THE UNDEFEATED 1970 ALMA RIVERMEN…GETTING SOME RESPECT, PART 1

When looking at season final A.P. or U.P.I. football rankings (1958-1975) you can look at the bottom of each list and if there isn’t a press recap you might miss some information.  Did that #9 team lose their last game and they ended 7-1-0 or 7-1-1?  If they dropped because of a game nine loss, where were they before in the week eight poll?  Did the team replace a squad that dropped down to the honorable mention list because of wacky pollsters voting?  There could be a number of reasons for a school eking their way into the top 10.  For those that did just make it onto the final ranking it is the cherry on top of the Sunde.

In the Small School or Little Ten polls it is often a matter of the voters just not knowing about another team.  How can they know about teams they don’t see or read about? The pollsters had to hear from others to help make their consideration.  For some teams it was like comedian Rodney Dangerfield use to say as he twisted his necktie, “I don’t get no respect, no respect at all”.   The 1970 Alma Rivermen team was just such a squad.  They didn’t just get the respect they deserved during the season.

Alma is located, tucked along the Mississippi River, about 26 miles north of Winona, MN. The school first began playing football in 1958, going 0-8-0.  They failed to win a game for two seasons but there wasn’t a lot of support from the small student body.  The sport was new to the students and it would take an innovative coach to get the program moving.  In 1962 Lynn Iverson, a recent graduate from Winona State University was that person but it wasn’t an instant success.  Playing an independent schedule, Iverson’s boys went 0-5-1 in 1962, scoring only 25 points and allowing 148.  1963 saw the Rivermen go 4-4-0, their best record ever.  Then came their entrance into the Centennial Conference, as the only Wisconsin school vs. six Minnesota schools.  Things got better as Alma posted 8-1-0 and 9-0-0 records in 1964 and 1965.  Iverson was getting the boys out to play.  They would go 6-3-0 in both 1966 and 1967 and then followed this success up with a 7-1-0 season in 1968 and 6-1-0 in 1969.

Despite the past success, most coaches in the Centennial Conference picked Wabasha, the largest school in the conference, to take the 1970 title.  In 1969 Wabasha went 8-0-0 but only beat Alma 8-0.  The Alma juniors and sophomores gained a lot of experience.  The Rivermen returned three 1969 first team All-Conference players who would repeat in 1970.  Curt Gross was a middle linebacker on the 1969 All-Area team who also played the fullback position.  Barry Ritscher earned All-Centennial as a cornerback/safety while starting as the team’s quarterback.  And Brian Ruff was named to the offensive guard spot as well as playing defensive guard. 

Most of the opponents were small towns, like Alma, that had about 450 people, so the school district drew students from the surrounding area.  Alma had only about 80 high school students.  Cochrane-Fountain City had around 170, Onalaska Luther had around 300, and Mazeppa, like Alma, had about 80.  Wabasha, a town of 2,371 people was the largest public school in the Centennial with around 300.  Goodhue just had a touch over 100 students while Randolph, the smallest city/school in the conference with nearly 70.  Winona Cotter, a private Catholic school numbered around 400 pupils and Elgin-Millville had about 95 students.  So, for the most part, the Alma opponents’ numbers were fairly equal in size.

Playing two larger Wisconsin schools as the season opened, Iverson and his charges showed that 1970 would be their season.

Note the offensive vs, defensive yardage stats, nearly a 300-yards per game difference!

The offense clicked as well as featuring a very tough defense.  With an opportunistic offense, feeding off the tough defense, which recovered numerous opponent turnovers, the Rivermen would roll.  Against Mazeppa four fumbles were recovered which led to Alma scores.  After their third win Alma moved into the #2 spot in the weekly Winona Daily News area top10 poll.

They rolled over a tougher than expected Faribault Deaf Hilltoppers, holding them to only two first downs but Alma’s three turnovers slowed them down, a bit.  Fullback Curt Gross scored two touchdowns and two 2-pt conversions to power the offense as well as having multiple tackles. Their fourth victory corresponded with  the A.P. starting their weekly prep football poll.  Besides the top-10 there were 31 “others” who received votes.  Alma received 8 votes and was listed as at the #15 spot.  Interestingly, Cochrane-Fountain City, a team that Alma had shutout 42-0 and with a 3-1-0 record was four spots ahead on the list.

