Back Row: (L-R) Coach Joe Coleman, Manager Cecil Funderburg, Jack Wheat, Ralph Terrill, J.B. Creed, Worth Howe, Billy Greenwalt, M.B. Nelson, Jada Davis, Unknown, Prof. (Stinky) Davis, Prof. E.H. Boulter. Middle Row: Unknown, Grady Terrill, Allan Anderson, Terrill Sharp, Charles Christopher, Sam Weaver, Overton Bell, Claud Dupriest, Maurice Simmons, Curtis Miller, Happy Kee. Front Row: Roy Jean Miears, J. Edward Bell, James Holmes, Paul Cosby, Atlas (Snooks) Irvin, Steadman Strickland, C.A. (Preacher) Parsons, Wade Smith, Gail Smith, George Terrill. Not pictured or not identified ______ Holleman.
1935 Season
DHS Dist. 19-B OPP
13 Comyn 0
33 Pioneer 0
6 @HAMILTON 7
0 @DUBLIN * 6
13 STRAWN 6
13 @ALBANY 9
25 GRANBURY 6
0 GORMAN 0
20 @STEPHENVILLE 14
25 @COMANCHE 12
SEASON SUMMARY
For the first time in a decade, De Leon had a new coach in 1935. W.Z. Compton, while remaining as high school principal, turned the coaching duties over to Joe Coleman. Compton had put in six more years than any of his predecessors and his tenure was not matched until Grady West completed ten years a half century later.
While the score of a number of the games Compton coached have not been located, he complied a 49-31-6 all time record.
Joe Coleman came to coach the Bearcats soon after his playing days for T.C.U. had ended. He ran a passing offense and the Bearcats came to be called “Little T.C.U.”
District 19-B consisted of eight team when Hamilton decided to field a team just before school opened.
COMYN
The opening game featured the first and only match-up between the De Leon and Comyn varsities. Comyn was coached by M.O. Pittman who had been forced into early retirement from the N.F.L. when he suffered a knee injury in a game. His contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates was cancelled and he and his wife moved to her hometown, De Leon.
Holleman scored a touchdown in the first quarter and Paul Cosby in the second. One extra point was made.
PIONEER
In the only known game between De Leon and Pioneer, the Bearcats won 33-0 but no information about the game has been located.
HAMILTON
District play opened with what the De Leonian described as a game that will “long be remembered by the boys who played in the mud at Hamilton.” The Bearcats ran up twice the yardage of Hamilton early in the game, driving deep into Bulldog territory several times but failed to score. At the half the game was a scoreless tie.
Just as the third quarter ended, James Holmes broke free and raced 30 yards for a Bearcat touchdown but the point after failed.
In the fourth quarter, the Hamilton quarterback completed a touchdown pass and then kept for the extra point and 7-6 Bulldog win.
DUBLIN
The only score in the Dublin game came in the first quarter when the Lions intercepted a Bearcat pass and retuned it for a touchdown. De Leon’s lone threat came on the next possession when Holmes broke lose for forty yards and a first down at the Lion three. De Leon could not score and Dublin got the win and ultimately, the District Championship.
ALBANY
For the first time ever, De Leon played a night game, as Albany had installed lights at their field and De Leon took home its first night game victory winning 13-9.
The game was a thriller. The Bearcats trailed 9-7 with three minutes left. The win was set up with a pass out to the De Leon 35. On the next play, an unnamed back raced 65 yards for the touchdown.
STRAWN
It was a muddy field in De Leon as the Bearcats hosted the Greyhounds of Strawn. De Leon fell behind when Strawn scored on a “fake scrimmage play” in the opening minutes. The Bearcats took the lead in the second quarter as Holmes and J. Edward Bell each scored touchdowns. Reports vary on the score. The Free Press indicates 13-6 while UIL records show 13-0.
GRANBURY
No details of the 25-6 win over Granbury have been located.
GORMAN
Any chance of winning the district were lost when the Armistice Day game against Gorman ended in a 0-0 tie. No details of the game have been found.
STEPHENVILLE
Stephenville roared to a 14-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game but momentum turned as Atlas Irvin intercepted a Yellowjacket pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. On the next Bearcat series, De Leon drove the ball for a touchdown to pull within one at the half.
In the third quarter, Holmes went 20 yards for a touchdown and a 20-14 win.
COMANCHE
De Leon downed Comanche 25-12 but no reports on the game have been found.
