Page 32 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2024 - Online Magazine

1968 Pickett’s book is a page-turner when it comes to the

play-by-play of each game the brand-new Matadors
Roster encountered. From the first shutout against top
contender Brownfield (14-0), the Matadors focused
on each rival, not looking ahead or back. According
to Pickett, “Coach Keeling did not leave anything to
chance.” Next came routs of Littlefield (51-0), Lamesa
(33-0), and a 69-0 win over Levelland, earning the
Coaches: Matadors a 4-0 record. Game five was against their
intimidating cross-town opponent Dunbar. Many of
Jimmie Keeling (head coach) Gene Murrell* the Matadors had grown up with future Panthers and
Delbert Wilson* Hollis Gainey* expected to be their teammates in high school. But, at
Wayne Garner* R. A. Wade the end of the standing-room-only game at Lowrey
Field, the scoreboard displayed 26-0, and the Matador
Athletic Trainer and Coach: defense had not yet allowed a single point.

E. G. Nuñez* That record came to an end the next week when San
Angelo Lake View scored one TD against the Matadors,
Managers: but the offense compensated by setting a record of

Larry Blanchard Steve Gentry Melvin Mitchell* their own. They beat Lake View 73-6. Next came wins
over Slaton (60-6), Snyder (54-0), and Colorado City
Student Trainers: (42-0). The team was 9-0 and had given up only two
touchdowns all season. By then, the AP had them
Gary Garrett Scott Harmon Billy McGinnis ranked #4 in the state, but because only one team
from the district would advance to the playoffs, the
Team: last game against Sweetwater (7-0-1) was for “all the
marbles.” James Mosley scored the only touchdown in
#11 Jesse Bozeman* - QB #64 Walter Hibbler - G the whole game, and the Matadors ended their regular
#12 Kenneth Wallace* - QB #65 Gene Null - G season with a perfect 10-0, outscoring their opponents
#14 Daniel Johnson - QB #66 Enedino Samudio - G 431-12. Tommy Scruggs said after that game, “That
#20 Jesse Lethridge - TB #67 J.B. Lemon - G was when I began to realize we had something really
special. I was beginning to feel comfortable playing ball
#21 Marvin Turner* - TB #70 Floyd Harris* - T with these guys.”
#24 Mike McLin* - E #71 Rudy Beltran* - T
#31 Frank Judie - FB #72 Robert Hines - T It was already an unbelievable season, but Coach
#32 James Mosley - FB #73 Dean Null - T Keeling wasn’t about to rest on their laurels. The
#34 Porter Jaushlin* - FB #74 William Hall* - T bi-district game would be against Brownwood, the
#40 James Lester - WB #75 Homer Morse - T defending state champs, whose longtime coach,
Gordon Wood, retired as the nation’s winningest coach
#41 Joe Benson* - TB #77 Angel Rodriquez* - T with nine state championships. But not in 1968. The
#42 Avance Green* - WB #78 David Hightower* - T Matadors served up a 49-8 defeat on Thanksgiving
#44 Larry Miller - TB #80 David Moody - E Day which Lubbock Mayor “Dub” Rogers proclaimed
#50 Joe Rose - C #81 Ronnie Hill - E Estacado Matadors Day. The team “steam-rolled” over
#52 Mike Eller - C #82 Buddy King* Kermit 35-12 and advanced to the state semi-finals,
#54 Richard Segura - C #83 Fred White - T facing Henderson, the best team in East Texas.
#60 Bobby Lester* - G #84 Freddie Stephens* - E Even with Texas High School Hall-of-Fame running
#61 Kenny Williams - T #85 Tyson Haynes - E back Joe Wylie, Henderson was no match for the
#62 Robert Boykin* - G #87 Tommy Scruggs - E Matadors who shut them out 30-0.
#63 Ruben Romero - G
It is important to note that one team scored regularly
*Deceased on the Mighty Matador defense. Every week, their own

32 Lubbock Senior Link