Hornet’s 50-year Rushing Record Poised to be Broken

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Records are meant to be broken, but some of them are highly resistant to doing so.

In 1964, Dick Watt finished his three-season football career with the Athens Hornets in possession of a number of milestones. Watt was both a running back and defensive back, playing both ways, as was typical of the time. By the end of the ’64 season, he held the record for career total touchdowns, which was previously held by quarterback Duke Carlisle. (Carlisle, after whom the Hornets field house was named in 2008, went on to lead the University of Texas Longhorns to a national championship.) Watt also set the record for most interceptions in a season (10), career interceptions (20), and for career rushing yards (2,671).

The total-touchdowns record was broken three years ago by Kendal Sanders, but every other record has stood without being challenged … until now. The career rushing record will likely be held by another Hornet by the end of this season, if not by the end of this week.

“I’m amazed that the record still stands,” said Watt, a prominent Houston attorney. “Fifty years is long enough. I would love to personally congratulate the young man who does it and wish him well.”

There are actually two young men poised to surpass Watt’s rushing record. Senior Devin Hall needs only 128 yards to do so — a feat which could potentially be accomplished during this Friday’s homecoming game against No. 7 Waco Robinson. Junior Logan Fuller, who sat out last week’s game with an injury, is 353 yards shy of the record.

“One of them may break it and the other break it the next week,” said Coach Paul Essary. The stunner, he pointed out, is that a record that has stood unchallenged for 50 years is now in jeopardy from not one but two players in the same season.

Watt and many of his former teammates will be in attendance at tonight’s homecoming game. That 1964 Hornets team clinched the district title, losing only to Palestine in the playoffs.

“Our senior year, we opened the season playing Palestine. They were ranked number-one in the state, and we beat them pretty badly,” said Watt. “We both won district, and they beat us in bi-district, 8-0, then went on to be the state champions.” The Athens Daily Review at the time described that bi-district game as the hardest hitting game ever played on Bruce Field.

All 1964 football team members in attendance at the homecoming game are asked to gather at the field house at 7 p.m. to be introduced on the field before the 7:30 kickoff.

Watt remembers his years playing on the team with great affection. “When our group came in in 1962, there were seven of us who started as sophomores. It was our goal to restore Athens to where it should be,” said Watt. “We accomplished that by winning the district championship in 1964.”

Watt is quick to point out that he would not have set any records without a stellar group of teammates. In particular, he points to fullback Dwain Kirksey, all-state guard Wayne Brown and offensive and defensive tackle Lee Flowers. “One time I had a flat tire on my car, a Volkswagen,” Watt recalled. “We didn’t have a jack, and Wayne simply lifted up the car.”

Watt said he is not ambivalent about his longstanding record being broken. On the contrary, he’s pleased. “Fifty years is plenty of gratification for me,” he laughed. “I just appreciate that somebody remembers.”

Members of the 1964 Athens Hornets varsity football team were: Larry Taylor, Danny Tidmore, Guy Smith, Jimmy Lambert, Dan Dwelle, Dick Watt, Jerry Don Tyner, Dwain “Bull” Kirksey, Wilbur Montgomery, Jerry Johnson, Wayne “Speck” Brown, Garry McGregor, Jerry Perkins, Johnny Perkins, Jerry Simmons, Lee Flowers, Johnny Boone, Bill “Blakie” Walker, Stump Weatherford, Bill Grimes, Jerry Pugh, Glenn Fluker, Danny Sparks and James Jones.