Author: Howe Enterprise

Photos by Michelle Carney

PREGAME NOTES

Howe is 10-16 vs. Leonard since the first game on 10/20/1961 in which Leonard won, 43-0.  Leonard has outscored Howe, 495-456.  The Tigers won the first eight meetings between the two schools before Howe finally beat them in 1973.  Howe started a 7-game winning streak in 1991 which lasted until 2004.  The Bulldogs are 3-10 overall at Tiger Stadium in Leonard with the last win coming in a 28-21 win on 9/26/2003.

10/20/1961	0	at Leonard	43
10/26/1962	0	at Leonard	37
10/25/1963	0	Leonard	28
10/14/1966	8	at Leonard	23
10/13/1967	7	Leonard	27
9/27/1968	7	at Leonard	25
9/26/1969	22	Leonard	37
11/10/1972	13	at Leonard	19
11/9/1973	33	Leonard	20
9/10/1976	0	at Leonard	15
9/9/1977	21	Leonard	6
10/27/1978	28	Leonard	0
10/26/1979	23	at Leonard	24
9/7/1990	12	at Leonard	27
9/6/1991	27	Leonard	6
10/14/1994	28	Leonard	0
10/20/1995	28	at Leonard	0
11/6/1998	39	at Leonard	7
11/11/1999	34	Leonard	0
9/27/2002	23	Leonard	0
9/26/2003	28	at Leonard	21
9/24/2004	0	Leonard	10
9/23/2005	14	at Leonard	20
10/31/2008	28	at Leonard	59
10/30/2009	12	Leonard	14
11/7/2014	21	Leonard	27

Howe is 13-3 in their last 16 games going back to 10/17/2014 vs. Tom Bean.  It’s the best 16-game stretch since 10/17/1997 – 11/19/1998 when the ‘Dogs went 13-3.  Howe also had a 13-3 stretch from 10/31/1969 – 9/10/1971.  Howe also had 12-4 stretches from 9/4/1987 – 10/7/1988; and 9/24/1959 – 11/10/1960.  (Howe had numerous great 16 game stretches in the 1930s and 40s).

The Bulldogs have won 5-straight home games at Bulldog Stadium dating back to the final game of 2014 vs. Leonard.  It is the longest Bulldog Stadium winning streak for Howe since a 7-game winning streak inside the 1998 season.  The list of the longest home winning streaks:

13 games, 1988-1991
13 games, 1938-39
11 games, 1944-46
10 games, 1935-36
9 games, 1940-41
7 games, 1998
7 games, 1947-48
7 games, 1937-38
6 games, 1995-96
6 games, 1986-87
6 games, 1967-69
6 games, 1941-43
5 games, 2015
5 games, 1970-71

With the win over Whitewright, Howe moves to 8-1 on the season.  Here’s a look at the Bulldogs’ best starts in Howe history:

9-0, 1940 (then 9-1)
8-0-1, 1946 (then 9-0-1)
8-0-1, 1936 (final record)
7-0-2, 1938 (then 8-0-2)
8-1, 2010 (then 9-1)
8-1, 1998 (then 9-1)
8-1, 1939 (then 9-1)
8-1, 1945 (final record)
8-1, 1987 (then 8-2)
8-1, 1960 (then 8-2)
8-1, 2015 (then ?)

The 29 points vs. Whitewright moves Howe’s points per game average to 35.44 which is better than any Howe team finished.

35.44, 2015 – District Champions
33.83, 1998 – District, Bi-District Champions
33.70, 1940 – District Champions
30.82, 2010 – District Champions
29.82, 1999 – playoffs
28.69, 2014 – Bi-District, Area Champions
28.46, 1989 – District, Bi-District, Area Champions
28.10, 1987
27.80, 1960
27.09, 1991 – District Champions

Howe’s shutout of Whitewright moves their points per game allowed to 10.67 which ranks 19 of 72 teams.  The 10.67 is the lowest since 1991 when the Bulldogs allowed only 6.91 points per game.

