1969-70 Varsity Football Team

The 1969-70 undefeated 9-0 Pirate Football Team, under Head Coach Bill Novak, won the NCIC Northeast title as well as the Lockport Invitational Football Tournament with two shutout victories. This Pirate team was ranked 8th in the State of Illinois by the Champaign News-Gazette. They averaged 40.6 points per game, allowing just 6.1 points for opponents. Over the course of the 9-game regular season, they defeated Morris 21-16, Mendota 34-8, LaSalle-Peru 28-22, Dixon 24-6, Streator 40-0, Kewanee 64-8, Sterling 42-8, Rochelle 58-0, Ottawa Marquette 54-6. In the Lockport Invitational Football Tournament, they defeated Lockport West 14-0 and Rich Central 12-0. Wally Kistenfeger was selected to the Chicago Daily News and Rockford Morning Star all-state team as a quarterback. Kistenfeger was one of 7 Pirates named allconference. Other all-conference players were Tom Colborn, Mike Hoskinson, Jack Myers, John Meling, Colen Willis, and Dave Crews Burman. Willis was voted the team MVP and was co-captain along with Hoskinson. Hoskinson was the leading scorer and rusher scoring 11 touchdowns and rushing for 666 yards. Kistenfeger passed for 1,109 yards and 13 touchdowns. Myers was the leading receiver with 26 catches for 342 yards and three touchdowns. The Team Seated: Assistant Coaches Ralph Nelson, Larry Miller, Head Coach Bill Novak, Assistant Coach Dean Riley; First Row L-R: Steve Schaefer, Guy Gillette, Denny Leamy, Gene Duffy, Paul Vittone, Jerry Charbonneau, Joe Vignali, Scott Anders. Everett Smith; Second row L-R: Dave Brickert, Bob Nevin, Bob Riebe, Gale Landers, Dave Crews Burman, Jim Townsend, Mike Hoskinson, Tom Colborn, Wally Kistenfeger, Don Leipold; Third row L-R: Manager Bill Swenhaugen, Rick Miller, Brad Young, Harry Nangle, Colen Willis, Jack Myers, Mike Amick, Rick Honer, Pat Melody, Rod Smith; Back row L-R: Monte Monterastelli, John Meling, Brad Riley, Joe Willet, Dick Reimers, Rick Hornbeck, Terry Gross, Dave DeWalt, Bob Hay, Tom Melody; Not pictured: Dan Eilts, Mark McConnaughhay.