Bring your headphones to the game and tune in to 99.9 FM (inside the stadium only)
Howe’s overall record is 381-345-24
Season: 74 Game: 751
The 55th Battle of the Silver Spike
Van Alstyne owns the series record, 35-17-2 and has won ten consecutive games over Howe dating back to 2000.
Howe (click here for roster) is 0-6 for the first time since 2005 (1-9). The Bulldogs have scored 58 points (9.67 per game) and have given up 213 points (35.5 per game). Howe dropped their seventh straight loss overall and seventh straight loss to Pottsboro, 35-6.
Van Alstyne (click here for roster) is 4-2 and have scored 221 points (37 per game) and allowed 158 (26 per game). They lost a thriller to Whitesboro a week ago in Van Alstyne, 28-27.
School Name
*W-L
*Pct.
*PF
*PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
Strk
Pottsboro
1-0
1.000
35
6
4-2
0.667
142
118
1 W
Pilot Point
1-0
1.000
45
7
2-4
0.333
105
160
1 W
Whitesboro
1-0
1.000
28
27
3-3
0.500
110
202
1 W
Van Alstyne
0-1
0.000
27
28
4-2
0.667
221
158
1 L
Howe
0-1
0.000
6
35
0-6
0.000
58
213
6 L
Callisburg
0-1
0.000
7
45
1-5
0.167
90
171
2 L
The series began in 1941 (click the dates for the game articles – mostly Sherman Democrat)
Howe is 10-16-1 vs. Van Alstyne in October
Largest margin of victory for Howe = 40 in 1979 at Van Alstyne
Largest margin of victory for Van Alstyne = 51 in 1992 at Howe
Most rushing yards by Howe vs. Van Alstyne (missing 1979 game):
406, 2016
360, 1985
359, 1986
324, 1989
303, 1998
Most rushing yards by Van Alstyne vs. Howe:
396, 2008
370, 1984
326, 2005
323, 1961
323, 1965
The first Silver Spike
1989 Full Game of the 32nd Silver Spike at Van Alstyne
1990 Full Game of the 33rd Silver SPike at Van Alsytne
1991 Full Game of 34th Silver Spike at Bulldog Stadium in Howe
1998 Full Game of 42nd Silver Spike at Bulldog Stadium
The Silver Spike trophy was the brainchild back in 2001 by sports writer Jeff Wood of the Van Alstyne Leader and Howe graduate Monte Walker. The winner of the Howe and Van Alstyne football rivalry receives a silver railroad spike, mounted on a three-foot trophy to keep in their trophy case for an entire year. Howe has yet to have it since its creation. The tall and heavy trophy features the silver spike which symbolizes the growth that the Houston and Texas Central railway brought to both towns in the early years of their existence. Not soon after the towns were formed, they started playing football against each other. But those early years prior to 1920 formation of the UIL do not formally count and Howe didn’t even field a UIL sanctioned team until 1935.
Howe first played Van Alstyne on October 24, 1941 which the Panthers won, 31-7. The Spike was created before the 2001 season and that was the year Van Alstyne started the current 9- game winning streak over Howe. It also happened to be the same time that Van Alstyne outgrew Howe in enrollment numbers due to the Georgetown edition in their community. Before the current winning streak, Van Alstyne led the series, 25-17-2 but now have double the amount of Howe’s wins thanks to the recent stretch. Howe’s longest winning streak versus the Panthers was four games from 1977-1980. When the trophy was originated in 2001, then Van Alstyne Head Coach Randy Matthews told the Van Alstyne Leader, “Because of the closeness of the two towns and what this rivalry means to so many people, I hope everybody will be up for this game and prepared to play. When you have a game like this with so much emotion, there’s always big plays involved.”
The Spike was is akin to Sherman and Denison’s Battle of the Axe which Walker was a radio broadcaster for those games from 1994- 2003 and television broadcaster in 2008. “The community involvement and the electricity that comes with that Sherman Denison Battle of the Axe is so impressive and Howe and Van Alstyne had the same rivalry, but on a smaller scale. We were able to work with those in Van Alstyne back in 2001 to share cost of the trophy and make this something special. However, it won’t be truly special until it comes to Howe’s trophy case.” said Walker.
It is game number 750 in Howe Bulldogs history. Howe has an overall record of 381-344-24 in 74 seasons. Howe has lost six straight games for the first time since losing seven in a row in 2012. The Dogs are 0-5 for the first time since 2005. The 2005 team started 0-8 and finished 1-9.
The bad news: Howe is averaging only 10.40 points per game on offense and allowing 35.60 points per game.
The good news: None of those numbers matter because district play starts tonight with Pottsboro (3-2) who were hit hard by graduation.
The Cardinals are still led by their fantastic quarterback Hunter Watson and their great head coach Matt Poe.