The shutout of Whitewright gives Howe five so far in 2015.  The last time Howe had that many in a season was 1985.  The list of most shutouts in one season:

8, 1945
7, 1946
7, 1939
7, 1938
6, 1947
6, 1940
5, 1985
5, 2015

It was the first back-to-back-back shutout since October of 2001 when Howe blanked Anna and Tom Bean in consecutive weeks.  The last time Howe had three shutouts in a row was in 1991 vs. Whitewright, Callisburg, and Tom Bean.  The list of consecutive shutouts by a Howe team:

8, 1945
6, 1938
5, 1940
4, 1947
4, 1946
4, 1935-36
3, 2015 
3, 1991
3, 1979

Howe gave up only 66 yards of total offense to Whitewright and 45 yards of total offense to S&S. Before that, Tom Bean was held to 10 yards. Not even the defense of 1991, which held every district opponent to under 100 yards of total offense and is statistically the best since the 1940’s, had back-to-back-to-back defensive games like this.

Howe’s average margin of victory in 2015 is 24.78 which is second only to the 1940 District Champions who won by a margin of 27.20.  The list of the top 10 teams by margin of victory:

27.20, 1940 – District Champions
24.78, 2015 – District Champions
21.30, 1946 – District Champions
20.90, 1987
20.75, 1998 – District, Bi-District Champions
20.20, 1942 – District Champions
20.18, 1991 – District Champions
17.44, 1945 – District Champions
17.00, 1938 – District, Bi-District Champions
16.45, 1939 District Champions

Zack Hudson recorded his 18th win at Howe which moved in a tie for 5th all-time.  The list:

51, Norman Dickey, 1964-1975 (3 gold footballs)
41, Jim Fryar, 1985-1989 (6 gold footballs)
34, Davey DuBose, 1996-2000 (2 gold footballs)
29, John “Buck” Smith, 1980-1984 (2 gold footballs)
18, Leslie Walden, 1938-1939 (3 gold footballs)
18, Zack Hudson, 2013- (3 gold footballs)

This day in Bulldog History:
11/6/1958, Howe lost to Southmayd, 32-12
11/6/1964, Howe lost to Collinsville, 8-6
11/6/1981, Howe beat Bells, 21-0
11/6/1987, Howe lost to Tom Bean, 23-20
11/6/1992, Howe lost to Little Elm, 15-13
11/6/1998, Howe beat Leonard, 39-7
11/6/2009, Howe lost to Melissa, 31-28

Photos by Michelle Carney

PREGAME NOTES

Howe is 16-24 vs. Whitewright going back to the first ever meeting between the two schools on
10/11/1935 in which Howe lost, 25-0 in Howe’s third game ever.  The series has been mired in streaks with Whitewright having two separate six-game winning streaks to surmount a domination over Howe from 1948-1981 where Whitewright won 12 of 13 meetings.  The Tigers also had a nine-game winning streak from 1999-2007.  Howe won eight straight from 1982-1991 and currently have won five straight going back to 2008.

The series:

