Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Forrest Field 800 1st Street Hawley, TX 79525
Year Opened: 1968
Capacity: 2,212
Hawley ISD
Hawley, Texas, is a bedroom community 10 miles northwest of Abilene in what is commonly referred to as The Big Country. Like many rural towns, the school is the center of activity and a source of unity and pride for the town – on fall Friday nights, this is evident as the town shuts down and most residents head to the local football field to watch the Hawley Bearcats play.
The Hawley Bearcats play their home football games at Forrest Field, named after Wayne Forrest, a longtime educator at Hawley ISD.
Food & Beverage 4
Two telltale signs let you know that the concession stand food is going to be good – when the FFA are the sponsors or smoke billows from a homemade grill out back, you know the offerings will be top-notch. At Forrest Field, both of these phenomena converge. There are no specialty items here, but the traditional offerings are very good.
Pulled pork sandwiches, sausage wraps, nachos, and Frito pie are all popular options ($4-$6 each). Also, with the ability to add ballpark cheese or chili to any offering, the palette can easily be satisfied. Fans can also snack on candy, chips, pickles, popcorn, Coca-Cola products, Gatorade, sweet tea, or bottled water – bottled water, pickles, and chips are only $1, while other drinks and candy cost $2.
Atmosphere 3
Hawley, like many small Texas towns, often has more people in attendance at football games than its official population. The game I most recently attended happened to be Homecoming, which brought slightly more than the normal number of fans.
Both teams used large run-through tunnels for their entrances, but the Bearcats also utilized smoke and a large horn as a noisemaker after scoring plays and turnovers. The Bearcat band plays consistently from the stands to encourage crowd interaction while elementary school-aged children entertain themselves by playing on an adjacent practice field as the bigger Bearcats are competing for real.
Neighborhood 3
Hawley is a small bedroom community 12 miles northwest of Abilene. The only restaurant open in Hawley in the evening is Jiffy Lunch and Pizza, but a new, large Allsup’s convenience store is open 24 hours. I would suggest a “World Famous” burrito or chimi as a post-game snack for the road if you’ve never tried one.
Abilene and Anson are within 15 minutes in either direction on US-277, so quality fare is available before the game if desired. If you are traveling from the north and eating in Anson, you might try Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant or the legendary Hatahoe Diner, which has been serving locals since 1963.
In addition, Abilene has numerous palette-pleasing options for any price point just off Interstate 20 as you drive through – some quality suggestions include Twisted Root Burgers, Cork & Pig Tavern, Chili’s, or Mexico Viejo Bar & Grill.
Fans 3
The crowd at the Bearcat game I most recently attended was standing room only, boosted due to the Homecoming festivities; the stands were full, and the fence was lined two people deep trying to catch a glimpse of the action.
About most schools, Hawley is a small school with roughly 230 students in grades 9-12. When considering the number of students involved in cheerleading, volleyball, football, and band, as well as manning the concession stand, there aren’t many left to be fans. So, most of the students in the student section were junior high students and were involved in cheering for their Bearcats. Many elementary-aged students could also be seen playing on the adjacent open practice field behind the football field to the east, beside the concession stand.
Access 4
Forrest Field sits behind Hawley High School and Middle School on 1st Street. There is ample parking in and around the schools and along 1st Street. There is also parking in front of the school on Avenue H and off 5th Street. All parking is just a short walk to the entrance gates on either end of the stadium.
Once inside the stadium, fans have access to both sides of the field. There are nice, modern restroom facilities available on both the visitor and home sides of the field. The concession stand is located in the southeast corner of the stadium and is sponsored by the school’s Ag department.
Return On Investment 4
Ticket prices were highly reasonable for the game – adult tickets cost $5 at the gate, while school-aged student tickets are only two or three dollars. The Bearcats are a well-coached football team and play hard. The band and cheerleaders do well to pump up the crowd during stoppages in the action and during halftime.
When combined with the ability to purchase a quality, fully smoked pork sandwich supper and leave with enough change from a $20 bill to get an Allsup’s time for the drive home, you have an affordable evening of entertainment at Forrest Field.
Extras 2
The view of a West Texas sunset is best experienced in person. The nontraditional northeast-to-southwest orientation of Forrest Field creates a picturesque backdrop as the sun dips below the horizon.
With multiple points of entry and 360-degree access around the field, movement to sitting anywhere while still being able to keep up with the action on the field is possible.
Final Thoughts
The pageantry and pride displayed by two competing high schools on a random fall Friday night in rural Texas is a cultural experience like none other. There are not many events that exhibit the heartbeat of a community more clearly and deeply than a varsity football game; a visit to Forrest Field in Hawley to experience the Friday night lights provides the backdrop for such an occasion.
My most recent visit was an enjoyable and entertaining evening. I was able to watch quality football, sample an excellent hamburger, and witness several students being recognized for their leadership and achievements as they served on the homecoming court. I would encourage you to make plans to visit Hawley and catch the Bearcats in action if you are ever in the Jones County area on a fall Friday.
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