allen 21 Hightower 14

Stevens (6-4, 5-2)
November 14, 2008: Converse
Similar to Wagner, the Stevens Falcons were in their 3^rd season of Varsity play. Similar to Wagner, they fielded in 2008 one of the more potent and quick ground games in Region IV. Similar to Wagner, the Falcons copped their first playoff seed in their short, 3-year history and entered the playoffs with a 6-4 record. Included in the backfield was 100-yard specialist Rynell Parson, who played football as a Sophomore, wanted to concentrate on Track and Field in his Junior year but was thereafter slowed somewhat by injuries. Now back on the team as a Senior, he along with his fellow members of the backfield presented a potent combo. Also a challenge for the Rockets was Coach Lee Bridges, who had prior experience dissecting the Rockets’ Offense and Defense while directing the 2001 Division I Finalist Taft Raiders to a 2^nd-Round 32-13 win over the Rockets in 2001.

Earlier that day, it was announced that Bridges’ predecessor at Taft, Mike Haynes, had died in his sleep. This loss was felt throughout the San Antonio area educational community, and it was against this backdrop that the Falcons made their first visit to Converse to face the Rockets.

The Rockets, meanwhile, had been hobbled throughout the 2008 Mission with numerous injuries, of varying nature and extent, to members of the Flight Crew, and these had taken their toll both offensively and defensively. About an hour before kickoff time, a "blue norther" came blowing through, and the seemingly 40-mph wind promised to be a potential factor for both teams. Against this backdrop was the ongoing construction of the replacement building for the Judson HS Red Campus. The work had begun the previous June, and part of this process included the excavation of the Rockets' practice fields. In fact, a huge, pyramid-shaped pile of dirt nearly twice the height of the neighboring JISD Maintenance Warehouse had accumulated as part of this on-going project, and as the game got underway the dust from the pile, intermixed with a variegated assortment of debris, came blowing toward the Prime Flight Crew on the field, the FOD and Backup Flight Crew on the sideline, and the Rocket Support Teams on the track and in the stands. All told, the conditions threatened to turn the Rockets’ very own Mission Operations and Flight Support Facility into some kind of hostile environment. Even without any of this, the visiting Falcons would have probably felt themselves to be in a hostile venue of sorts; hence the Falcons, with good athletes, good coaching and a good game plan, had the "visiting field advantage" to a certain extent.

It was thus under this backdrop that the Falcons kicked off with the strengthening northerly breeze. On the first play from scrimmage Chauncey Harris was stopped behind the line of scrimmage for a 1-yard loss, but on 2nd Down, however, Chris Patton hooked up with a 15-yard aerial to Elliot Hudson to move the chains. Hudson thereafter got a good 15-yard scamper, but a holding call negated what would otherwise have been another chain-mover, and the drive died at the Stevens 49. When the ball was snapped for the punt, it took an apparently wind-distorted trajectory that caused the Rocket punter to take it in a way that made it virtually impossible for his knee to avoid touching the turf, and this in turn enabled the Falcons to start their next drive at the Judson 39-yard line. The Rockets held, the ensuing punt went into the endzone for a touchback, but on the first play Chauncey Harris bobbled the handoff and Stevens was back in business at the Judson 22. The Falcons converted a 4th-and-1 situation at the 13 by inches to keep the drive going, another carry took the ball to the 4, and on 3rd-and-1 QB Geoffrey Myles darted in from the 4. Allen Cain nailed the PAT, and with 19 seconds left in the opening period the Falcons had drawn first blood and led 7-0.

The Rockets started the ensuing drive from their own 20-yard line, and Chris Patton took to the air, connecting with Jacob English and Adrian Morgan for two (2) key First Down pickups to get the Rockets to their 46-yard line. Harris carried thereafter to midfield, and with that the 1st Quarter expired and the Rockets now had their chance to hopefully "use" the wind. Harris carried to the Stevens 41 for a First Down, and Patton thereafter hit Harris for a chain-moving aerial that brought things to the 25. Finally, on the 19th play of the drive, Harris punched in from two (2) yards out, but he spiked the ball and this resulted in a 15-yard enforcement call by the zebras. Coach Bridges elected to have the penalty enforced on the PAT, and this paid off when the 35-yard PAT failed, leaving the Falcons in front at 7-6 with 6:40 remaining in the Half. Kweku Tailey sent the ball bouncing downfield on the kickoff, and Rynell Parson got it but only with difficulty, nearly getting tackled in the endzone before bringing it out to the 2-yard line just in time. On 1st Down Courtland almost sequestered Christian Stringfellow in the endzone, but the "almost" meant that there would instead be a 3rd-Down play……and, a 4th Down play involving a punt into the wind. The Rockets took possession at the Stevens 39, and converted a 4th-and-inches situation into a 2-yard pickup to the 27. The drive, however, was unable to go the distance, the snap on the ensuing FG attempt for 30 yards was also unable to go the distance, and the attempt was DOA. With time running down in the 1st Half, the Falcons picked up an important First Down that enabled them to avoid having to punt into the wind, and with that the teams retreated for the intermission.

