935 Sun Bowl

What is known for?

The inaugural Sun Bowl held on New Year's Day 1935 featured high school teams from El Paso and Ranger High School. The game celebrated American football and marked the kickoff of the postseason bowl game tradition. This inaugural game was sponsored by the El Paso Kiwanis club, marking the start of an annual event still held in El Paso, Texas.(source)

The Ranger Bulldogs, hailing from Ranger, Texas, had an impressive run up to the Bowl, with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss, even securing a district championship over Breckenridge High School. Rangers High School, championing these achievements, stepped onto the field under the guidance of head coach Ottis "Red" Moore.

The game was a closely fought contest, with the El Paso All-Stars ultimately clinching the victory with a score of 25-21. The gameplay was dynamic. A notable performance was by the Ranger's player, Rankin Britt, who showed an impressive effort with a 45-yard touchdown run. Aaron Anderson also made significant contributions with two touchdown runs of his own, and successful kicks.(source)

The game left a lasting impact, not just in the hearts of the competitors and spectators but also in the annals of American football history. Since then, the Sun Bowl has evolved to become a major highlight of the college football season, an evolution that started with this inaugural game between two Texas high school teams.

For more on the entire Sun Bowl history, visit the official Sun Bowl page.