The Howe vs. Pottsboro series began November 3, 1972 with a 21-0 Bulldogs win at Bulldog Stadium. Since then, Pottsboro now holds a 18-10-1 advantage in the series. The Bulldogs have lost the last six contests versus Pottsboro.
Game number 749 in Howe school history. The Bulldogs overall record is 381-343-24 since the program began in 1935. The Bulldogs didn’t field a team from 1949-1957 (nine seasons).
This is the sixth meeting between Howe and Caddo Mills. Howe is 2-3 versus the Foxes and 0-2 at Bulldogs Stadium.
Game number 748 in Howe history. Howe’s overall record is 381-322-24. This is the sixth meeting between Howe and Quinlan Ford with Howe owning a 4-1 record.
The Bulldogs might be 0-3 for the first time since 2005, but no Howe team has ever faced an early-season schedule as this 2017 team has. The Dogs led off the season with Class 3A-2 number one ranked Gunter and most recently were chewed up by Class 2A’s number one ranked Muenster. Sandwiched in between was a game against what appears to be a three or four deep playoff team in Bowie that Howe gift wrapped with four turnovers.
Did graduation hit Howe hard? Yes, but there are still lots of tools in the toolbox for Howe to regain momentum and confidence headed into district play. A big test will take place tonight versus Class 4A-1 Quinlan (3-0) who is no pushover. The Panthers return their quarterback, Linus Beierschmmitt, from a year ago and plenty of size and speed to go along with him.
Student Body Advantage
Quinlan has 775 students in high school compared to Howe’s 329. In a number’s game, Howe has 82 junior and senior boys to choose from, whereas Quinlan allows for 194. That’s 112 more kids available to play football than in Howe. Despite the alarming student body advantage, Howe won a year ago, 44-13 in Quinlan. But Quinlan is better and Howe is rebuilding.
Game 747 in season 74 for the Howe Bulldogs. Howe has an overall record of 381-341-24.
This is the second ever match up between Muenster and Howe. The Bulldogs won a year ago, 37-31, which was the Hornets only regular season loss. Muenster lost to Munday, 40-34 in the third round of the Class 2A playoffs.
The 2017 Hornets are currently ranked #1 in Class 2A, Division II. They have a perfect 2-0 record and have scored 100 points in their first two games and allowed 14. (Valley View, 58-14 and at Pilot Point, 42-0).
Muenster Head Coach Brady Carney has a record of 79-14 since taking the Muenster job in 2010.
Howe is 0-2 for the first time since 2005. The Bulldogs are coming off a 37-14 loss to Bowie in which they fumbled and flagged their way from hopes of victory. Howe has scored 26 points on the season and has allowed 87. Head Coach Zack Hudson is now 29-21 in Howe.
It is the first time since 2014 that the ‘Dogs have gone consecutive games under 200 yards rushing (vs. Gunter 165 yards, vs. Pottsboro 189 yards). It is the first time since the beginning of 2015 and the opening game of 2016 that Howe has had back-to-back games of under 300 yards (West Rusk, 295 yards; Gunter 221 yards).
Howe’s freshman quarterback Cirby Coheley has attempted 31 passes in the first two games which are two less than the entire 13-game season a year ago. His 11 completions are only three behind the 2016 season total. Howe threw one touchdown pass in 2016; Coheley threw his first of the season on the first drive versus Bowie.
Howe will play Bowie for the second time in school history and the Bulldogs’ first ever game in Bowie. Last year’s 38-13 win over Bowie at home was the first matchup between the two schools.
The Jackrabbits are 0-1 after losing at Aubrey, 45-0 last Friday night. Tonight will be their first home game of the season.
Howe is 0-1 after losing to defending state champion Gunter on Friday night. The ‘dogs have started 0-1 in each of the last two seasons vs. Gunter. Prior to that, it had been since 2012 for Howe to lose the opener, a 49-13 loss at home to Lindsay.
Gunter’s 50 points were the most any Howe team has allowed on an opening night since 1992 when Van Alstyne beat Howe 71-20 at Bulldog Stadium to open the season.
Howe’s 12 points scored was the least amount scored in a season opener since 2013 when Howe scored eight at Lindsay.
Freshman quarterback Cirby Coheley attempted 13 passes last Friday night. Howe attempted 12 passes in the entire non-district schedule (five games) of 2016.
The game will start at 7:30 pm at Jackrabbit Stadium located at 341 US Hwy 287, Bowie, Texas 76230. The game will be broadcast live on howeenterprise.com Friday starting at 7 pm with a pre-game show. Spectators at the game can listen to the broadcast on 90.3 FM. The radio frequency is only available inside the stadium.