Game five was a matchup against the previous 1968 and 1969 conference champion’s Wabasha.  Regular starting quarterback Barry Ritscher only played on conversion attempts due to an injury.  Junior Jeff Bjork, the quarterback backup turned in a superb performance tossing two, third quarter touchdowns to flanker Steve Brovold who hauled in scores of 84 and 70 yards.  Alma rolled up 367 yards and allowed only 39.  The next week the Rivermen moved into the area top spot, tying Gale-Ettrick who had been the top team for the first three weeks of the poll.  The G-E Red Hawks were riding a 22-game win streak and ranked #1 in the Wisconsin A.P. poll.

Against Goodhue, the #2 team in the conference, it was another whitewash, for Alma, 28-0.  The game was played at Alma in a very wet, messy, cranberry like bog.  Slowed to gaining only 262-yards the defense again shone held Goodhue to 37-yards.  Ritscher was back from a hip injury and on a fourth down and 12-yards to go he lofted a 26-yard pass to Brovold who made a great over the shoulder finger-tip catch for the opening score.  Six fumbles, only one lost, slowed the run game but the 135 yards passing made up the difference.  It was a solid win.

In the recent A.P. polls Gale-Ettrick had traded the top spot with Auburndale but now they were back in the #1 position.  #6 in the “others receiving votes” was Alma. 

They were now getting some respect. 

PART 2 COMING SOON

DAVID VS. GOLITH 1987…PART 2

THE GAME

The game would be noted for a great passing performance by the run orientated team, a major injury and his gutty replacement along with a controversial late call for the underdogs.

Marquette got the opening kickoff and turned in a seven-play drive with Jeff Jarecki taking the ball in from nine-yards out for the first score.  Kicker Andy Di Piazza converted the extra point and with 8:50 into the first quarter as Marquette led 7-0.  Prior to the game Coach Basham heard comments that his club would walk over the Macks.  And why not?  “David” (McDonell) had only 97 boys out of a total of 210 students.  “Goliath” (Marquette) had 1,021 students…all boys.  Basham had a deeper bench.  They were bigger.  They played, what many around the state thought was a tougher schedule. 

The Macks expected the Hilltoppers to be tough but just 16-seconds after giving up the opening touchdown, Ben Gardow hit Randy Baier with a 40-yard touchdown and Keith Stirling kicked the tying extra point.  Was Marquette panicking?  NO, but the run game was stopped by a fumble and McDonell began to march down the field.  Then, tragedy for the Macks occurred.  Driving for the go ahead score Gardow couldn’t find an open receiver, so he ran and made it to Marquette’s five. There two Marquette players laid him out.  He held onto the ball, but he was down.  He had severely bruised ribs and had to be helped off the field. He was sent to an Oshkosh hospital for further evaluation.

Chippewa Falls Herald-Telegram November 13, 1987

Upon his return to the game Gardow would, despite his best efforts to convince Coach Uchytil that he could play, would not return. It would turn out that the bruised ribs would later be diagnosed as his having a broken bone.  Back-up quarterback Mike Hayes was called on to take over for Gardow.  Hayes was a starting linebacker who never expected to play offense in the title game.  In fact, in 1986 as a junior, he missed the season with an injured vertebra.  Hayes had good reason not to expect to play quarterback. He had a broken finger on his passing hand and had trouble gripping the ball, but he gave it a try.  In the first quarter Gardow had thrown 14-6-1-100-1 before leaving the game.  On his first play in the backfield Hayes picked up two yards and then he hit Randy Baier for a three-yard touchdown.  Sterling converted and suddenly the Hilltoppers were down 14-7. 

Marquette had averaged about 210 yards a game rushing during the regular season along with 80 yards passing.  In the playoffs their opponents found ways to shup the run down.  Thanks to their great defense they made it to the finals.  McDonell had a generally good defense overall and their players came to prove that they belonged in Oshkosh.  The Macks shut down the Hilltopper run game and in the second quarter Jeff Jarecki shined tossing two touchdowns, one to Frank Kastelic for 19-yards with 1:33 left in the period.  Hayes then tossed an interception and with :09 left on the clock Jarecki passed 28-yards to Alex Kasun to take the lead, 20-14.  Di Piazza missed the extra-point, but Marquette was on top in a real dogfight of a game.

