CITY HAS ITS SHARE OF FOOTBALL CHAMPS

Seventy years have passed since Brackenridge became the city’s first high school to win a UIL state football championship.

But more than winning the Class 2A state crown, the Eagles’ 22-13 come-from-behind victory over Dallas Highland Park before 24,795 at Alamo Stadium on Dec. 27, 1947, started a familiar refrain.

Undersized, and facing an opponent with a before-its-time offense, Brackenridge beat the odds — and Highland Park — with its determination and execution.

It’s a calling card that has defined almost all the city’s state champions.

Highland Park featured a pass-heavy offense led by quarterback Jerry Robertson, while the Eagles did their damage with a powerful running game. With offensive lineman Dan Perkins and Jerald Olive paving the way, the backfield of Bill Sweet, Jack Schleuning, Gary Anderson and Dick Calhoun combined to help Brackenridge outscore Highland Park 16-6 in the second half after trailing 7-6 at halftime. It was the first of two state titles for Brackenridge.

In 1962, the Weldon Forren-coached Eagles defeated Borger 30-26 in Abilene for the 4A title as quarterback Victor Castillo threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, two of those to junior halfback Warren McVea.

“The most rewarding thing was that we were the underdog, and we went all the way,” Castillo said. “We were one of the first minority teams to win a state championship, and that was something. We were a pretty tight group of individuals.”

In 1949, Jefferson gave San Antonio Independent School District its second state title in three seasons when the Mustangs romped past Dallas Sunset 31-13 to claim what was then called the City Conference championship at Dal-Hi Stadium.

The balance of power then shifted to North East ISD.

Led by record-setting quarterback Tommy Kramer, the Lee Volunteers rallied to defeat Wichita Falls 28-27 in 1971 at Texas Stadium in Irving — the first high school state championship game played at the former home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Kramer passed for 257 yards and three TDs, including a 29-yard strike to Richard Osborne with 2:21 remaining. Kramer and Osborne went on to play in the NFL.

Five years later, Churchill gave North East its second football state championship, blanking Temple 10-0 in Austin to become the city’s first unbeaten and untied state champion.

“There was not one guy that really stood out and went on to be a great college and pro player, but as a team, I’m telling you, they were nasty,” said Jerry Comalander, who coached that 1976 Churchill squad before becoming the NEISD athletic director.

In 1995, Roosevelt became the city’s first 16-0 squad by defeating Flower Mound Marcus 17-10 in the 5A Division II final at Alamo Stadium. With defensive ends Erik Flowers and Dwayne Missouri, the Rough Riders had four sacks and limited a Marcus team that averaged 43 points to only 10.

No team, however, has stood out in San Antonio more than Judson, which has won six of the city’s state titles, although one of them was by forfeit. With record-setting running back Jerod Douglas leading the way, Judson became the only area school to capture consecutive state titles, in ’92 and ’93.

Alamo Heights, with quarterback Giovanni Vizza throwing for 3,278 yards and 37 TDs, finished 14-1 and won the 4A Division I title in 2006, beating Copperas Cove — and former Washington Redskins and current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III — 40-28 at the Alamodome.

Most recently, Steele, in its first season in 5A, edged Denton Guyer 24-21 behind running back Malcolm Brown and a stingy defense in 2010.

A longer version of this report by Terrence Thomas ran May 19, 2015. Read it at ExpressNews.com.