With a win tonight, Howe Head Coach Zack Hudson would capture his 30th win with the program and move in front of John “Buck” Smith for fourth on the all-time win list for head coaches for the Bulldogs. The list:
This is game number 745 in Howe Bulldogs history and Howe has an overall record of 381-339-24 since the initial UIL game in 1935.
THE BULLDOGS ENORMOUS SUCCESS
The Bulldogs are 24-8 in their last 32 games. The teams that have beaten Howe in those last eight losses had a combined record of 95-15 and three state championships and 30 playoff games.
2014: 27-21 loss to Leonard (9-2, lost to eventual state champ Waskom in the second round). 2014: 71-21 loss to Waskom (15-1, eventual state champions). 2015: 49-7 loss at Pottsboro (11-1, two-round playoff team). 2015: 31-14 loss to New London West Rusk (12-2, lost to eventual state champ Waskom in the third round). 2016: 42-14 loss at Gunter (16-0, eventual state champion). 2016: 35-7 loss to Pottsboro (11-3, lost in the fourth round to eventual state champion Mineola). 2016: 39-36 loss at Van Alstyne (7-4 record, lost in the first round of the playoffs to Sunnyvale). 2016: 21-7 loss to Mineola (14-2, eventual state champion).
HOWE’S INCREDIBLE RECORD-SETTING OFFENSE
In 2016, Howe averaged 385.31 total yards per game, which is the most in school history. The Dogs rushed for 4,473 of the total 5,009 yards which was also most in school history. They broke the previous high record of 4,535 (377.92 yards per game) which was set in 2015.
Howe’s offense ranked fourth all-time in school history with 30.92 points per game. The most ever is 34.17 set in 2015.
Since 2013, Howe has averaged over 28.69 points per game. That has never before happened in a three-year period in Howe’s 73 seasons.
Since 2013, Howe has 26 wins. That also has never happened in a three-year period in Howe’s 73 seasons.
HOWE’S DEFENSE SINCE HUDSON’S ARRIVAL
Prior to the arrival of Head Coach Zack Hudson, Howe gave up 38.10 points per game on defense which was worst in school history. In Hudson’s first year, the Bulldogs improved by 139 points allowed, giving up 24.2 points per game. In 2015, in his third year of implementing his defense, the ‘Dogs gave up 14.42 points per game which was the least amount since 2000 and ranked 29 of the 72 Howe defenses. In 2016, Howe gave up 21.77 points per game in arguably the toughest district in any district in the state.
HOWE VS. GUNTER HISTORY
The is matchup #32 with Gunter. Howe leads the overall series with Gunter, 18-13-0 and have outscored the Tigers, 604-579.
Howe’s last win at Bulldog Stadium vs. Gunter happened in 2015, a 21-19 barn-burner. Prior to Howe’s home win in 2015, the last home win vs. Gunter was a 21-7 victory on 10/18/1996.
After nearly 20 years of research, the magazine is finally here. Get your copy of “Black and White” – the 2017 Howe Bulldogs Record Book. Each copy is $5 and available at the Howe Development Alliance/Howe Area Chamber of Commerce building at 101 E. Haning St. in Downtown Howe. Or you can purchase online by ordering here.
In the coaching carousel at Howe High School, the latest coach to leave is Tim Short, who has been the varsity basketball coach since the 2014-15 season. With the departure of Short, that leaves only Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Zack Hudson from the entire varsity football coaching staff from a year ago. Previously leaving Howe was Dale West, who took the athletic director position at Collinsville. He subsequently took Josh Rollins and Richard McAdams with him. Wes Rhoten landed the offensive coordinator position at Canton High School where he can be closer to his family. Varsity baseball coach Heath Grant will no longer be on the varsity coaching staff due to a family decision. Howe will also have a new varsity volleyball and softball coaches next season departures.
Short’s mother is in her 80s and lives in Pottsboro which he says was the driving factor on why he wanted to be closer. He has been making the drive from Pottsboro to Howe on a daily basis and can now be much closer at a moment’s notice.
” I wasn’t looking to move, this job opened up, I interviewed and was lucky to get it.” said Short. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Howe. It’s a wonderful school district. Coach Hudson and Kevin Wilson are probably the best administrators I’ve worked for. The high school faculty is fantastic, some of the best teachers I’ve worked with in 37 years of teaching. I’ve made friendships that I hope will last a lifetime but probably the most important group of people I’ll miss are the young men and ladies’ lives that I’ve had an opportunity to be a part of for a few short years, they’re a great group, I’m going to miss them. I’m very appreciative of Howe ISD to allow me to be a part of the coaching staff and faculty for the past few years.”
In Monday’s Howe Enterprise, we will feature a full story on the coaching changes and get a feeling of how Hudson feels about his newly assembled cast of star-studded coaches.
