1924 Bearcats
The Bearcats had a new football coach and principal in 1924. He was Ernie C. Johnson, a Tolar native and a former Texas A&M baseball player of some note. Coach Johnson did not play football at A&M, in fact he had never played football and knew little of the game’s mechanics. He was assisted by Jim Mobley who came from Stephenville.
Only fourteen boys showed up for the first practice and the returning lettermen were scarce. The player who had been elected to serve as Captain and the best runner on the team, Johnnie Walker, was recruited away by Ranger before the season opened.
DUBLIN
The first game scheduled was a district game at Dublin. For some reason Dublin did not want to play and forfeited. Because it was a district game, a 2-0 De Leon victory was recored in league play.
TARLETON COLLEGE J.V.
In lieu of Dublin, the Tarleton J.V. came to De Leon to open the season on October 3. In the Tarleton backfield was former Bearcat player and future Bearcat coach, Clifford “Tip” Allen. According to the De Leonian, it was a well played game defensively with only one good gain by Tarleton. That gain resulted in a score and a 7-0 Tarleton victory. The Free Press reported the score as 7-2.
HAMILTON
Recovering a Bearcat fumble for a touchdown, Hamilton took home a 6-0 league victory.
DANIEL BAKER COLLEGE J.V.
Next to visit De Leon was the J.V. from Daniel Baker College and again the Bearcats had to face one of its alumni, Gayle Toland. He recovered a Bearcat fumble at midfield and returned it to the one yard line. Joe Stalcup then scored for D.B.C. and the Cats lost again by a 6-0 score.
STEPHENVILLE
The Yellow Jackets came to De Leon the following week. The Free Press said of the game “...The keeper of the records had no adding machine with him on the field but it is tolerably certain that the visitors scored 87 points to the perfectly good goose egg the Bearcats made.” It was sweet revenge for Stephenville for the 122-0 beating they took from the Bearcats three years earlier.
GORMAN
There was great fear that Gorman might have a chance to beat De Leon for the first time ever and for the first time in De Leon. But the district victory went to the Bearcats 13-6.
MINGUS
Mingus was the sixth home game in a row for the Bearcats. They blew the visitors away by a score of 56-0.
GORMAN
Two weeks later the Bearcats left town for a rematch with Gorman. The Panthers still could not get a win, but were able to garner a 0-0 tie.
COLEMAN
On Thanksgiving Day, the Bearcats journeyed to Coleman to take on the Bluecats. De Leon won 9-6.
The following year, Johnson turned the coaching duties over the W.Z. Compton and concentrated on his principal responsibilities. He ultimately joined the Extension Service in Stephenville.
1924 PLAYING AGAINST ALUMNI
1924
DHS OPP
2 Dublin (Forfeit) 0
0 Tarleton 7
0 Hamilton 6
0 D.B.C. 6
0 Stephenville 87
13 Gorman 6
56 Mingus 0
0 @Gorman 0
9 @Coleman 6
Cisco*
1924 Football Notes
Prior to the season, De Leon had only lost once at home.
First time De Leon lost two games in a row.
First time De Leon lost three, and four games in a row even if two were to college teams.
The Stephenville defeat was the worst in De Leon history.
1924 BEARCATS
Coach: Ernie C. Johnson
Clifton Thomas
John J. Horn
Thomas Trent
Fred Stover
John D. Harvey
Adolphus Smith
Emmett Lee Howard
Denver Golden
Joe Holleman
Ralph Bender
Fred Nabors
Jewell Mathis
Perry Farrow
Raymond Butler
Whaley Smith
Huron Polnac
Louis Easterling
Moody King
W.W. Nance Jr.
Edmund Grizzelle
Elton Boswell
Zollie Steakley
Eddie Polnac