PREGAME NOTES
Howe leads series 28-10, but have lost six of the last eight dating back to 2002. Howe has outscored Tom Bean 947 – 397 since the first meeting in 1935.
Howe won 12 in a row from 1943-1986 and 18 of 19 from 1935-1986.
The first game was played on November 27, 1935 in Tom Bean. Howe won that initial contest 39-0 on the strength of Billy Bryant Cloud’s 100-yard performance.
The first game played at Bulldog Stadium between the two schools was on November 27, 1936 with a 30-0 Howe win over Tom Bean.
Tom Bean’s first win over Howe was on November 20, 1941 in Tom Bean. It was their only win over Howe in 52 years.
The Howe domination ended on November 6, 1987 on a strange night in Tom Bean with Howe (8-1) thought to be a lock for the district-runner-up and advance to the playoffs. However, Tom Bean’s “Black Dot Game” was born and Howe was upset 23-20 by Tom Bean and their rushing attack led by Brian Hamm and his 258 rushing yards. It was the only year in which Howe Head Coach Jim Fryar would miss the playoffs in his tenure. Howe finished 8-2 and missed the playoffs. **two players’ sons from that 1987 classic will be playing tonight (Howe’s Brian Ross/Easton Ross and Tom Bean’s Chad Ashlock/Dylan Ashlock).
Since that fateful 1987 night, Howe leads the series 10-8.
Howe is 16-4 vs. Tom Bean at Bulldog Stadium. Tom Bean’s first win in Howe came in 1995 after losing their first 13 tries. Tom Bean has won three of the last four in Howe. The last time Tom Bean played in Howe was on September 26, 2008 when Tom Bean won 7-6. Howe’s last win over Tom Bean at Bulldog Stadium came on October 20, 2006 in a 27-0 shutout.
Last year, Howe won won 43-20 in Tom Bean.
