GREAT SUPERIOR TEAMS…PART 7

1958 SUPERIOR CENTRAL

COVERING SOME GREAT HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS FROM 1930 THROUGH THE MID-1960’S ON SEVERAL CITY OF SUPERIOR FOOTBALL TEAMS

The win streak continued in 1958 as the Vikings were accorded the #1 ranking by the UPI at the end of the season. 

Final UPI poll, Nov. 8, 1958 Superior Evening Telegram

Some of the defensive starters from 1957 graduated and a nearly new offensive backfield was introduced to the fans and they delivered.  1957’s star tackle/linebacker Don Kruger was injured early and seldom was healthy enough to play.  Last year’s junior reserves were now the stars of a very good offense. The Vikings were led by two fleet footed halfbacks, Dan Ven Bibber and three-year starter Gene Johnson along with former backup quarterback, junior Chuck Crisp. 

Johnson started in 1956 as a sophomore and scored five touchdowns and then crossed the goal eight times as a junior in 1957.  Look at his 1958 totals: 94 carries for 968 yards for a 10.3 average while scoring eight times and picking up an extra point.  Those totals raised a lot of eyebrows but the stats by Van Bibber were even more impressive. 

Dan carried the ball only 81 times but gained 1,028 yards for a fabulous 12.7 average and 17 scores.  Van Bibber was known for his long scores…32, 68, 34, 64 runs, interception returns of 28 and 65, and receptions of 88, 60 and 37 yards.  He would earn first team All-State on the AP team and second team issued by the UPI.  Scholastic Coach Magazine named him to the national honorable mention list.

Central didn’t throw often but Crisp was effective directing the offense and effectively tossing for 300-yards on 29-55-2 with nine touchdown passes.  They used a split-T offense to power through their opposition.  All total the team averaged 373 yards per game on the ground and Crisp gained all the team’s yards in the air.

The first five games were easy wins but then the Vikings played three close games.  Against Duluth Central the game was tied up late in the game.  The 4-3-1 (At seasons end) Trojans played tough with good defense and a wide- open passing attack.  The game was tied 13-13 with 10-seconds left in the game. 

Now a side story before the telling of the game’s final moments.  Kicker Karl Kunz, normally an offensive/defensive tackle, one of eight two-way players, was called upon to kick his only field goal of his career.  Kunz, who had come to Superior as a junior from Germany, had never played American football before 1957.  Yet, he learned the game quickly and as a junior started both ways for the team.  The 6’2, 222 two-way tackle earned first team All-State by the UPI and although he only earned honorable mention on the AP team, he still earned All-America mention.

Back to the game:  Having kicked one extra point earlier (The second attempt was foiled by a bad snap) Kunz kicked a 27-yard field goal and Superior Central had the lead, 16-13 with 10 seconds to go.  But their opponent tried one more pass after the kickoff.  Having completed several passes earlier the Trojans were shooting for a come behind “Hail Mary”.  Van Biebber picked off the ball and raced 65-yards for the final score, his second touchdown of the game, to seal the victory as time expired.  It was the Vikings 16^th consecutive win.

Game seven was even closer against Duluth East, a team that ended the year with a 4-4-0 record and a team that liked to throw the ball.  All total, the Greyhounds threw 25 passes and completed 14, exploiting the Viking pass defense.  For the most part they were short throws and East turned in 168 yards and two touchdowns through the air.  It was an afternoon game played at Duluth’s Ordean Field before 1,000+ fans.  The Vikings scored early on a 48-yard touchdown pass by Crisp and an important extra point kicked by Kunz.  East scored by way of the pass but failed to score the conversion.  In the second period Van Bibber scored on a 17-yard run for the  lead.  The game went back and forth from then on with no scoring until East was able to score late in the fourth quarter, again on a pass.  And again, they failed to convert the extra point.  Van Bibber fumbled on the Duluth nine which was picked up and returned to the Superior 29.  But, three passes failed and Central escaped with a 13-12 win.  The offense did pick up 16 first downs to their opponents 11 but fumbles and penalties held them back. But a win is a win and the streak was up to 17 games.

The final game was another exciting one as Central faced always tough International Falls.  The Broncos were rated #6 in the state and was undefeated as they faced the Vikings who retained their #1 status in spite of recent close wins.  Almost 6,000 fans jammed their way into Superior Memorial Field to see a classic matchup between two great teams.  In the last four minutes the lead changed three times with Van Bibber, Kunz and Johnson being the big heroes of the game.  Falls dominated the first half as they took a 6-0 lead.  Fullback Ron Johnsted returned a kickoff from deep in Viking territory to start the second half, setting up Superiors first score.  Van Bibber scored from the seven-yard line and then Kunz, along with John Springer, tackled the Falls quarterback for a safety.  Superior was now up 15-6.  With four and a half minutes left Falls scored from 2-yards out after a 10-play drive but even with the extra point, Central led 15-14.  With the fans screaming backup quarterback Jim Bartkowski tossed a pass to QB starter Bob Bateman who took it 72-yards for the lead.  The Broncos were now up 20-15.  Only 1:23 remained on the clock. With the ball on the Superior 42, Crisp tossed the ball to Van Bibber who made it to the International 37. Then Van Bibber hauled in a 37-yard reception, fought his way through a number of tacklers and raced down the sideline for the score with 49-seconds left in the game. Kunz kicked his second extra point to help win the game A last moment interception by Van Bibber iced the 22-20 win.

It had been a rough end of the season but Superior Central now had an 18-game win streak and a state title.  The streak would continue into 1959 with Chuck Crisp at quarterback.  Crisp is mentioned in the papers in 1956-59, starting in his final two seasons.  He appears to be the only Central player that I found that played four seasons.

 1960 Echo Yearbook

The Vikings would win their opener against St. Cloud Cathedral,14-12   The second game was a loss to Duluth Cathedral, 26-18 and the streak ended. 1959 would be a letdown for Crowley as the team finished 4-3-1.  The coach was able to turn things around after losing the next two games after the streak ended by winning games four and five, then tying Duluth Central 32-32 to win the final two games.

Next time 1964 Superior East and Central…what might   have been.