Even after 37 years, Roman Reed vividly remembers the football game the Pace Vikings played on a cold, wet night on Nov. 21, 1980, when his extra-point kick was the difference in a 7-6 bi-district victory over Coastal Bend powerhouse Gregory-Portland in the Class 4A state playoffs.
It was the night Pace captured a milestone postseason win on the road and Reed’s name was forever etched into Brownsville football lore. The District 16-4A champion Vikings became the pride of the city that season and finished 11-1.
“I remember making it and a feeling of exhilaration came over me like never before,” Reed said of his all-important point-after that put the Vikings ahead early in the second half, precariously by one point. “I was hugged so much for the next minute (and) it felt awesome. But we still had to hold them (the rest of the way).”
Defeating the Wildcats on their home field where they hadn’t lost in at least 13 years was not only a monumental victory for Brownsville, but also for the entire Rio Grande Valley. Dating back to 1970, G-P had won 10 straight bi-district games (nine against Valley teams, usually in a rout).
In 1980, the Vikings and Wildcats came into their bi-district showdown at G-P each as a 10-0 district champion and each state-ranked (G-P No. 3 in the UPI and AP polls and Pace No. 8 in UPI and No. 10 in AP). Pace had declined to share game films with G-P and that might have caused some ill feelings between the two squads going into the contest.
Regardless, it came down to the game’s adverse playing conditions as a crucial factor in the outcome.
“You couldn’t have scripted a game with more miserable conditions than that one,” said Hector Martinez, an all-state wide receiver and All-Valley offensive MVP for the 1980 Vikings who continues to live in Brownsville as a retired Army veteran now working in management services. “It was bad — cold and muddy — and not what we were used to playing in being from the Valley.”
Added Danny Alvarez, the team’s all-state, All-South Texas and All-Valley quarterback, “I don’t think any of us panicked about playing them. We were just excited to play and have an opportunity to win.
“A game in bad conditions like that wasn’t designed for our (Run and Shoot) offense,” he added. “We had to gut it out and rely on our defense.”
The Vikings went up against the Wildcats’ imposing record of success over the previous decade and beyond under coach Ray Akins, who is the grandfather of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and who won 293 games in all during his 38-year coaching career (1950-88). Marty Akins, the coach’s son, played quarterback at G-P (early 1970s) and later for the Texas Longhorns under Darrell Royal (1973-75).
All that considered, an unexpected 7-6 victory over G-P on that bone-chilling night in late November understandably became a treasured memory for the 1980 Pace players and coaches, particularly Reed, who also played at left offensive tackle and saw some time on the defensive line as well. On offense, he alternated at tackle with Adrian Arzola and the two linemen took turns bringing in the plays.
“Roman saved the day for us,” said Gordon Foerster, Pace’s head coach from 1978-82 who in 1980 brought the Vikings their first district championship since the school opened in 1975. “There were others who made key plays late in the game to help us get that win, and Roman’s kick saved the day.”
FEELING BLESSED
Yes, it’s been 37 years.
Now 53, Reed has enjoyed a life marked by many accomplishments since his well-remembered extra point.
A 1981 Pace graduate, Reed received an accounting degree from Texas A&M in 1985 and earned a letter on the Aggies’ football team in 1983 as a backup lineman and special teams player.
He became a financial analyst and since 2011 has served as a councilman for the City of Bellaire, a suburb of Houston, along with service in the U.S. Army Reserves and community volunteer and church work with his wife Sally.
“I am most blessed to have had teammates and coaches that are great men and loved me for the person I was then and later became,” Reed said. “Kicking that extra point instilled in me a great confidence to confront and endure through any adversity or obstacle in my life. It showed me that (valuable character quality of perseverance, just) as my coaches had confidence and believed in me.”
When contacted by email a few weeks ago and asked if he was indeed the one who booted the deciding extra point in 1980, Reed responded by saying, “Oh yes. How could I forget it!”
He remembers how G-P scored on its first possession that chilly, wet night. The Wildcats looked every bit as powerful as their previous teams that had won handily against the Valley during the prior 10 seasons. The Wildcats successfully kicked the extra point after their touchdown, but an offside penalty on Pace prompted them to take the penalty and do the play over. They went for a two-point conversion, which failed and left the score 6-0.
“You’re never supposed to take points off the scoreboard,” Foerster said.
Expecting inclement weather, Foerster had told his team to take along an extra set of underclothes and jerseys. The Pace players changed into dry apparel at intermission and came out looking and playing like a new team in the second half.
The Vikings put together a 14-play, 72-yard scoring drive on their first possession of the third quarter and tied it 6-6 on halfback Sal Di Grazia’s 4-yard run on a trap play off left guard with 4:38 to go in the period.
Kicking the extra point on a muddy, slippery field at G-P was no small matter. What normally would have been a routine play was anything but on such a cold, wet night. Because of a particularly muddy area right where the extra point was supposed to be placed, it was quickly decided to move the kicking spot back about five yards.
“I was treating this one as a field goal,” Reed said.
“We were in the huddle before the extra point and Billy Boehl, our center, looks right at me and says, ‘I swear Roman, you better make it,’” Reed recalled. “Ivy Arroyo, our left guard, then says, ‘Just make it. The defense will hold them — just do it.’ Then (wide receiver) Mark White looks at all of us in the huddle and says, ‘Hey, all I’ve really been worried about all game is which restaurant Coach Foerster has picked for dinner (after we win).’ Everyone laughed and on we went.”
