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1979 Stephen f austin football regional finalists
Pre-Season 1979
Pre-season prognostication
The '79 Eagles were picked to finish 7th in District 18-2A. Texas Schoolboy Football Forecast was particularly dismissive of the Eagles, citing the 1978 team as "...birds (that) laid a bad egg. Same (expectation)." Hear the incredible story of the 1979 SFA Eagles on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
pre-season outlook
"Shooting for Improvement" was the best outlook sportswriters could muster for the '79 Eagles, coming off the previous year's 4-6, 2-5 mark. Hear how SFA shocked District 18-2A in 1979 on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Pre-District 1979
season opener loss
SFA opened the 1979 season with a humbling 9-6 loss to perennial rival Bishop Byrne. It was Byrne's first win against SFA since 1972. It also was the first of three consecutive losses suffered b the Eagles prior to district play. Hear the amazing Cinderella story of the 1979 Eagles on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Eagles go 0-3 in Pre-district
SFA was 0-3 in pre-district play in 1979, and had an open week prior to starting District 18-2A competition. Hear about the Eagles' path through that district slate on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
District 18-2A Football Campaign
district opener vs orangefield
SFA opened up district play against undefeated Orangefield. Hear about the upset that rocked District 18-2A right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
orangefield vs sfa game picks
Sportswriters at the Port Arthur News unanimously picked undefeated Orangefield to defeat winless SFA in the District opener. Hear about the upset that sent shockwaves throughout District 18-2A on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
bonfire 1979
What significance did the homecoming bonfire play in the district opener? A LOT!! Hear the unbelievable TRUE story of the homecoming bonfire of 1979 on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Bonfire--Homecoming Activities
The homecoming bonfire of 1979, and the football game that followed, is one of the greatest stories in SFA football history. Hear about this amazing event on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
district opener--SFA 14, orangefield 7
Head coach Richard Marler at the time said that SFA's 14-7 win over undefeated Orangefield was "...the biggest win of my head coaching career!" Hear about that stunning upset on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 2--SFA 21, buna 7
The Eagles followed up their district opening win with a 21-0 victory over Buna. Hear about the Eagles' march toward a District title on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 3--SFA 23, East Chambers 6
SFA continued its undefeated district run by beating (4-1, 2-0) East Chambers 23-6. Hear about SFA's remarkable 1979 season on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 4--SFA 13, Hamshire-fannett 15
SFA lost its game against perennial power Hamshire-Fannett 15-13. Find out how the never-say-die Eagles closed out the district slate on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 5--sfa 33, kountze 8
SFA extended Kountze's 23-game losing streak by taming the Lions 33-8. Hear about the 1979 Eagles' amazing season on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 6--SFA 14, Anahuac 6
The Eagles found themselves all alone atop District 18-2A following their 14-6 win over Anahuac. Hear all about the lead-up to their showdown with Hardin-Jefferson for the district title on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 7--pre-game article
Larry Bodin's article prior to the Hardin-Jefferson game explains the significance of the Eagles' incredible season so far, and also some of the behind-the-scenes political machinations that surrounded the SFA football program at that time. Hear all about that significant 1979 season on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 7--sfa 9, hardin-jefferson 7, page 1
SFA capped off their district run with a dramatic 9-7 win over Hardin-Jefferson that wasn't decided until the final seconds. Hear about that climactic, winner-take-all SFA win that secured the district crown on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
week 7--sfa 9, h-j 7, page 2
week 7--sfa 9, h-j 7, page 2
Page 2 of Larry Bodin's write-up of SFA's 9-7 win over Hardin-Jefferson in their District 18-2A finale. Hear all about that incredible district championship ride on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
sled dogs
SFA's Sled Dogs--the offensive line---were a big part of the success of the 1979 season. Hear all about the sled dogs and more on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Staphen F Austin Eagles, 1979 Regional Finialists
stephen f austin eagles--1979
The Stephen F. Austin Eagles of Port Acres, Texas--1979 Regional Finalists
Playoffs 1979
community support
The 1979 Eagles received tremendous support from the Port Acres community. Hear the players sound off on what that support meant to them, right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
bi-district--SFA 13, Woodville 0
SFA beat Woodville 13-0 in a hard-fought Bi-District contest to continue on their incredible 1979 football journey. Hear about that Bi-District win on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
regional--SFA 24, Waller 33
SFA's miracle season came to an end with a 33-24 loss to Waller in the Regional Final. Hear about the Eagles' valiant effort in that amazing contest on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Post-game reflection
SFA came up just short in a shoot-out with Waller for the Regional title. Hear all about the aftermath of that Waller football game on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Post Season...and Beyond...
post season recognition
Over a dozen players received post season honors following the 1979 season. Hear about SFA's storybook 1979 football season on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
1979 a "Banner season"
Accolades poured in for the Eagles following the 1979 season, and they were well deserved. Hear all about that historic 1979 season on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
richard marler coach of the year--and beyond
Head Coach Richard Marler was named the 1979 Super Team Coach of the Year. He went on to receive state-wide recognition, being inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 1997. He spent 24 years of his coaching career at Stephen F Austin. Hear about Coach Richard Marler, and that milestone season of 1979, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
On the wings of eagles
In 1990, Buck published the book On the Wings of Eagles: The Story of Stephen F. Austin Football 1979-1988. It is a first person account of his ten seasons coaching football at SFA. This picture was taken by longtime SFA photographer Andy Andrus at the Stephen F. Austin library in 1990 at a book donation ceremony. Wanda Carole at the time was the school nurse at SFA, and Buck was an assistant principal at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Hear Buck and players reminisce about that landmark football season of 1979 on Down Trails of Victory podcast!