howeenterprise.com
Monday, October 29, 2018
Page #4
The Howe and Van Alstyne football rivalry dates back to 1941 Rivalries are special. It assures a playoff atmosphere regardless of November plans. Football is steeped with historic rivalries so entrenched, they have names. The Red River Showdown, the Battle of the Axe, and the Battle of the Silver Spike.
Messenger. Howe's first points in the series came on a Robert Miller touchdown and a Tony Brinkley run for the extra point. The overall series between the two towns was a back-and-forth struggle until the turn of the century when Van Alstyne grew exponentially with the Georgetown addition. Van Alstyne led the series, 25-17-2 but now have doubled the amount of Howe’s wins thanks to the recent 11-game winning streak. The overwhelming enrollment advantage as played a favorous advantage for the Panthers. They've also enjoyed having the same system in place for 10 years now as they hired Head Coach Mikeal Miller for the 2009 season. In comparison, Howe Head Coah Bill Jehling is the fifth for the Bulldogs in the same amount of time.
Howe and Van Alstyne have played rivalry football games for nearly as long as the two towns have existed. Unsanctioned games between the two towns were found early in the 20th century, but didn't officially begin until the University Interscholastic League (UIL) formed in 1920. Howe, didn't officially start a football program under the UIL until 1935. For reasons unknown, Howe didn't play Van Alstyne until the 1941 season and the first game was played on Friday night, Oct. 24 of that year under the "flood lights" of Panther Stadium, The Silver Spike trophy was the brainchild back in 2001 of sports their home until 2008. writer Jeff Wood of the Van Alstyne Leader and Howe graduate Monte In that first game, Van Alstyne won by a score of 31-7. The first Walker. The winner of the Howe and Van Alstyne football rivalry ever points in the rivalry was a scoring pass from Smith to Dillon receives a silver railroad spike, mounted on a three-foot trophy to as reported by the Howe
Adam Coffey form tackles a Van Alstyne ball carrier in the 1988 Battle of the Silver Spike. Howe won, 19-6. Photo by Connie Fryar. keep in their trophy case for an entire year. Howe has yet to have it since its creation. The tall and heavy trophy features the silver spike which symbolizes the growth that the Houston and Texas Central railway brought to
both towns in the early years of their existence. Howe’s longest winning streak versus the Panthers was four games from 1977-1980. When the trophy was originated in 2001, then Van Alstyne Head page 9
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Howe Elementary/Middle School breakfast menu
Howe Elementary/Middle School lunch menu
Howe High School breakfast menu
Howe High School lunch menu
