1982 DeForest…THE NORSKIES EARN A STATE TITLE

1982 was a magical season but it didn’t start that way for Scott Reinert who was out of the opener vs. Portage due to a bout of mononucleosis and an enlarged spleen.  There were a number of new faces in the lineup and a few experienced ones.  In the 21-7-win longtime Reinert backup, Jerry Holmes picked up 76 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown while also catching three passes for 46 yards.  Returning quarterback Todd Oberg was 7-of-12 for 128 and two touchdowns.  Others stepped up and the defense held Portage to 167 total yards.  Reinert would return the next week, getting 130 yards and scoring two times.

Against Columbus Reinert scored two touchdowns and kicked six extra points as he gained 176 yards in only 12 carries.  Oberg completed seven of 11 passes for 126 yards and three scores. The following week DeForest rolled up 390 yards and 25 first downs as they steamrolled over Lake Mills 39-12.  Next the Norskies rolled up 451 yards as they destroyed Lodi 56-7. Reinert scored three times and kicked five extra points.  They were on a roll as they were cruising through Capitol Conference foes.  Both DeForest and Waunakee were tied with a 3-0 record at this point. The Warriors were not up to the task to beat the visiting Norskies as they fell 35-0.  DeForest defense gave up only 116-yards and collected three turnovers.  The next week the Capitol Conference standings was turned upside down as Columbus beat Waunakee in an upset, 24-0. This set up a showdown between #1 DeForest and #2 Verona for the conference title.  The goal for every game was for the Norskies to score at least 40-points and gain at least 400-yards, and they did so by beating the Indians 56-8 while picking up 423 total yards and only allowing 85-yards.  Week nine was on Wednesday, October 27 and McFarland was the victim, winning 68-16 as they rolled up 613 total yards, gaining 488 yards.  Reinart picked up two touchdowns and kicked five extra points, Oberg passed for two touchdowns and halfback Miles McGettigan scoring twice.

There were big changes in the post season for DeForest and other teams to deal with.  First, the WIAA expanded the number of teams eligible to make the playoffs by moving from four teams in each division to eight. That meant one more game was added to the season.  That made things more even to some schools who had performed well in the past but just didn’t get a playoff spot.  Next, there was a common goal for all the qualifiers…to play in Camp Randall Stadium.  In the past the playoff finals were a regional affair.  DeForest and Mosinee played the final title game in Stevens Point in 1980 and again the two met in 1981 and the final game was played at Monona Grove.  This time the state finals would be played on a grand stage in Madison.  In order to get to Camp Randall the Norskies had to first defeat Mayville, the Flyway Conference champ.  Both teams were 9-0 and there were big team differences from their 1980 semi-final game.  DeForest had a more balanced attack with Reinert’s and Oberg leading the offense.  In 1980 Mayville was, characterized by the WSJ as being big but slow.  Now in 1982 they were lean and fast also with a balanced attack.  However, it was the DeForest defense that proved to be the key in this game as they held the Cardinals to only 59-yards.  The Norski offense picked up 547 total yards with 475 on the ground as they won 41-6.

It was a quick turnaround, only three days between play dates for game two of the playoffs.  De Forest faced a great Platteville passing attack led by junior Paul Chryst who did complete 14 of 27 passes for 185 yards but his team was saddled with seven fumbles of which five were lost.  The Hillmen, champions of the Southern Eight Conference, couldn’t contain the Norskie run game and they fell 54-14.  Reinert carried 18-times for 185 yards and three touchdowns.  He left in the middle of the third period to rest up for the next game, but the team didn’t score after that and certainly didn’t need to.

Oconto Falls, winner 28-0 over Colby, would be the final opponent and so it was a short trip (Only 15-miles) for DeForest to Camp Randall.  The Panthers were on the prowl but they couldn’t keep up with the Norskies.  DeForest spotted Oconto Falls an 8-0 lead in the opening few minutes of the game and then went on a run of scoring eight of the next nine touchdowns.  They only led 19-8 at the half but the defense put the clamps on the Panthers while recovering two fumbles and an interception.  Scott Reinert would lead the way scoring four times, rushing 32 times for 225 yards as his team rolled up 505 total yards.  Todd Oberg threw for 102 yards and two touchdowns.  Mike Minick caught three of Oberg’s six completions for 71 yards and the two touchdown passes.  It was a cold and windy night in Madison but DeForest plowed through Oconto Falls 52-24 for the title.

With the season complete the honors for the team poured in.  RB/LB Scott Reinert and QB Todd Oberg were first team All-Capitol along with OG/LB Jeff Felt, OE/DB Mike Minick, center/DL Chuck Karnow, OT Craig Hegna and DB Jerry Holmes were received first team nods.  On the second team was offensive end Chris Dorsey with defensive linemen Keith Gilberftson and Bob Nelson.

For two years Jeff Felt and Chuck Karnow were two of the leaders on the offensive line that helped DeForest gain nearly 10,000 yards on the ground.  Of course, Scott Reinert and Scott Oberg enjoyed the blocking and pass protection of the two linemen and all four were named to the Wisconsin State Journal All-Area Team.  Reinert would end his career with 4,078 yards and with 66 touchdowns plus 61 extra-point kicks, three two-point runs and a field goal for a total of 486 total points in his career.

Scott Reinert and Jeff Felt were named to the AP First Team All-State Team with Todd Oberg gaining Honorable Mention recognition.  Reinert was named State Player of the Year.  Oberg would play basketball and along with Miker Minick the two would earn All Capitol first team honors and lead the conference in scoring with 18.3 and 17.4 points per game respectively.  They led DeForest to the schools first conference title in 15-years.  Oberg and Felt were nominated to the annual summer football shrine game by coach Roelke.  Coaches were able to only nominate two players for this event and surprisingly, no reason was given but Scott Reinert did not make the team.  Todd Oberg would move on and play football at UW-La Crosse. 

But the cupboard wasn’t bare for the Norskies in 1983.  Junior running back Scott Oberg, Todd’s brother gained 1,319 yards rushing with 20 touchdowns on the ground.   Scott caught 12 passes for 242 yards and three more scores, had seven interceptions and recorded 136 tackles as a defensive back.  DeForest went 9-2, losing to Platteville in the second round of the playoffs.  As a sophomore in 1982, Scott teamed with Todd in the defensive backfield.  DeForest would end 1984 with a 8-2 record, another Capitol title.  Scott would again rush for more than 1,300 yards and score more than 20 touchdowns.

Coach Jerry Roelke was a longtime head football coach and athletic director (1974-92) at DeForest.  He retired in 2000 at age 56. His career football coaching record was 196-118-3 over 32 years and he earned a spot in the WFCA Hall of Fame in 2001.  Jerry coached eight conference champion teams with most between 1979-84.  His replacement was long time assistant and former player Mike Minick. Roelke played football at UW-Platteville and even played three seasons of semi-pro ball with the Madison Mustangs of the CSFL. He earned many other honors for his coaching, administration of athletics and community service.  To most he was DeForest Football.