Circleville, Trace tackle SCOL in '72
By
Bob Patton-
By BOB PATTON
For The Highland County Press
In August of 1972, local high schools were preparing for the upcoming football season. The South Central Ohio League would be celebrating its 45th birthday, when the six SCOL teams began their league schedules September 29.
Since 1923, when the first loop games were played, the SCOL had flourished at times and suffered at times. There was a complete meltdown in 1931, but the league resumed its activities in 1935.
Football made its initial appearance before the SCOL was formed, in 1903, when Hillsboro posted two big wins over the first ever Greenfield team by scores of 60-5 and 16-0. In 1904, the Greenfield vs. Washington C.H. rivalry began and, through the 1971 season, the two teams had played each other 77 times. In 1972, Washington head coach Moe Pfeifer was beginning his eighth season at the helm of the Blue Lions. He had four lettermen returning to his offensive unit, including prize halfback Chuck Wilson.
The Blue Lions figured to be among the serious contenders for the ’72 title. Leslie Walker was back for his second year at Wilmington. In his first year (1971), the former Ohio University football star had posted a 4-6 record and a 2-3 SCOL mark. He had quite a number or lettermen returning for the 1972 season, and the Hurricane had been tabbed as the SCOL favorite. Hillsboro coach Dale Ambos was returning for his fourth season at Hillsboro. In 1971, the Indians had turned in a 4-6 record, but notched a disappointing 0-5 SCOL mark.
Jay Knierim was beginning his second year at the helm of the McClain Tigers. McClain would have some hefty boys on the line, but were something of a question mark. Knierim, who always saw his SCOL prospects through rose-colored glasses had already declared his backfield “the best in the SCOL.”
Two new head coaches entered the fray in 1972. Fred Bernier replaced Roy Lucas at Miami Trace. He had worked as an assistant to Lucas at Erlanger Lloyd High School, in Kentucky. Bernier inherited nine lettermen from a team that posted a perfect 10-0 record last year, including a 5-0 league mark.
Circleville had hired Coach Larry Cook to replace veteran mentor Denny Williams. Cook, a star tackle at Bowling Green State University, had been a member of the Willard (Ohio) coaching staff for the past eight years. He had been head coach the past four years. Cook would have six lettermen back from last year’s team, including Tom Frericks, Dave Truex, and Dave Webb. The 1971 Tigers had been 6-4 overall (2-3 in the SCOL).
Bernier was crying the blues because he had to patch problems with his offensive and defensive line. It was difficult, however, to feel too sorry for a coach who had Pete Jones, Tony Grooms, Glen Gifford, Jeff Spears and Gardner Cobb returning from last year’s SCOL champions.
All the SCOL teams opened their seasons with non-league games on Friday, Sept. 8. Miami Trace was the only winner, downing Springfield Northeastern, 40-20. Wilmington and Xenia tied, 6-6, Portsmouth whipped Washington, 22-14, London shut out McClain, 9-0, Grove City handed Circleville a 21-7 setback and New Richmond hammered Hillsboro, 50-20.
The next Friday, still playing non-league opponents, Washington, McClain and Miami Trace recorded wins. Washington pounded Chillicothe, 34-8, Springfield Shawnee visited Greenfield and was defeated by the Tigers, 21-0, Miami Trace clipped Clinton Massie, 26-0 on the MT field, while Unioto walloped Hillsboro, 20-6. Fairfield beat Wilmington, 32-26, and Teays Valley got out of Circleville with a one-point win, 13-12.
But on Sept. 22, only Circleville claimed a victory, as they broke a two-game losing streak by beating Hamilton Township, 14-0. All the other SCOL teams lost. So, the SCOL teams went into league play with plenty of enthusiasm, but with only five wins in non-loop contests, to go with 12 losses and one tie. League play began on Sept. 29, with McClain getting a shaky win over Hillsboro 10-8 on the McClain field. Tiger Danny Raike scampered 79 yards with the opening kickoff and, six minutes later, Dan Strain split the uprights with a 22-yard field goal and the Tigers’ scoring was over for the evening. But it was enough to win the game, as Hillsboro scored a lone touchdown in the third quarter when Rick Clemons scooped up a Tiger fumble and raced 25 yards for the score. The Indians ran the ball for a two-point conversion.
Elsewhere, Circleville downed WCH, when Dave Truex engineered a 55-yard drive in the final minute of play, as Eddie Richter scored from two yards out to break a 6-6 tie. Circleville took the win 12-6.
Wilmington played very well, especially the defensive unit, as the Hurricane defeated Trace, 24-13.
The following Friday, the Hurricane went to Circleville. Circleville was able to put the chains on Wilmington’s sophomore star, Jackie Wilson, holding the shifty halfback to only 25 yards in nine carries. Dave Webb gained 79 yards in only seven carries, and Circleville won, 25-16.
At Miami Trace, an estimated 3,000 fans watched as the Panthers drubbed McClain, 21-6. Pete Jones passed for 101 yards and the human bowling ball, Tony Grooms, ran over, under and through the Tigers for 267 yards, carrying, at one point, 14 straight times. At Hillsboro, the junior trio of Chuck Wilson, Mark Johnson and Alan Coppock got Washington’s offense to run smoothly, which resulted in a 28-12 win over the Tribe at Hillsboro’s annual Homecoming.
