The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1951-11-22
Durant Wins 1871 Victory Over Lexington
Friday Night Before Crowd Of 1900
- 49,
Fighting Tigers Win
Come Here Despite
Being Outweiahed

A squad of fighting Tigers
playing under the green and
white colors of Durant High
School clawed the Lexington,
High School line into shreds on
Bennett Field in Durant Friday
night and emerged with a 1877
victory before a crowd estimated
at 1900.
The fighting spirit, the fierce
blocking, tackling and running,
the all-around team play and
will to win of the Durant lads
would not be denied although
they were outweighed to the man.
Durant received the kickoff
and gave early indication that il
meant business by making three
first downs in a row before an
offsides penalty at midfield fore
ed them to punt. Two plays
later Duane Halls vicious charge
into the Lexington hackfield
caused Hornet tumble which
James Rucker recovered for Du-
rant on the midfield stripe. From
there the Tigers rode to the Lex
ington Is on the driving legs Of
Thomas Baby" Gunter. Red Pill
grim and Rucker. faSso7ped no.
mentarily the Tigers toe. 10 She
air with Trent Burreil throwing
a beautiful pass to Rucker which,
placed the ball on the Hornets
five yard stripe. From this point
Rucker drove over for the initial
score of the game. He also kick
ed the extra point from place
ment. Score: Durant 7-Lexing-
ton 0.
Seconds later Joe Chapman,
outstanding back. broke off
tackle and dashed so yards for q
touchdown, aided by nice block
ing. Hearn's plunge for the ex-
ira point was good. Score: Du-
rant 7-Lexington z.
During the second quarter the
Tigers drove the length of the
field only to be stopped by the
whistle ending the, half at Lex
ington's vineyard line.
Third Quarter
The third quarter was see!
saw affair with most Of the play
in mid-field. Lexington began q
drive in the fourth quarter which
carried to Durant's 21-yard line
with most of the Hornet yardage
gained on the running of Chap
man and Hearn.
The Tigers then frightened their
defense, took the ball on downs
and drove 70 long yards for the
winning touchdown with Pilgrim.
carrying the ball over from the
vineyard line thirty seconds be-
fore the final whistle blew.
With time left for only one play
Thomas Phil Terry intercepted
John Bell Rosamond's despera-
ton pass and the Tigers had earn
ed another victory over Lexing-
ton.
Outstanding Players
The whole squad of Durant
players performed brilliantly but
particularly outstanding on Of
Tense was the blocking of Hall,
Terry, Ross Nesbitt Vernard
Hayes, Nit Roby. Foots Parkin-
son and W. r. Martin, the rum
ming of Pilgrim, Gunter and
Rucker and the ball-handling OF
Quarterback Burreu.
On defense the entire Durant
team tackled like demons with
Terry, Harmon Griffin. William
Ingram, Roby and Parkinson be-
ing outstanding.
Lexington's Chapman and
Hearn shone on offense and Fish
er, Cauthen. Shepherd and Smith
showed to good advantage on
defense.
Both teams dcrenGcd Target
on their ground II acks to gair
yardage.
Lexington tried three passes'
without success while Durafit
completed one out Of two at
tenpts. Durant. made 20 first
downs to Lexington's 8.
The game was clean and hard
fought throughout and good
craftsmanship was shown by
both teams and the largest crowd
of spectators ever to witness a.