The second half a slugfest.  Defensive tackle Kevin Lancette played with reckless abandon.  Linebackers Mike Hayes (Playing both ways throughout the game) and Mike Crawford stuffed the Marquette run game.  Jarecki tried to get the run game going to no avail so he continued to pass when appropriate.  Neither team could mount a drive but in the fourth quarter Hayes tossed an interception and Todd Belardi (Brian’s brother) returned it 45-yards for a touchdown and Marquette led 26-14.  McDonell finally put together the only real drive, by either team in the half, after the interception.  It was a 12-play, 56-yard drive that was capped by Hayes running two-yards for the score.  The extra point was missed, and the lead was cut to 26-20 with 2:56 left in the game.  Uchytil wanted the ball back for one last try for a chance to win.

Marquette took the kickoff but after three plays they were forced to punt.  Hayes was back on the field and ready to lead his team to victory.  McDonell quickly began to drive but Marquette forced them into a fourth and one on the 46-yard line.  THEN, the controversy occurred.  Hard pressure on Hayes by a Hilltopper defender, had a hand on him but Hayes was able evade the tackle.  The path to a first down was clear as he then moved up field, but a whistle blew, and a referee declared that Hayes’ knee touched the ground and the ball went to Marquette.  Later, when viewing the film of the game, the tape showed that the knee was six-eight inches off the ground but from the referees angle it appeared to touch the playing field.

Marquette then ran the clock out, taking the title, winning 26-20. 

In the game, Marquette only gained 48-yards in 36-carries on the ground with four out of five lost fumbles.  However, Jarecki was 19-10-0-161-2 on the game as he received the WISAA Championship game MVP award.  He also was a defensive back (One of a few two-way Marquette players) and played well in the game making several tackles and breaking up passes. Jeff was recently inducted into the MIHS Athletic Hall of Fame.  He graduated in 1989 having played in six Hilltopper-Catholic Memorial Crusader football, basketball and baseball matchups.  He directed his football team to two state football titles as the school again won in 1988 (12-1 record) defeating La Crosse Aquinas 7-0.  He was one of three team captains his senior year despite missing the first four games with a broken collar bone.  In his 22-game career he passed 292-131-9-2031-23 (School records at the time). It was a stellar career.

Mike Hayes finished the game with stats of 39-16-2-122-1 and seven tackles, all with a broken finger.  He was the team’s leading rusher with 34-yards on 13 carries and one score.

Talking to the press Marquette Coach Dick Basham said: “We thought we could come here and run the ball and run the clock.   It turned out they had us on the run.”   McDonell’s end Randy Baier had eight receptions for 108-yards and two scores.  Basham adjusted his defense which started out with four rushers and seven pass defenders.  They went from man-to-man pass defense to a zone. With Baier ripping them apart in the first quarter Basham pulled one rusher and added another defensive back to bump the receiver to try and slow him down. 

After the game Coach Uchytil said, “If Ben had been in there the whole game, I really believe we would have scored three more touchdowns. But Mike (Hayes) did a great job."  Uchytil had nothing but praise for his defense, even though his team lost. I don’t think anyone here thought we could play defense like that,” he added.

Marquette’s team and individual final season stats for the most part are not available.  What is known are the passing stats for Jarecki who threw 155 passes with 62 completions, four interceptions, 1,126 yards and 12 touchdowns.  On the other hand, the Chippewa Falls Herald-Telegram had the most complete season stats for a team that I may have ever come across.  Despite being injured in the title game Ben Gardow posted passing totals of 503-265-25-3,507-34.  He also carried the ball 120 times for 112 yards and two scores.  His 623 plays and 265 completions placed him second in the then national records.  In 1989 he set new state seasonal records as he passed 515-298-22-3664-44.  His three-year career (He may have been the backup to Dave Huffcutt in 1986 he never threw a pass) saw him set career records of 1,348-712-48-9,047-87.

Rick Baier, Randy Baier and Mitch Steinmetz only played two years (1986-87) but put up staggering receiving numbers.  Rick had 1987 final stats of 106 receptions (A single season state record), 1,077 yards and seven touchdowns.  His career totals read 176-1,643-11.  Brother Randy hauled in 76 passes good for 1,066 yards and 13 touchdowns.  His career totals are listed as 172-2,515-27.  Rick’s career receptions rank him #12 on the state records list.   Randy is next at #13.  Being the #3 receiver for the team showed that Mitch Steinmetz was very productive with 1987 stats of 55-890-5 and career totals of 121-1,845-15.  I can’t find career totals of three senior players from any another Wisconsin team coming close to what these guys accomplished in a two-season career. Also, I shouldn’t leave out mentioning the #4 receiver, junior Todd Bowe who caught 41 passes for 601 yards and nine touchdowns.  