At this very early stage of the season, Circleville was 2-0 in the SCOL, followed by Miami Trace, McClain, Washington and Wilmington, all at 1-1 and Hillsboro was 0- 2 (0-5 overall).
Week three of the SCOL season was headed by the big Fayette County shootout between the Blue Lions and Panthers. The game would take place at Gardner Field, in Washington C.H. The Panthers had never won a game on this field.
Miami Trace took advantage of a superstitious Friday the 13th to crack the old “homefield hex” and trounce the Blue Lions, 40-20 as MT quarterback Pete Jones completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 292 yards and four touchdowns.
Stubborn McClain put up a rugged battle at Wilmington, trailing by only one point at halftime. But the Hurricane outscored the Tigers 16-6 in the final quarter to take a narrow 30-26 victory.
At Circleville, Ty Ankrom, Dave Truex and Eddie Richter were too tough to handle and the Indians lost their sixth straight game 24-6.
October 30, 1972 was the fourth league playing date. Hillsboro traveled to Miami Trace. MT was without their hard-running tailback, Tony Grooms, who sat out with an ankle injury. But quarterback Pete Jones put on a passing clinic in the second half, completing 10 of 18 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns, including scoring passes of 73 and 77 yards to shifty end Jeff Spears. The Panthers pasted the Indians, 48-13.
At Wilmington, WCH tailback Chuck Wilson was nearly unstoppable, gaining 272 yards in 27 rushes and scoring two touchdowns for a 28-22 win over the Hurricane.
At Greenfield, Friday night was Homecoming, and petite MHS senior Nanci Woods and her court presided over the festivities. Linda Flynn was Queen’s attendant, Pam Welch was senior attendant, Linda Everetts, junior attendant, Robin Satterfield, sophomore attendant and Katy Abbott, freshman attendant. Visiting Circleville, however, won the football game 34-14.
With only one league game remaining, Circleville was in the catbird’s seat with a 4-0 SCOL mark. The Tigers were followed by Miami Trace with a 3-1 record in league play. WCH and Wilmington were both 2-2, McClain was 1-3 and Hillsboro stood at 0-4.
The final league playing date would feature Miami Trace at Circleville. The Panthers could win a share of the SCOL championship by winning this key game. Also, Wilmington would visit Hillsboro, where the Indians stood 0-7 overall, and McClain would play at Washington.
Could the MT Panthers knock Circleville off the perch?
(To be continued next week.)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.
In August of 1972, local high schools were preparing for the upcoming football season. The South Central Ohio League would be celebrating its 45th birthday, when the six SCOL teams began their league schedules September 29.
Since 1923, when the first loop games were played, the SCOL had flourished at times and suffered at times. There was a complete meltdown in 1931, but the league resumed its activities in 1935.
Football made its initial appearance before the SCOL was formed, in 1903, when Hillsboro posted two big wins over the first ever Greenfield team by scores of 60-5 and 16-0. In 1904, the Greenfield vs. Washington C.H. rivalry began and, through the 1971 season, the two teams had played each other 77 times. In 1972, Washington head coach Moe Pfeifer was beginning his eighth season at the helm of the Blue Lions. He had four lettermen returning to his offensive unit, including prize halfback Chuck Wilson.
The Blue Lions figured to be among the serious contenders for the ’72 title. Leslie Walker was back for his second year at Wilmington. In his first year (1971), the former Ohio University football star had posted a 4-6 record and a 2-3 SCOL mark. He had quite a number or lettermen returning for the 1972 season, and the Hurricane had been tabbed as the SCOL favorite. Hillsboro coach Dale Ambos was returning for his fourth season at Hillsboro. In 1971, the Indians had turned in a 4-6 record, but notched a disappointing 0-5 SCOL mark.
Jay Knierim was beginning his second year at the helm of the McClain Tigers. McClain would have some hefty boys on the line, but were something of a question mark. Knierim, who always saw his SCOL prospects through rose-colored glasses had already declared his backfield “the best in the SCOL.”
Two new head coaches entered the fray in 1972. Fred Bernier replaced Roy Lucas at Miami Trace. He had worked as an assistant to Lucas at Erlanger Lloyd High School, in Kentucky. Bernier inherited nine lettermen from a team that posted a perfect 10-0 record last year, including a 5-0 league mark.
Circleville had hired Coach Larry Cook to replace veteran mentor Denny Williams. Cook, a star tackle at Bowling Green State University, had been a member of the Willard (Ohio) coaching staff for the past eight years. He had been head coach the past four years. Cook would have six lettermen back from last year’s team, including Tom Frericks, Dave Truex, and Dave Webb. The 1971 Tigers had been 6-4 overall (2-3 in the SCOL).
Bernier was crying the blues because he had to patch problems with his offensive and defensive line. It was difficult, however, to feel too sorry for a coach who had Pete Jones, Tony Grooms, Glen Gifford, Jeff Spears and Gardner Cobb returning from last year’s SCOL champions.
