S3 E7--Stephen F Austin High School--1979 Regional Finalists

Down Trails of Victory

On the Wings of Eagles....

1979 was a Cinderella football season for the Stephen F Austin Eagles of Port Acres, Texas. Projected to finish 7th in tough District 18-2A, the Eagles overcame an 0-3 pre-district record to capture SFA's first District title since 1965.

Seniors Chuck Anderson, Ty Coburn, David Lutcher, Richard Smith, and Ricky Sonnier were senior players on that historic campaign--a campaign that influenced the future of SFA football for years to come.

Hear these seniors of that 1979 team talk with Buck about:

• Overcoming pre-season projections of a 7th place finish in District 18-2A;
• SFA's disappointing 0-3 pre-district record;
• The incredible events leading up to their district opener vs undefeated Orangefield;
• SFA's weekly march through District 18-2A;
• The Eagle's dramatic 9-7 win over Hardin-Jefferson in a winner-take-all battle for the District crown;
• SFA's 1979 Regional Finals playoff run;
• Remembrances of coaches, players, opponents, games, rivalries, and more!

The podcast brings up a wide range of names from Southeast Texas, including Bevil Deckert, Joe Landry, George Rose, Dr. Chester Levy, Richard Marler, John Blocker, Dale Westmoreland, Greg Green, Steve Coulter, Boyd Edwards, Larry Southard, Bob Gough, Jimmy Wyble, Joe Smith, Herschel Taylor, Bryan Comeaux, Curtis Price, Matt Harrington, John Tomplait, Tommy Gaspard, James Tomplait, Delmonte Hebert, Bernard Fleener, Craig Broussard, Todd Dodge, Brent Duhon, Preston Williams, Kenneth Durham, John Mire, Ed Peveto, Sidney Arceneaux, Matt Harrington, Mitchell Michalke, Harold Joseph, Todd Mouton, Jay Jackson, James Harris, Billy Thomas, Dizzy Dean Arceneaux, Phil Danaher, Dozier Lee, Billy Farrow, Tracy Rayburn, Kenneth Green, Pat Hollomon, Kenny Guy, Tommy Nequent, Darrell Victor Hadnot, Walter Allen, Blaine Melancon, Willie Cockrell, Jody Hartmann, Gerard Dies, Percy Villemez, Kevin Wolf, Tony Cockrell, Carlton Anderson, Monte Jeanis, Mark Crowder, Walter Jackson, Wesley Monk, James McCarter, Sidney Boullion, Phillip Hallmark, Damon Martin, Dalyn Martin,...and more!

"1979 was a big year in the annals of SFA football," said podcast host and SFA defensive line coach Buck Ford. "If the players on that team hadn't stepped up and accomplished what they did, I'm not sure what the future of SFA athletics would have looked like--including my own future!"

Hear about that colorful and historic season from the players themselves...

Right here, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!