For those of you in this area that follow high school football, you're probably ready to start shouting, "Are You Ready for some football?"
Expectations are always high at this point in the fall season. Teams are setting goals, which may include winning as many games as possible, beating the biggest rival on their schedule, capturing the league or conference championship, getting into the playoffs and the ultimate goal winning the state title.
For years, if a school went through its entire schedule undefeated, before the IHSA playoffs, they would have recorded a 8-0 or 9-0 mark. Some schools went unbeaten, but may have been tied during the season and even though they were not actually defeated by an opponent, that one tie was disappointing.
I spent several days and evenings, when time permitted me to do so, checking the records in my home and the IHSA website on how many teams had the 8-0 or 9-0 record during the regular season and also perfect records since the 1974 IHSA playoffs started.
Since I'm home based in Morris, let's start with the Redskins.
Keep in mind that most schools would love just one perfect regular season record of 9-0. The Morris Redskins have had 13 undefeated (9-0) marks over the years, most under coach Dan Darlington. Morris had one 13-0 mark in the 1984, when they defeated Benet Academy for the 4A State championship and another in 2005 (14-0) under coach George Dergo.
In 1931, the Skins were 7-0-1 under coach J.S. Crabtree and again in 1933 6-0-2.
Joe Hall was coaching in 1964 and recorded a 8-0-1 mark. The only blemish on the year was a 26-26 tie with Lockport West. Harold Olson (QB) and Jed Waters (RB) had great careers at Illinois State University in football and Greg Connor at the Citadel.
During the 1967 campaign, the Redskins were 8-0-2 under coach Larry Kane. Morris was tied by Princeton (6-6) and Hall Township (19-19) in the first two contests of the year. Mark Bates and Dan Darlington both were injured for all or parts of the two games. Bates and Darlington both received full-ride scholarships to the University of Illinois. Future Morris coaches Jay Roth, Keith Laughary and Denny Steele were members of that team. After the two ties, Morris won eight straight games.
In 1979, Morris lost to Mascoutah 7-6 in the 3A title game, finishing at 12-1. Ed Brady was the standout player on that team. He would go on to play for many years in the NFL. Sheldon Sobol received a football scholarship to Northern Illinois and the team won a bowl game his senior year.
With a ton of veterans back for the 1980 campaign, Morris won the 3A championship, beating Harrisburg 40-0. During the year, Morris dropped a game to Geveva, when three touchdowns were called back by penalties at Geneva.
Luck played a big part of that season, as Plainfield defeated Geneva late in the season, opening the door for Morris to enter the playoffs. Morris was paced by Chicago Sun Times Player of the Year, quarterback Bill Button. Mark Sharp was also All State that year as a running back.
In the 1983, another undefeated season was lost when Morris was downed by Woodstock in semifinal action, ending at 11-1. Woodstock went on to win the 4A title. Kurt Simon was the quarterback on that team. He played at Hawaii and Eastern Illinois. Tony Roos (OL) received a full scholarship at Notre Dame.
During the 1988 year, Morris lost a perfect season, losing to Rockford West for a 11-1 mark.
In 1989, Morris lost in the 4A title game to Oak Lawn Richards in overtime, closing at 13-1. Players of note include Pat Kneller (lineman) Player of the Year in the Little Seven Conference, Mike Wright (Northwestern), Eric Evenson (Purdue), Mike Nelson (Louisville), and
Ben Price (Mankota state)
Morris was rated No. 1 all year long in 1990, until they were downed by Joliet Catholic in the opening round of the playoffs and finished at 9-1. JCA had been NO. 2 in the polls. Fans were wondering, how could the state's No. 1 and No. 2 teams play in the first round, but that ways the IHSA had set up the playoffs for the year. Several players on each team went on to play some college football.
The Skins lost to Marian Catholic in 1992 after holding a 22-0 edge at intermission, only to lose the game 29-22. That was one of the most talented teams in Morris' history. Led by Todd Schultz (QB) Michigan State, Justin Knapp (RB) Northern Illinois, Kelly Dransfeldt (WR) Michigan on baseball scholarship and later a Major Leaguer, Charlie Bogwill (OL) Iowa State, Mike Darlington (DE) Iowa, and Paul Kindelspire (WR) played in the coaches Shriners All-Star game, and many others.
Morris was 10-1.
Marian Catholic defeated Morris the very next year (1993) as the Skins closed at 11-1.
The Redskins dropped a game to Minooka during the 1994 season, but regrouped and lost to Belvidere in the state championship to finished at 12-2. Quinn Schafer (QB) had a baseball scholarship at Harvard.
Kankakee beat Morris (10-1) in 1995.
JCA defeated Morris in the 2001 state 5A finals-Morris 13-1.
Rochelle ended the Redskins year (11-1) in 2002.
In 2004, Morris (13-1) lost to JCA in the state championship game.
The next year, Morris closed out a perfect season in 2005, behind John Dergo (Illinois wrestling scholarship), Jamie Cumbie (Clemson football), Mark Perry (Indiana football) and Dane Zumbahlen (Illinois State football) to win the 6A championship to finish at 14-0.
The Skins lost the state title game to Metamora in 2007 and had a mark of 11-3.
Morris has won three state titles and finished in second six times. The school has an overall record of 513 wins against 300 loses and 26 ties. Dan Darlington had a record of 264 wins and 55 losses in 28 years. George Dergo had five year record of 45-17.