"This is the
greatest Tiger team I have ever coached," said Coach Wilson
Matthews after defeating the North Little Rock Wildcats in the
annual Thanksgiving Day game. This year's team was the first
undefeated team since 1946, ten years ago. The Tigers
surpassed the expectations of everyone this year by breaking
the all time record for a number of games unbeaten, and
finished the season with 21 straight wins, without a tie.
The season
went as follows: At home the Tigers got off to a good start
by defeating Christian Brothers of Memphis, Tennessee, 33 to 0.
Texarkana, Texas, tried the Tigers, next, only to find one of
the most determined teams they had ever played. The Bengal's
won 13 to 0.
Central
journeyed to Baton Rouge, for their third game to a
surprisingly easy victory - 32 to 0 - against the Louisiana State
champs. Hot Springs, was the next victim of the blazing Tigers
who saw chances of an undefeated season. This time, the score
was 41 to 0 for the Tigers. The team was now un-scored on for
7 games and tied with Bengal's of the past. Fort Smith,
determined to do something about this record, had everything
in their favor the first few minutes after the game was
underway. The Grizzles scored first, only in vain, to be
beaten 28 to 12.
Texarkana,
Arkansas, gave the Tigers a real battle in the first quarter,
but half way through the second quarter, they blew up to lose
33 to 0. But 27 to 13 was probably the tough score for the
Tigers when El Dorado gave the Bengal's their worst scare.
The Tigers took the lead late in the game. On October 26, the
powerful Memphis Central team journeyed to Little Rock hoping
their size would beat the undefeated Tigers. The final score
was 33 to 6, another easy victory.
At Paducah,
Kentucky, people came from all over the state to see the Tiger
football team in action. The fans were not disappointed, the
Tigers won by a score of 45 to 13. Pine Bluff gave up under
the powerful Tigers in the last half when the Tigers were six
points ahead. The boys from Central quickly made it a
comfortable 28 to 0 win. With only Blytheville and North
Little Rock left, the team was determined not to let anything
get in their way. They proved this by defeating Blytheville
59 to 0.
As always,
North Little Rock had intentions of beating Little Rock which
gave the Tigers something to worry about. North Little Rock
was surprised to find themselves 6 points behind after the
first play from scrimmage. The final score was 45 to 12.
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