Finally, besides Ben Gardow throwing 503 passes, Mike Hayes tossed the ball 96 times on the season.  Todd Bresina threw the ball eight times and Todd Bowe passed four balls.  The teams 612 passing attempts are a state single season team record.

Tired of reading all the stats?  I understand that it is mind boggling.  But I felt that to not include the information I wouldn’t be putting the season and title game in the proper perspective the story deserved.

 The final word on the game comes from the Milwaukee Journal game report, again written by Bob Schwoch:

“Basham was full of praise for McDonell which proved itself worthy of being called the second-best private school team in the state.”

“There’s lots of ways to play the game” Basham said.  “They (McDonell) played the game to the hilt.  They could give any team in the state of Wisconsin all they could handle.”

This was truly a game, a championship game, to remember.

DAVID VS. GOLITH 1987…PART 1

In my last post on the 1926 Kewaunee vs.  West De Pere, I mentioned that I had received an email from Newspapers .com on May 28 and I was at first excited then disappointed.  The next day, May 29, I received a message from Patrick Foran, currently the Development Executive at Marquette University High School.  As he was preparing for an upcoming MUHS Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony he reminded me, based on my recent articles about the Hilltopper vs. Crusaders 1980’s games, that I may have left out a good story.

FIRST, THE LEADUP TO THE TITLE GAME

I had spent time writing about the Marquette and Waukesha Catholic Memorial matchups during the 1980's, but I didn’t evaluate some of their championship games when the two weren’t playing each other for the title.  One game was 1987 WISAA title game between the “Goliath” school Marquette vs. the “David” school, Chippewa Falls McDonell. I glossed over the game with just a mention of the final score and the fact that Marquette won.  In fact, I didn’t mention the great performance of star Marquette quarterback Jeff Jarecki.  Well, here is my story about Jeff, and his counterpart, quarterback Ben Gardow of McDonell.  

First, a bit about the buildup to the title matchup and later the game itself.

In 1986, Marquette posted an 8-2 record, losing in the first round of the Class A playoffs 10-7 in a classic matchup against rival Waukesha Catholic Memorial.  In 1987 Marquette had a very strong defensive team with six shutouts in their first 12 games. The Hilltoppers had a good rushing attack for the first two games as fullback Brian Belardi led the team with 300-yards and four touchdowns.  Belardi was named to the All-Metro first team as a junior in 1986 and was a player many thought to have a chance as being All-State as a senior.  Marquette didn’t need to pass often in the opening two games, defeating De Pere Pennings 40-7 and Brookfield East 26-0.  Still, junior Jeff Jarecki, stepping into the starting quarterback role, directed the team well.  The run game slowed a bit when Belardi was injured and sat out seven games.  Without Belardi in the lineup the ground game fell to running back T. J. Mickschl and others to carry the rushing load.

It was no surprise that the 10-0 Hilltoppers, going into the playoffs, were the top rated WISAA school and favored to win the Class A title. Marquette returned seven offensive and eight defensive starters from 1986.  The senior laden defensive squad was led by defensive end Al Kasun (Who also earned 1^st Team All-State honors as a punter).  Kasun also started on offense at the end spot.  Defensive linemen Dan Novogrodsky, Alfonso Jones and Ken Anselment along with defensive backs Vince Mc Caffrey and Bill O’Neal were big contributors.  When healthy, Brian Belardi played defensive back as well as leading the team in rushing.  On offense, key players besides running backs Belardi and T.J. Mickschl, were Alfonso Jones at the tackle spot, guard Dave Mc Nally and center Dave Weinfurter. 

McDonell on the other hand had made the playoffs in 1986 ending with a 9-3 record.  In 1987 they returned a great core of receivers, maybe the best the state of Wisconsin had seen up to this time.  Coach Gerry Uchytil had lost quarterback Dave Huffcutt to graduation and to the UW-Eau Claire.  Huffcutt played on the JV as a freshman and as a sophomore but didn’t go out for the varsity as a junior.  His one year of varsity was a great one as Huffcutt finished 1986 holding two national prep passing records (Most total offensive plays in a season with 630 and most passing attempts with 511 while he completed 268, a then state record passes). In 1987, sophomore Ben Gardow, Huffcutt's backup as a freshman, stepped into the spotlight.  Huffcutt had thrown for 3,244 yards and 33 touchdowns (With 25 interceptions) earning All-State honors.  His yardage and touchdowns thrown were state records.  The question was, could Gardow continue the school’s tradition of throwing the ball and do it well?  With returning Associated Press Second Team All-State end Randy Baier (97-1,449-14) and his twin senior brother Rick (70-566-4) along with junior Mitch Steinmetz (66-955-10), Gardow had plenty of good targets.

