The football program at Minooka High School has been very successful the last two seasons. Head coach Bert Kooi has his squad headed in the right direction. Two years ago, the Indians lost to East St. Louis in the quarterfinals and just recently suffered a defeat to Belleville East.
The Indians finished the year with a record of 10-2 for the best mark in the history of the local school. During the 1988-89 campaign, coach Tom Peterson directed his squad to an 8-2 mark. Dan Sharp was at the controls of Minooka during the 1996-97 season for a 10-3 record. Mike Briscoe, a former Minooka player, was coaching during the 1997-98 year and finished at 9-2. Briscoe had another fine season in 2003-04 year and finished at 10-3. Kooi recorded an 8-3 record in 2009-10 and also 10-2 this year.
Frank Abbott started the gridiron program at Minooka. In the 1971-72 school year, the Indians had their first team, playing a JV schedule. In September of 1971, Minooka won its first game, beating Plano's JV team 28-0. Don Williams scored three touchdowns in the game, a 15-yard run and he also ran in the conversion score. Williams scored on a 35-yard pass from sophomore Randy Frye. Williams third score occurred when he picked up a Plano fumble and raced in from 32 yards out. John Bogart scored the fourth Minooka touchdown on a 32-yard run. Paul Waters kicked two extra points.
That was history in the making and the beginning of Minooka football.
Seneca was also getting their football program going and the two teams met on Friday, Oct. 1, 1971. Minooka won that game 16-6.
The first touchdown pass for a score for the Seneca Irish occurred during the first half when Tom Tesdal grabbed a 13-yard pass, and Irish led 6-0. Tesdal is now President of the First Midwest Bank in Morris.
In the 1973, Minooka's first varsity competition, the Indians were in the Northeast Conference. Minooka was in the Southern Division with Seneca, Wilmington, Dwight and Marseilles. The Northern Division consisted of Lemont, Lisle, Yorkville, Sandwich and Plano. The local team had a 6-3 mark during its first season of play.
I was looking through my old clippings and found a story on the Chicago Catholic league joining the IHSA . The story was released in January of 1974.
Under terms of the agreement, each of the 12 schools would apply individually for membership, which would become effective in September, 1974. The 12-team Chicago Catholic league included; De La Salle, St. Lawrence, Fenwick, St. Rita, Mount Carmel, Hales Franciscan, Mendel, Brother Rice, Leo, Loyola, Gordon Tech and Weber.
Another story of interest hit the headlines in 1987. The story caption read, "High school cagers get a shot at 3-pointer". High schools across the United States will use a 3-point field goal in basketball next season (1988). The basketball rules committee of the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations adopted the same 19 foot-9 inch distance used nationally in college basketball that season.
"It means the 3-point shot will be in Illinois next year," said Illinois High School Association spokesman Jim Flynn. "We adhere to the national federation rules,"
From time to time, it is fun to look back at the schedules of area teams.
In 1955, Morris opened up on September 23 against Schlarman. Other teams on the Redskins schedule were Dwight, Pontiac, Marmion, Sycamore, Lemont, St. Patrick of Kankakee and Marseilles.
Carson DeJarnatt was head coach. He was assisted by Gerald Eisold and Frank Kuntz.
Admission was: adults 75 cents and students 40 cents.
The Redskins beat Dwight and Marseilles and lost the other six games for a 2-6 mark.
If you are interested in the IHSA state football finals as I am, here's the lineup:
Friday, November 26
Class 1A- Lena Winslow (12-1) vs Tuscola (12-1) at 10 a.m.
Class 2A- Sterling Newman (13-0) vs Maroa-Forsyth (11-2) at 1 p.m.
Class 3A- Stillman Valley (13-0) vs Carthage Illini West (13-0). At 4 p.m.
Class 4A- Rock Island Alleman (13-0) vs Rochester (13-0) at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, November 27th-
Class 5A- Lombard Montini (11-2) vs Chatham Glenwood (10-3) at 10 a.m
Class 6A- Aurora Marmion Academy (12-1) as Rockford Boylan (13-0) at 1 p.m.
Class 7A-Wheaton Warrenville South (13-0) vs Lake Zurich (12-1) at 4 p.m.
Class 8A- Chicago Mt. Carmel (11-2) vs Park Ridge (Maine South) (11-2) at 7 p.m.
Our pro football panel had a good week. Tony "The Wonder Boy" Darin was tops with 14 correct and only 2 wrong. Nick "All Business" Vidito was 13-3, as was guest Jim (Coaler) Micetich. Professor Don Neushwander and this writer had 11-5 marks.
For the season, this writer still leads the pack with 99/59 total. "Neush" is second at 97-61. Tony and Nick are tied at 95-63 and the guest are in at 93/62.
Nick went out on the limb and picked Miami over the Bears. The rest stuck with the Monsters of the Midway.
Philadelphia and Michael Vick will be in Chicago this Sunday. The Bears defense had better get their running shoes on, as they will need to slow down Vick.
Jerry Belt will try his luck for the guest this week on the NFL panel for this column.