On December 22, 1951, the Arlington Colts won the 2A High School Football Championship.

The championship game featured the Arlington Colts against the Waco La Vega Pirates. Attendance: 7,168. Place: Baylor Stadium in Waco. It was a cloudy and windy afternoon, with both teams hoping for an early Christmas gift in the form of a championship.

The teams were big, tough, and comparatively matched. La Vega was coming off a season where they averaged 35.3 points a game and had 13 straight wins. The high-scoring offense was led by 190-pound fullback Billy Keller, admired in a newspaper article for his “lightning power.”

Arlington also had an impressive year, averaging nearly 25 points a game. Their only loss occurred mid-season against the Terrell Tigers. They persevered, dominated through the playoffs, and won the right to fight in the championship game. The team was led by Cecil “Rusty” Gunn, an all-state fullback.

While many anticipated a high-scoring shootout, the defense (and the strong, late-December wind) proved to be a deciding factor. Neither team was able to complete a pass, with both relying on the running game. The game’s only score occurred in the second quarter. The underdog Colts marched down the field, led by rushes from Rusty Gunn for 12 and 14 yards. Their efforts were rewarded when Gunn plowed through the defense for a 3-yard touchdown run. Not only did he score the game’s only touchdown—and kick the extra point—but he also rushed for 80 of the team’s 181 yards and was a menace on defense.

Although La Vega threatened to score several times, it was to no avail. The final score was 7-0, with Arlington defeating La Vega for their first and only High School Football Championship.

What a moment that must have been for those young men and the small town of Arlington.

The Colt Roster featured Fred Cook, Grover Cribbs, Jim Harris, Pete Murray, Billy Jo Walker, Larry Hufford, Harold Hill, Raymond Glasgow, Bob Kirby, Larry Davault, Rusty Gunn, Leon Duffey, Francis Claxton, Kent Cherry, Dan Norman, Pierce Cook, Joe Williams, John Dennehy, Eddie Mullinex, John Denton, Gene Cootes, Randal Redmond, Jerry Bentley, Gary Martin, Stephen Spears, Ken McMasters, Frank Newby, Lonnie Bridges, Bobby Dale Walker, and Jack Womble. Team Managers included Bill Johnson, Stewart Niles, and Kurt Meyer. Coaching Staff included Mayfield “Bull” Workman, John Polzin, and Larry Mildren.

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 12-22-25