10/11/1935	0	at Whitewright	25
10/24/1947	18	Whitewright	0
10/28/1948	0	at Whitewright	26
9/20/1968	13	at Whitewright	32
9/19/1969	0	Whitewright	41
9/18/1970	0	at Whitewright	24
9/17/1971	6	Whitewright	39
10/13/1972	7	at Whitewright	55
10/12/1973	7	Whitewright	0
10/4/1974	9	at Whitewright	26
10/3/1975	0	Whitewright	20
11/3/1978	0	at Whitewright	21
11/2/1979	0	Whitewright	41
9/26/1980	0	Whitewright	31
9/25/1981	0	at Whitewright	21
11/5/1982	23	Whitewright	6
11/4/1983	15	at Whitewright	12
11/2/1984	18	Whitewright	7
11/1/1985	70	at Whitewright	0
10/10/1986	32	at Whitewright	0
10/9/1987	48	Whitewright	0
10/19/1990	75	Whitewright	0
10/18/1991	32	at Whitewright	0
10/7/1994	0	at Whitewright	22
10/13/1995	11	Whitewright	28
10/16/1998	55	Whitewright	0
10/21/1999	25	at Whitewright	27
11/3/2000	7	at Whitewright	14
11/2/2001	13	Whitewright	41
10/18/2002	3	at Whitewright	8
10/17/2003	21	Whitewright	34
10/1/2004	0	at Whitewright	57
9/30/2005	6	Whitewright	47
10/13/2006	0	at Whitewright	49
10/12/2007	13	Whitewright	54
10/17/2008	30	at Whitewright	20
10/16/2009	12	Whitewright	10
9/14/2012	41	at Whitewright	20
9/13/2013	31	Whitewright	0
10/31/2014	38	at Whitewright	0

Howe is 12-3 in their last 15 games going back to 10/17/2014 vs. Tom Bean.  It’s the best 15-game stretch since 10/17/1997 – 11/13/1998 when the ‘Dogs went 13-2.  Howe also had 12-3 stretches from 9/4/1987 – 9/30/1988, 11/14/1969 – 9/10/1971, and 9/24/1959 – 11/3/1960.  (Howe had numerous great 15 game stretches in the 1930s and 40s).

The Bulldogs have won 4-straight home games at Bulldog Stadium dating back to the final game of 2014 vs. Leonard.  It is the longest Bulldog Stadium winning streak for Howe since a 7-game winning streak inside the 1998 season.  The list of the longest home winning streaks:

13 games, 1988-1991
13 games, 1938-39
11 games, 1944-46
10 games, 1935-36
9 games, 1940-41
7 games, 1998
7 games, 1947-48
7 games, 1937-38
6 games, 1995-96
6 games, 1986-87
6 games, 1967-69
6 games, 1941-43
5 games, 1970-71
4 games, 2015
4 games, 1993-94
4 games, 1982-83
4 games, 1980
4 games, 1978-79
4 games, 1973-74
4 games, 1971, 72
4 games, 1960

With the win over S&S, Howe moves to 7-1 on the season.  Here’s a look at the Bulldogs’ best starts in Howe history:

8-0, 1940 (then 9-0)
8-0, 1945 (then 8-1)
8-0, 1946 (then 8-0-1)
7-0-1, 1936 (then 8-0-1)
6-0-2, 1938 (then 7-0-2)
7-1, 1939 (then 8-1)
7-1, 1960 (then 8-1)
7-1, 1987 (then 8-1)
7-1, 1998 (then 8-1)
7-1, 2010 (then 8-1)
7-1, 2015 (then ?)

The 28 points vs. S&S moves Howe’s points per game average to 36.25 which is better than any Howe team finished.

36.25, 2015 – ?
33.83, 1998 – District, Bi-District Champions
33.70, 1940 – District Champions
30.82, 2010 – District Champions
29.82, 1999 – playoffs
28.69, 2014 – Bi-District, Area Champions
28.46, 1989 – District, Bi-District, Area Champions
28.10, 1987
27.80, 1960
27.09, 1991 – District Champions

Howe’s shutout of S&S moves their points per game allowed to 12.00 which ranks 22nd of 72 teams.  The 12.00 is the lowest since 1991 when the Bulldogs allowed only 6.91 points per game.

