DeForest 1979-1981…LEADING TO A TITLE
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1979
Coming off a 3-6 season in 1978 the team jelled and DeForest tied for the Capitol Conference title in 1979 (6-1, 7-2 overall), a title that they shared with Waunakee. They lost the season conference opener to McFarland 40-14 but came back to win the next six Capitol games, beating Waunakee in the season ending clash 13-0. It was the best finish for Coach Jerry Roelke in his first 11-years at DeForest (1969-79). It was also the Norskie’s first conference title since 1957 when they were a three-time consecutive champion (1955-57) of the Madison Suburban League. In 1957 the team actually tied for the league title with Milton, both with 7-0-0 league records. DeForest ended the 1957 season with an overall 8-0-0 record, one of the best showings in the state, scoring 151 points and allowing 50.
1979 was a breakout season for junior fullback Mike Morrison who led the team in rushing (138-830-6.0), reception yardage (337) and touchdowns (13). His scoring total was second in the Capitol Conference. Sophomore Brent Schneider was a back-up to senior Kelly Callaway and gained 379-yards on only 43 attempts and scored three times. The defense was deep with Callaway contributing 105 tackles and three interceptions, he also gained 483-yards, scored six times and earned All-Capitol Conference honors. Besides Callaway, center Kevin Hoepler, end Todd Showers, offensive tackle Kevin Kilen and defensive lineman Chuck Moore all took home All-Capitol first team spots.
1980
Using the wing-T to pick up yardage on the ground at school record levels. Newly uncovered information led to my discovering that this DeForest team was the first squad to boast three 1,000-yard rushers in a single season. Prior to this discovery the 1995 Darlington team was the first in the record book research. Senior Mike Morrison led the way (146-1,177-7.7-12) followed by sophomore Scott Reinert (114-1,099-9.6-17) and junior Brent Schneider (133-1,024-7.8-8). The running game opened up a passing attack led by senior Rich Rabb and sophomore Todd Oberg.
DeForest dominated the All-Capitol Conference team with the two Millers, Curtis and Jack (Not brothers) who opened the holes for the runners. Curtis was a guard and Jack a tackle on offense. They earned spots on the defensive line as well. Mike Morrison was named both ways as both a running back and linebacker. Brent Schneider was named as a first team running back but Scott Reinart was left off both the first and second team squads even though he led the conference in scoring. As a sophomore in 1979 linebacker Mike Hahn was injured and after game two, he sat out the rest of the season. In 1980 he was, as others called him, “a beast”. Surprisingly, like Reinert, Dave wasn’t named to the All-Conference teams, but he earned recognition on the Wisconsin State Journal All-Area team:
That’s 225 tackles on the season plus 18 more in the finals giving him 243 in 11-games (New addition to the record book for second most tackles in a season).
SPECIAL NOTE: An updated version of the state record book with DeForest's 1980 rushing record and Dave Hahn's tackles will be posted in late July or early August on the WFCA web site...State Records
The Norskie’s averaged 34 points per game during the regular season and in the first round of the playoffs against the Flyway Conference champion Mayville they bulled their way to a 35-14 win. 51 carries and 310 yards on the ground and that helped Oberg, starting for Rabb, complete seven of 11 passes for 91-yards through the air. Oberg tossed for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion and scrambled for 75-yards on the ground. Reinert caught the two scores from Oberg and ran for another with 84 yards rushing. Both Morrison (60-yards rushing) and Schneider (95-yards) scored as well. The defense only allowed 181 yards as they moved on to the finals vs. Mosinee, a 14-0 winner over Coleman.
The title matchup between the two undefeated teams for the D-4 championship was held at Goerke Field in Stevens Point, almost a home game for Coach Bob Coy’s Indians. Coy had a great running game as well led by All-Stater John Ronca who had 1,398-yardsrtushing in 11-games. Bryan Maciejewski had 978 yards and Jerry Swita contributed 901. It would be a showdown of great teams. DeForest had a 10-0 record but it would be the “home field” advantage that Mosinee possessed. The game proved to be a slugfest as Mosinee outgained DeForest 329-313 on the ground. Ronca carried 24 times for 232-yards while Maciejewski only picked up 18-yards and Swita two-yards. On the Norskie side Morrison gained 152-yards on only 11 carries and Reinert picked up 136-yards on 19 totes of the ball. Schneider was bottled up and only got 19-yards on eight attempts. Ronca didn’t score but he bullied his way to set up his teams scores. DeForest scored first on a Dennis Gilbertson 29-yard field goal but gave up a touchdown and a field goal and trailed 10-3 at the half. Mike Morrison scored in the third period with Schneider scoring a two-point conversion, but Mosinee scored as well on a pass. The Indians now led 16-11. With 8:37 left in the game Scott Reinart scored on a seven-yard run and the Norskies led 17-16. The Indians took the ball and with 5:25 left in the game they chose to kick a field goal and the 19-17 win. It was a major disappointment for DeForest but they would be back in the finals in 1981. So would Mosinee.
