1962-63 Varsity Football Team

The 1962-63 Pirate Football Team finished their regular season a perfect 9-0, and in the process, extended the Pirate victory string to 25 straight games. The Pirates scored a total of 214 points to their opponent’s 78 points. In their 7th game, a 20-6 win versus DeKalb the Pirates clinched their 4th straight NCIC Northeast Division Championship. In the eighth game of the season against Hall, the Pirates trailed in the fourth quarter before beginning a 99 yard drive that clinched the victory. The Pirates secured another perfect 9-0 season with their final 20-7 victory over Ottawa Marquette. John Price was the team’s leading scorer and voted most valuable player. Art Barth and Dave Hermann were co-captains. John Price also received special mention in the Chicago Daily News Big All-State team and was named to the first squad of the Northeast division of the North Central Conference. Named honorable mention by the Chicago Daily News were Ken Clapper, Art Barth, and Gary Rutherford. NCIC first team members included Art Barth, Bob Midnight, Gary Rutherford, Dan Battles, and John Price – with second team members Dave Hermann, Steve Maggi, and Tom Stevenson – and special mention Robb Martin and Gerry Cross. Team Members - Front row: Gerry Boe, Blake Hennessy, Tom Stevenson, John Price, Gary Beschorner, Carl LeBeau, Bob Midnight; Second row: Manager Rick Less, Mike Babcock, Gary Rutherford, Gerry Cross, Head Coach Bill Novak, Dave Hermann, Mike McCollum, Steve Maggi, Manager Larry Johnson; Third row: Assistant Coach Dean Riley, Fritz Benson, Bob Schiffbauer, Art Barth, Mike May, Lloyd Chapman, Ken Clapper, Greg Knutson, Assistant Coach Ralph Nelson; Back row: Bud Leipold, Claude Sommerville, Gary Foltz, Dan Battles, Rich Myers, Robb Martin, Bennett Bray; Missing from photo are Bill Bragg, Don Carroll, and John Cox.