THE 1990’S BEST…PART 1
Just like in any other decade there were so many teams, games, coaches and players to consider for the best in the 1990’s. Even those honorable mentions were tough to decide even though there were some outstanding performances to choose from.
THE TOP TEAMS
HONORABLE MENTION
Columbus, 1990, went 13-0, winning the D-4 title.
Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs…1990…WISAA champion, 13-0. Scored 354 points and allowed 119 as the Ledgers beat Waukesha Catholic Memorial 27-7 in the title game. This was the first of six WISAA 1990’s titles (With one runner-up squad in the decade).
Mayville was in the finals three consecutive times in the 1990’s. They lost in O.T. 21-14 to Stanley -Boyd in 1991. The team, under Alex Hilber all three times, returned in 1992 and lost to Baldwin Woodville 11-7. The two teams would meet again in 1994 (14-0) and this time Mayville won in a blowout 47-0.
Osseo-Fairchild, 1996, was the first team to earn a 14-0 season record in D-5 although in the same championship games played at Camp Randall Columbus in D-4 on Thursday also went 14-0. The next day, Hartland Arrowhead in D-1 earned a 14-0 record.
Glenwood City, 1997, also went 14-0 as they won in D-5 beating a solid Waterloo team 36-14.
Oak Creek, 1997 and 1998, were teams loaded with talent as the Knights finished in second place each year to Marshfield (21-14) and D.C. Everest (14-12).
Owen-Withee, 1992 and 1999. Coach Terry Laube directed his teams to 13-0 seasons
Edgar, under Jerry Sinse, made three appearances’, beating Elk Mound 14-7 in 1992, losing in 1998 to Wrightstown 29-8 and then winning it all in 1999 to Iola-Scandinavia 22-6.
Schofield D. C. Everest…The 1998 Evergreens scored 563 points but allowed what would be the second most points allowed by a championship team 268 points. (Second place Lancaster in 2011 allowed 317 points). They did have one shutout (48-0 over Merrill in game four) but had a barn burner of a game against Wisconsin Rapids in game two, 70-63. It was a team full of offense and just enough defense to win.
Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs…1999…The Ledgers opened the decade with a WISAA title. In between 1990 and 1999 they won six titles…1991 (13-0), 1995 (12-0), 1997 (8-4) and 1998 (10-2). 1999 proved to be the teams best of the decade as they went 12-0, scoring 465 points and allowing only 91. They went 10-2 in 1992,finishing in second place.
THE TOP 10
#10…1998 Flambeau
The last championship 13-0 team to win a title and the first squad to score 600+ points in a season (618). The Falcons posted 10 shutouts, allowed only 45 points and won the D-6 title 26-14 over River Ridge. They clearly were the best D-6 team of the decade.
#9…1994 Hartland Arrowhead
After going 12-1 in 1993 and winning the D-1 title, the Warhawks in 1994 went undefeated, 13-0, and beat Muskego 19-16. Full of talent Arrowhead featured Waukesha County and State Player of the Year linebacker Donny Eicher. Offensive lineman Matt Snyder, linebacker Kevin Brown, defensive lineman Mike Seifert and defensive back Jonathan Hughes earned state and county honors and played college ball.
#8…1990 and 1991 Darlington
Despite losing one game in 1990 (12-1) and two in 1991 (11-2) the Redbirds made the 1990’s their decade as they made seven total trips to the finals. Never undefeated but were led always by a powerful running game.
#7…1995 Darlington
This Redbird team (12-1) had the first of two consecutive squads featuring three 1,000-yard rushers…juniors Doug McGowan, David Lau and Travis Crist. They would turn the trick as seniors in 1996 which would be coach Douglas McArthur’s fourth D-5 title (1987, 1990, 1991 & 1995). In 1997 (13-1) new coach Dennis Bogacz would earn a runner-up trophy.
#6…1992 Appleton West
Coach Paul Engen led the 1992 West Terrors (13-0) to three consecutive D-1 appearances, winning over Kenosha Tremper 17-7 after losing to them in 1991 17-14. The Terrors would lose to Hartland Arrowhead 21-7 in 1993.
#5…1994 Hartland Arrowhead
The Warhawks (13-0) won three titles in the 1990’s (Also in 1993 and 1996) and another in 2007 under coach Tom Taraska. Because of the number of teams in the Southwest Conference, they didn’t play Muskego until the title game, a 19-16 win.
#4…1994 Milwaukee Marquette
The WISAA champion had eight shutouts and allowed only 40 points as the Hilltoppers beat Waukesha Memorial for the second time in 1994. They beat the Crusaders 17-0in the regular season finale and 31-0 in the title game.
Now the tough choices between two schools
If the 1990’s featured Darlington in seven title games, the decade belonged to Monroe (Four titles and two runner-up places) and Menomonie (Four titles and one 2nd place showing).
#3…1994 Monroe
The Cheesemakers went 13-0 and won the D-3 title. Pat Martin directed his teams to near perfection in the 90’s.
#2…1993 Menomonie
Yes, Menomonie lost a game during the regular season to Cambridge (MN) in game two 47-0. Cambridge was ranked #1 at the time and the Mustangs rebounded to score over 360 points the remaining 11 games. Coach Joe LaBuda directed his team (12-1) to the D-2 title. In the semi-finals they defeated Monroe 6-3 in a game I will mention later as the game of the decade.
#1…1992 Monroe
Well, 1992 (12-0) was really the best Monroe season but it was hard to choose. The 1993 Cheesemakers were part of a number of teams that won 43 consecutive games. This streak was the 3rd longest in state history at the time behind Manitowoc (48 games, 1983-87) and Wausau (46 games, 1940-46). 1992 saw Monroe score 468 points (A school record) and allow only 32. Their 35-0 win over Kaukauna in the D-2 title was the teams ninth shutout in 12-games as they allowed only 32 points.
THE TOP GAME
So many good choices but the best was probably the 1993 D-2 semi-final game between Monroe and Menomonie. My second choice was a high scoring barn-burner in 1998between D.C. Everest, a 70-63 winner over Wisconsin Rapids. The M & M matchup took place on November 6 at Logan High School in La Crosse. Both teams had scored well and defended well going into the game. Monroe had a outscored their opponents 398-101 while Menomonie had outscored their foes 399-151. Monroe held a 11-0 season record and a 43-game win streak while the Indians were 10-1.
The final score was 6-3 with Menomonie ending the win streak. Coach Pat Martin for Monroe was paranoidly upset with the results of the game. Not to see the win streak end but just not being to win another title. He felt his team was the better team. All-state running back, junior Nate Blaser led the Cheesemakers with 120 yards on 29 carries. In the drive to set up their only field goal he had runs of 26 and 37-yard gains. He had one more big gainer, 22-yards, but also had 19 carries of 2-yards or less. Blaser was held to only 13 yards in the first half as the Indian defense put the clamps on him. Kicker Brad Stangle missed two attempts in the first half of 36 and 27 yards before putting his team on top 3-0 with a 29-yard field goal late in the game.
Menomonie countered with All-state back Adam Roach who had 100-yards on 28 carries with “big” gains of 10 and 11 as the Cheesemakers held him down. It all went down to 5’7. 160-pound Brent Miller who kicked field goals of 22 and 28. Miller had never attempted a field goal for his team. He replaced Brady Wilkins in the season final win after the former went down with an injury. Menomonie had several key injuries in the game but they prevailed and went on to win the D-2 title the next week, a 49-31 win over Ashwaubenon.
Next up…the top coach and players of the decade.
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