1981
As Coach Roelke noted to the WSJ the Capitol Conference was very balanced and even with 22 returning lettermen the road to the title would be tough. Still, in a poll of conference coaches DeForest was a unanimous pick to win out in the Capitol.
Again, DeForest went through the regular season undefeated, cruising behind the running of Brent Schneider and Scott Reinert. A new wrinkle was added to Reinert’s play as he still ran the ball well, caught passes and played great defense he was also the team’s kicker for extra points and usually field goals. The Norskies opened the first round of D-4 with a pasting of Flyway Conference champ, Lomira, 24-7. Above I mentioned that Reinert was the usual kicker. No explanation was given by Coach Roelke for replacing Reinert late in the Lomira game after he added three extra points, one after touchdowns scored in each of the first three periods. Roelke inserted linebacker Dave Hahn to kick the final points of the game, a 34-yard field goal. River Vally, co-champions of the Southwest Wisconsin League were polished off 27-6 to set up a meeting for the state title, with Mosinee.
DeForest would lose to a very tough Mosinee team for the title for what many observers at the time called a second classic affair. Coach Bob Coy had lost a number of key players from his 1980 championship team, and early on the team was looking for leadership. They got it from running back John Ronca, end Todd Coy (Bob’s son), tackle Greg Liter and center Steve Schinker.
John Ronca was again the star for Mosinee as he carried 25 times for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The (Indians didn’t pass often during the season and had only four attempts in the game with two completions. One pass completion from Chuck Allen was the first of two “miracle” plays. That happened with 25-seconds left in the first half as on a fourth and nine from the DeForest 25-yard line. Allen threw between four defenders and Todd Coy miraculously hauled in the score to give Mosinee a 19-7 lead. With the ground game not up to its usual dominance Coach Roelke turned to Todd Oberg. The junior was 12 of 18 in the second half and tossed two scores, a six-yard strike to end Mile Minick and a 22-yarder to Reinert. It was one pass by Oberg that was a miracle play.
DeForest, trailing 26-20, finally forced Mosinee to punt with two minutes left in the game. The puny had the Norskies deep in their own territory. Oberg completed two passes moving the team to the DeForest 37. As Oberg threw his next pass, but a Mosinee defensive back named Bill Miracle intercepted the ball to end the comeback. Oberg ended with stats of 15-23-1-162-1. Ironically, as good as Mosinee’s John Ronca was rushing in the game, he also had three fumbles and Mosinee lost them all. It was those turnovers that helped keep DeForest in the game as they occurred in the second half. But the game ended in defeat for the Norskies, 26-20.
Again, the post-season honors poured in for DeForest players. Earning All-Capitol Conference were Tackle/DL Chris Hegno, OG Jeff Feldt, C Chuck Karow, RB/LB Reinert, RB Brent Schneider, WR Chris Dorsey, DL Mike Blau, LB Dave Hahn, DB John Feldman Unlike 1980 where there were only three honorable mention players, in 1981 there were six…OE Mike Minick, OT Don Allen, QB Todd Oberg, DL Pat Minick, DL Chuck Karow, DB Mike Minick. Reinert had 42 ex. pts and 2 2pt and 1 field goal with 23 td’s for 187 total points on the year. This newly found total of points in a season replaced the previous leader in the state record book for MOST POINTS IN A SEASON…1981. John Ronca of Mosinee had been listed with 26 touchdowns for a total of 156 points. Reinert, Hahn, Schneider and Oberg were all named to the Wisconsin State Journal All-Area Team.
Members of the 1981 Wisconsin State Journal All-Area Team
Dave Hahn had the following notation in the WSJ 1981 profile of the All-Area players:
Add those tackles up and you get the state record for tackles in a season with 280. That doesn’t include the state title game. This is just for the first 11-games. Defensive stats from that final game against Mosinee are not available through the WIAA, newspaper accounts or the schools. He may have surpassed 300 total tackles if those stats were available.
Other team stats on offense were led by Reinert with 179 carries for 1,425 yards, followed by Schneider with 150 carries for 1,180 yards and 15 touchdowns. Oberg was 72-121-5-1,090-13 on the year passing and picked up over 300-yards on the ground. Reinert earned 1st team All-State on the AP team and Dave Hahn was on the 2nd team.
The season ended again on a down note but there was enough talent to again win the Capitol Conference title and get to state in 1982.
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