The team’s defensive problem was, for the most part, stopping the run.  The defensive backs held opponents in the passing department at bay in many games but often had to come up and make many tackles against the run.  While Marquette was going undefeated McDonell lost four times during the regular season.  With a non-existent run game, the offense relied on Gardow and his receivers.  Against De Pere Abbott Pennings Gardow injured his back in the third quarter after collecting 290 yards and three touchdowns (34-21-0). Taken to the hospital, he was declared fit for duty later and would play the next week.  His back-up, Mike Hayes moved from a back-up receiving position (He caught a 30-yard pass from Gardow for the final Mack score) and he was 16-4-1-44-0 to close the game.

McDonell was in the playoffs, barely.  By virtue of defeating Pacelli earlier, McDonell would host the higher seed for round team.  Marquette, the #1 seed would host St. Catherine’s.  Both teams studied the mistakes they had made in their previous encounters with their two playoff opponents and learned how to move past them.  Both teams had to rely on their defense to help move forward and they did move on.  Now it was time for the showdown.  Goliath was bigger, maybe stronger.  David was smaller but quick.

Marquette’s 14-0 round-two win over Waukesha Catholic Memorial was a nail biter.  A game recap on Wednesday, November 11, in the Milwaukee Journal, written by Bob Schwoch the story stated:

“Now Marquette faces a football anomaly: Chippewa Falls McDonell, which has the audacity, the unmitigated gall to build its offense around the pass.”

“A lot of people were saying, under their breaths, that Tuesday’s game at Hart (Park where Marquette played their home games) was for the state title.  The way Marquette’s students charged onto the field, index finger upward, after beating Memorial.  Well, it sure looked like a championship.”

Basham, predictably, will have none of that.  “That’s not the way we approach it, “he said.  “We prepare for each game the same way.”

Schwoch concluded, “For McDonell, that may be the worst news of all.”

With Marquette’s undefeated record McDonell Coach Gerry Uchytil felt the Hilltoppers had a slight advantage going into the championship game.  Uchytil told the Chippewa Falls Herald-Telegram “I know they are big; they have more seniors; they have fewer guys than we do going both ways and they have more depth. “

“But our equalizer is our offense,” he added.  “All we want is an equal chance, and our offense gives us that.” 

Marquette Coach Dick Basham told the UPI “I am sure they’ll complete some passes and gain some yards and score points.  We have to make sure the kids don’t panic.  We have to make sure we do what we do best.” 

“We have to control the football and run out the clock.  I’d like to have two, 10-minute drives.  That’s our game plan.” 

Were these good game plans?  Once the game starts only time would tell who would prevail.  The CWCC was use to defending against the McDonell Air Show and yet many teams couldn’t cope with the four or five receivers the Macks used on a single play.  Conversely, the grinding ground game Marquette and the size of the Hilltopper line was not something McDonell’s defense was used to dealing with.  On the season the Hilltoppers had four runners gain between 300 to 500 yards…Brian Belardi, T.J. Mickschl, Kevin Reilly and Rey Herrera. Each had had some injuries during the first 12-games.  They were going to have to play an error free ballgame.

The matchup was set.  Marquette’s run game and tough defense vs. McDonell’s outstanding passing game and some-times stout, when it counted, defense. 

Both teams played three games in 10-days.  Marquette had problems following the win over Catholic Memorial.  Their practice field was a disaster made unplayable due to the weather.  So, they trooped off three blocks on the Wednesday-Friday before the title game to the old, unused gym at the now closed Concordia College (The school had moved to Mequon).  Coached Basham rearraigned his team’s defensive lineup a bit.  They had scouted McDonell, and he was now priming his defense for battle.  This meant that the offense didn’t get enough pre-title game attention. 

Meanwhile, the weather was fine in Chippewa Falls as McDonell had no problems with their practices.

The game story and postgame stats will be next time.