Alvarez, who shared holder duties with White, intently watched the trajectory of the extra-point attempt.
“It wasn’t exactly clean as the kick sailed over (the top of) one of the goal posts,” said Alvarez, a retired Air Force veteran who has lived in Wichita Falls since 1987 and now works for the Department of Defense in air traffic control. “I looked at the ref (and thought) ‘What are you going to say?’ Playing on the road, I wasn’t sure we’d get the call, but oh my gosh, he put up his arms (indicating the kick was good) and that was the difference.”
DEFENSE STEPS UP
Just as Arroyo had predicted, the Pace defense came through with several big plays in the fourth quarter to secure the win against a G-P squad that had outscored its first 10 opponents that season 371-55. That night, the Wildcats had four penetrations compared to only one for the Vikings. It was an era before overtime when games finishing in a tie at the end of regulation in the playoffs were decided by such stats.
When it mattered most, the Vikings’ defense stepped up to the challenge.
Pace middle linebacker Luis Garcia dropped a G-P running back for a one-yard loss on fourth down to end a drive at the Viking 14 with 9:17 remaining. Then G-P’s soccer-style kicker missed a fairly close field-goal attempt with 6:15 to go after Alvarez had fumbled the ball away at the Pace 21.
The clincher came when Viking outside linebacker Javier Solis intercepted a G-P pass with 1:56 left to seal the victory.
At that moment, the Friday Nights Lights had never shined brighter for Pace and Brownsville, and the uncomfortable cold and wet game conditions didn’t seem to matter anymore.
Foerster today says the 1980 team was his best, without a doubt, although the 1979 Vikings with Sammy Montalvo, Preston Guilbeau, Steve Gonzalez, Pope Martinez, Ramiro Gomez and Cal Suarez were a pretty talented group as well and finished 9-1.
“It was a blessing to have those (assistant) coaches and players,” said Foerster, who typically was in the press box during games and relayed instructions to the coaches on the field via a headset. “The coaches were great and our players were hungry to succeed.
“It was a great experience, that’s all I can say,” he added.
Unfortunately, Pace’s magical season came to an end one week after beating G-P as the Vikings lost to top-ranked Bay City 42-14 in the 4A state quarterfinals to finish 11-1.
“We were not expected to be that successful,” said Arzola, now a general manager for a Houston manufacturing company who lives in Missouri City. “The thing about that team and that season is I learned by pulling together as a unit we were able to accomplish great things. It taught me about teamwork and working toward a common goal. I also learned not to be intimidated by what seems impossible.”
Foerster’s assistants included Leonel Garza (offensive coordinator), Speedy Garza (defensive coordinator), Jesus Amaya (offensive line), Mario A. Leal (defensive line), Leonel Casas (sub-varsity), Henry Martinez (sub-varsity), Gil Vicinaiz (sophomores), James Kizer (freshmen) and Tony Barbosa (freshmen). Leonel Garza, Amaya, Casas, Kizer and Henry Martinez later became head football coaches themselves.
“It was a great staff,” said Foerster, the All-Valley Coach of the Year in 1980 who after Pace coached at Corpus Christi King and Bishop before retiring in 2000. “Those guys did the real coaching.”
Foerster, now 76, lives in Corpus Christi. Prior to coming to Pace in 1978, he coached at Mission, Los Fresnos and Hanna. Run and Shoot proponent Jerry Tomsu, who died in 2009 at age 77, was Foerster’s coaching mentor at Mission and Los Fresnos.
SOMETHING TO PROVE
All-state receiver Hector Martinez said the players and coaches combined to make the squad of 1980 quite a unique one.
“We had a very good team and we played well together,” he said. “We practiced a lot and we had exceptional coaches who taught us a lot. Our team chemistry was very good and so was our passing game. We didn’t drop very many balls.”
Martinez, a second-team all-stater, was named the 1980 All-Valley offensive MVP for his 53 receptions totaling 898 yards on the season. He had a then Valley-record 18 TD receptions in 1980. Alvarez earned first-team all-state, All-South Texas and All-Valley honors at QB in 1980, completing 122 of 237 passes for 1,805 yards and 26 TDs with 11 interceptions.
Other Pace players receiving All-Valley recognition that season were White at safety/wide receiver, Ivy Arroyo at offensive guard, Di Grazia at running back, Arturo Rios at defensive lineman and Luis Garcia at middle linebacker.
Along with the previously mentioned players, other Vikings receiving 16-4A All-District recognition included center Tony Olivares, offensive tackle Juan Rey, running back Javier Solis, defensive back Jerry Canul and defensive lineman Billy Boehl.
Other team members included Joseph Martinez, Margarito Alegria, Victor Gilliam, John Longoria, Larry Diaz, George Flores, David Combe, Andy Vega, Mark Perez, Tony Morales, Juan Sanchez, Carlos Hernandez, David Bryan, Santos Salazar and Rene Leal.
Sadly, White and Luis Garcia were among the team members who died at relatively young ages 20 or more years ago.
Still, the legacy of the 1980 Pace Vikings lives on, even after 37 years, as the players are now in their 50s.
“It was a pleasure to do battle with my brothers on that team,” said Arroyo, who now lives in Pflugerville and does public relations work for a law firm. “The most amazing thing about the majority of the guys on that team was they took their football experience and applied it to their lives. Today, most of the guys are business professionals, law enforcement officers, teachers and coaches — all in positions of leadership. They’ve all been successful in their own right.
“Back then, every practice was a game to us,” he added. “We had something to prove to everybody, including ourselves.”