The Rockets, of course, had a pretty good Defense, too, but given their still-occasional lapses on Offense (the Medina Valley game being the prime example) it looked like the edge truly belonged to the Jacket Defense. Judson, nevertheless, perhaps had a certain amount of developing US Space history on its side as it looked to make some Rocket Football History of its own. At mid-afternoon Gemini XII carrying Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell lifted off to begin the final flight of the Gemini Program. One of the objectives was to attempt a one-orbit direct rendezvous with an Agena Target Vehicle. Such a maneuver could conserve loads of fuel, which of course could improve safety margins and increase the science and payload capabilities if such techniques could be used on the prospective Apollo moon flights. This direct rendezvous maneuver and the concomitant docking came off just as advertised. About two (2) hours later Judson was looking to see what it could do in Converse to advance the margin for success and increase the capabilities of its Class 1A Rocket Program, and see if the Program was ready to do what no Judson Rocket Football Program had done yet: Win District and advance to the post-season.

In the opening period, the Jackets punted to Judson at midfield, and the Rockets went to work. Shortly thereafter, Gerald Irey flung a pass 43 yards downfield to Tony Gutierrez, and he took it to the house to put the Rockets out front 6-0. Sabinal then tied things up in the 2nd period when James Hargreaves carried in from nine (9) yards out, and thus the score remained at the break.

Coming out of intermission, the Rockets were ready to make history. Mike Jaksik snatched an INT at the Judson 48-yard line, the 52-yard drive was capped off when Irey connected with Jimbo Masters for another scoring aerial, and the Rockets were back on top at 12-6. The Rockets a little later initiated an 80-yard drive that Irey polished off early in the 4th Quarter with an 11-yard pass to Mark Venuto for the score to increase the advantage to 18-6. Shortly thereafter, Jaksik hauled in still one (1) more INT---this one at the Jackets’ 18-yard line, and in fairly due order Richard Tucker zipped in from there on an end sweep to complete the upset and make some Rocket History. November 11, 1966 was a good day for Rockets in the United States.