All the SCOL teams opened their seasons with non-league games on Friday, Sept. 8. Miami Trace was the only winner, downing Springfield Northeastern, 40-20. Wilmington and Xenia tied, 6-6, Portsmouth whipped Washington, 22-14, London shut out McClain, 9-0, Grove City handed Circleville a 21-7 setback and New Richmond hammered Hillsboro, 50-20.
The next Friday, still playing non-league opponents, Washington, McClain and Miami Trace recorded wins. Washington pounded Chillicothe, 34-8, Springfield Shawnee visited Greenfield and was defeated by the Tigers, 21-0, Miami Trace clipped Clinton Massie, 26-0 on the MT field, while Unioto walloped Hillsboro, 20-6. Fairfield beat Wilmington, 32-26, and Teays Valley got out of Circleville with a one-point win, 13-12.
But on Sept. 22, only Circleville claimed a victory, as they broke a two-game losing streak by beating Hamilton Township, 14-0. All the other SCOL teams lost. So, the SCOL teams went into league play with plenty of enthusiasm, but with only five wins in non-loop contests, to go with 12 losses and one tie. League play began on Sept. 29, with McClain getting a shaky win over Hillsboro 10-8 on the McClain field. Tiger Danny Raike scampered 79 yards with the opening kickoff and, six minutes later, Dan Strain split the uprights with a 22-yard field goal and the Tigers’ scoring was over for the evening. But it was enough to win the game, as Hillsboro scored a lone touchdown in the third quarter when Rick Clemons scooped up a Tiger fumble and raced 25 yards for the score. The Indians ran the ball for a two-point conversion.
Elsewhere, Circleville downed WCH, when Dave Truex engineered a 55-yard drive in the final minute of play, as Eddie Richter scored from two yards out to break a 6-6 tie. Circleville took the win 12-6.
Wilmington played very well, especially the defensive unit, as the Hurricane defeated Trace, 24-13.
The following Friday, the Hurricane went to Circleville. Circleville was able to put the chains on Wilmington’s sophomore star, Jackie Wilson, holding the shifty halfback to only 25 yards in nine carries. Dave Webb gained 79 yards in only seven carries, and Circleville won, 25-16.
At Miami Trace, an estimated 3,000 fans watched as the Panthers drubbed McClain, 21-6. Pete Jones passed for 101 yards and the human bowling ball, Tony Grooms, ran over, under and through the Tigers for 267 yards, carrying, at one point, 14 straight times. At Hillsboro, the junior trio of Chuck Wilson, Mark Johnson and Alan Coppock got Washington’s offense to run smoothly, which resulted in a 28-12 win over the Tribe at Hillsboro’s annual Homecoming.
At this very early stage of the season, Circleville was 2-0 in the SCOL, followed by Miami Trace, McClain, Washington and Wilmington, all at 1-1 and Hillsboro was 0- 2 (0-5 overall).
Week three of the SCOL season was headed by the big Fayette County shootout between the Blue Lions and Panthers. The game would take place at Gardner Field, in Washington C.H. The Panthers had never won a game on this field.
Miami Trace took advantage of a superstitious Friday the 13th to crack the old “homefield hex” and trounce the Blue Lions, 40-20 as MT quarterback Pete Jones completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 292 yards and four touchdowns.
Stubborn McClain put up a rugged battle at Wilmington, trailing by only one point at halftime. But the Hurricane outscored the Tigers 16-6 in the final quarter to take a narrow 30-26 victory.
At Circleville, Ty Ankrom, Dave Truex and Eddie Richter were too tough to handle and the Indians lost their sixth straight game 24-6.
October 30, 1972 was the fourth league playing date. Hillsboro traveled to Miami Trace. MT was without their hard-running tailback, Tony Grooms, who sat out with an ankle injury. But quarterback Pete Jones put on a passing clinic in the second half, completing 10 of 18 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns, including scoring passes of 73 and 77 yards to shifty end Jeff Spears. The Panthers pasted the Indians, 48-13.
At Wilmington, WCH tailback Chuck Wilson was nearly unstoppable, gaining 272 yards in 27 rushes and scoring two touchdowns for a 28-22 win over the Hurricane.
At Greenfield, Friday night was Homecoming, and petite MHS senior Nanci Woods and her court presided over the festivities. Linda Flynn was Queen’s attendant, Pam Welch was senior attendant, Linda Everetts, junior attendant, Robin Satterfield, sophomore attendant and Katy Abbott, freshman attendant. Visiting Circleville, however, won the football game 34-14.
With only one league game remaining, Circleville was in the catbird’s seat with a 4-0 SCOL mark. The Tigers were followed by Miami Trace with a 3-1 record in league play. WCH and Wilmington were both 2-2, McClain was 1-3 and Hillsboro stood at 0-4.
The final league playing date would feature Miami Trace at Circleville. The Panthers could win a share of the SCOL championship by winning this key game. Also, Wilmington would visit Hillsboro, where the Indians stood 0-7 overall, and McClain would play at Washington.
Could the MT Panthers knock Circleville off the perch?
(To be continued next week.)
Bob Patton is a Highland County sports historian and a contributing writer to The Highland County Press.
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