The shutout of S&S gives Howe four so far in 2015.  The last time Howe had that many in a season was 1991.  The list of most shutouts in one season:

8, 1945
7, 1946
7, 1939
7, 1938
6, 1947
6, 1940
5, 1985
4, 2015
4, 1991
4, 1987
4, 1941
4, 1936
4, 1935

It was the first back-to-back shutout since October of 2001 when Howe blanked Anna and Tom Bean in consecutive weeks.  The last time Howe had three shutouts in a row was in 1991 vs. Whitewright, Callisburg, and Tom Bean.  The list of consecutive shutouts by a Howe team:

8, 1945
6, 1938
5, 1940
4, 1947
4, 1946
4, 1935-36
3, 1991
3, 1979
2, 2015 (numerous)

Howe gave up only 45 yards of total offense to S&S. This coming off of a performance where Tom Bean was held to 10 yards. Not even the defense of 1991, which is statistically the best since the 1940’s, had back to back defensive games like this.

Howe’s average margin of victory in 2015 is 24.25 which is second only to the 1940 District Champions who won by a margin of 27.20.  The list of the top 10 teams by margin of victory:

27.20, 1940 – District Champions
24.25, 2015 – ?
21.30, 1946 – District Champions
20.90, 1987
20.75, 1998 – District, Bi-District Champions
20.20, 1942 – District Champions
20.18, 1991 – District Champions
17.44, 1945 – District Champions
17.00, 1938 – District, Bi-District Champions
16.45, 1939 District Champions

Zack Hudson recorded his 17th win at Howe which moved past Joey McQueen, Jack Osborn and James “Blackie” Wade.  The list:

51, Norman Dickey, 1964-1975
41, Jim Fryar, 1985-1989
34, Davey DuBose, 1996-2000
29, John “Buck” Smith, 1980-1984
18, Leslie Walden, 1938-1939
17, Zack Hudson, 2013-
16, Joey McQueen, 1990-1992
16, James “Blackie” Wade, 1976-1979
16, Jack Osborn, 1946-1947

Similarities between the 1987 and 2015 teams:

Brennan Ross’ father Brian was the senior leading rusher and Austin Bearden’s father Brett Bearden was the center on the team that is so very similar to the one this year.

In 1987, Howe started the season 7-1, only losing to Pottsboro
In 2015, Howe started the season 7-1, only losing to Pottsboro
In 1987, it was Jim Fryar’s third year as head coach
In 2015, it is Zack Hudson’s third year as head coach
In 1987, they had just graduated Howe’s 3rd all-time leading rusher in Stephen Ogle
In 2015, they had just graduated Howe’s all-time leading rusher in Anthony Hawthorne
In 1987, they recorded four shutouts during the season
In 2015, Howe has four shutouts on the season
In 1987, the ‘Dogs averaged 28.10 points per game, which at the time was 2nd only to 1940
In 2015, the ‘Dogs are averaging 36.25, which is first, just ahead of 1940
In 1987, the team was overloaded with sophomore talent
In 2015, the team is overloaded with sophomore talent
In 1987, the defense gave up 7.20 points per game to rank them 11th at the time
In 2015, the defense is giving up 12.00 points per game to rank them 22nd.
In 1987, the margin of victory was 20.90 points per game (ranked 3rd at the time)
In 2015, the margin of victory is 24.25 points per game (ranked 2nd currently)
In 1987, it was the second year of the renovated Bulldog Stadium with the track addition
In 2015, it is the second year of the fully renovated Bulldog Stadium

The true distinction that will separate the 2015 team from the 1987 team will come when Howe enters the playoffs.  It was a shocking and heartbreaking 23-20 upset to Tom Bean in the final game of 1987 that knocked the 8-2 ‘Dogs out of the playoffs and left them as the greatest team that stayed home.

On this day in Bulldogs History

10/29/1937, Howe beat Tioga, 40-0
10/29/1943, Howe beat Anna, 19-2
10/29/1959, Howe lost to Allen, 60-0
10/29/1965, Howe lost to Anna, 34-6
10/29/1971, Howe lost to Celina, 42-0
10/29/1976, beat Sanger, 7-6
10/29/1982 Howe tied Van Alstyne, 21-21
10/29/1993, Howe beat S&S, 20-6
10/29/2004, Howe lost to Bells, 22-13
10/29/2010, Howe beat Pottsboro, 20-13