Coming out of the break, Kweku Tailey kicked off, and Rynell Parson took it, handed it off on a reverse, and from there the ball was advanced up to the 32. A double reverse to Parson thereafter advanced it to the Judson 38-yard line. A big gainer to the 9-yard line was negated by a holding call that moved things back to the 40, but on the next play Geoffrey Myles zipped in on a QB draw, the PAT was good and the Flacon advantage had been extended to 14-6 at the 8:38 mark of the 3rd Quarter. The kickoff into the wind went vertical up and hence came vertical down, and Stevens recovered the live ball at the Judson 38. The Rocket Defense nevertheless allowed only two (2) yards on the series, and the Falcons elected to punt. The Rockets returned it up to the 18-yard line, and Patton proceeded to get to the 30 to move the chains. Harris thereafter took off for what promised to be a 62-yard dash for the score, but a holding call wiped the score out, it stunted the drive and the Rockets punted from the 39. The 61-yard punt went into the endzone for a touchback out to the 20. On 3rd Down the Falcons fumbled but recovered, Judson had trouble fielding the ensuing punt but nevertheless got it, but on the 1st play Harris fumbled the ball and Stevens was in business at the Judson 40-yard line. Once more the Rocket Defense stiffened, on the punt snap the Falcons experienced the same wind-caused knee-on-the-turf phenomenon that the Rockets did in the 1st Half, and the Rockets got the ball at the Stevens 23-yard line. A false start moved the Rockets back five (5) yards, but Gabriel Hilliard made up for this by sprinting to the 13 on the final play of the penultimate period, and from there Chris Patton took it in. Now going into the wind in the final period, the pass for two (2) points was INC, and the Rockets still trailed at 14-12 with 11:34 remaining.

On the kickoff the ball apparently went ten (10) yards, which made it available to the Rockets, and then also got blown backward, which allowed Judson to easily recover it at the Stevens 44. Soon, however, it was 3^rd Down, the pass fell INC, and the Rockets punted. The Falcons got a First Down pickup to the 35, where on the next play Chris McAllister recovered for the Rockets. Adrian Morgan caught a pass at the 24 to move the chains, but Patton was thereafter sacked back to the 29 on 3^rd Down, and the 4^th Down pass once more fell INC. A shanked kick following a 3-and-out gave the Rockets possession at the Stevens 45, but soon the 4^th Down pass once more came up empty, this time with 165 seconds remaining. Geoffrey Myles advanced the ball on a keeper to the Judson 45, but on 4^th and 9 the Falcons punted. The ball rolled dead at the Judson 5-yard line, but Stevens was offside, and on the next punt attempt the ball rolled dead at the Judson 31 with 32 seconds remaining. Chris Patton scrambled up to the 45 and got out of bounds with two (2) seconds remaining, and the Rockets were down to the final play. Patton, however, was sacked with "four zeroes" on the clock, and the Rockets had run out of time.

As the Division I playoffs got underway, it appeared that there was a reasonably good chance that the Rockets would have a chance to meet either their long-time 26-5A nemesis Madison, or possibly those venerable pumas from Clark HS for another Millennial installment of "Coogs in Space." It was not to be, but in the Region IV Finals the Cougars at least were able to avenge the 80-42 score that Westlake pinned on them in the 1994 Region IV Finals, and advance to the Division I Semifinals against Hightower at DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin. For a brief shining moment it appeared that it truly would be "The Year of the Cat" when the pumas grabbed a 7-0 lead in the 1st Quarter. The Hurricanes, however, got their bearings shortly thereafter and ultimately blew the cats away. The journey to the Semifinals was nevertheless a good, long-in-coming showing for the Rockets' familiar feline friends.

Semifinals
Wylie 23 Copperas Cove 7
Katy 41 SV 19

Final
Katy 17 Wylie 3