SGV football through the years ...
This story comes from longtime staffer Jim McConnell, the man we call, "The King" around the office. He writes a weekly Then & Now column. He wrote a great story on legendary coach Mal Eaton last week, and today gives us a bit of history about football in the San Gabriel Valley.
Above: Jim McConnell
The oldest cliche in sports is "records are made to be broken."
Actually, in the case of high school football, it turns out that many records are yet to be discovered.
About 15 years back, the sports department here began an attempt to compile all-time prep football records. Well, we're still at it. It turns out that the only way to compile a definitive list is to go through old newspapers a page at a time.
Our season records, dating back to the dawn of high school football in the San Gabriel Valley more than 100 years ago, are fairly reliable. But the game-by-game stuff, team and individual statistics, pretty much have to come from newspaper accounts.
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Still, it is an enjoyable project and not unlike digging for buried treasure - but without a map. The next few Then & Now columns will spotlight some of the most remarkable team and individual accomplishments. To kick things off, here are just a few team records:
Scoring: The most points scored by an area team in a season is 659, by the 1984 Diamond Bar team. That year, the Brahmas, under coach Terry Roche, went 14-0, which means they averaged slightly better than 47 points a game.
Diamond Bar broke the old record of 580 points in a season, set by Blair during its undefeated 13-0 season of 1969. Blair's 580 bettered the mark of 500, set by the undefeated (13-0) San Marino team of 1955. San Marino's 500 broke the previous best of 446, set by the undefeated (11-0)
Bonita team of 1942.
These clearly were four great teams. Which one was the best? You decide. For me, my money would be on the 1942 Bonita team, led by Glenn Davis.
I say this for two reasons: Davis was that good, and what modern team would be prepared to defend against the single-wing offense, which Bonita ran to perfection . As Major Hoople, an old-time prognosticator would say ... hak-kaff!
The Valley standard for most points in a game is held by the 1913 South Pasadena team, which beat San Fernando, 129-0. How did that happen? Three reasons: 1.) South Pasadena was very good; 2.) San Fernando was very bad; 3.) rules at the time allowed the team that scored a touchdown to opt to either kick off or receive the kickoff.
According to a press account, San Fernando never ran a play from scrimmage that afternoon.
Because of rule changes enacted since 1945, it is impossible for a team to score 100 or more points in a game. For one thing, there are only 48 minutes in a high school game, so the clock is working against you - to say nothing of good sportsmanship.
In the modern era, the standard is 84, accomplished by Damien in an 84-0 shutout of Highland in 1970.
It has become a rare occurrence for a team to score 70 or more points in a game, and the only other area team besides Damien to hit the 80 mark was the 1969 Bishop Amat team with Pat Haden and John McKay Jr., which beat Pius X, 80-9.
Before we leave this category, a tip of the coach's cap has to go to the remarkable 1955 San Marino team. Under the guidance of Vic Schwenk, who sprang a sophisticated, T-formation offense on foes, the Titans established Valley records for most points in two consecutive games (132) and three consecutive games (180).
Included in that run was a 78-0 victory over Santa Fe. San Marino's success running the "T" helped ensure that virtually all Southland high school programs would adopt it, in some form, by the 1960s.
For trivia buffs, the last area team to use the old single-wing was Claremont's prestigious Webb School, where coach Les Perry was still using the "wing" as late as 1975. When questioned about his utilization of the outmoded system, Perry replied: "I'm too old to learn a new formation, and my players are too young and rich to care."
that year virtually Defense: The 1925 Bonita team went 8-0-1 and did not give up a point in those nine games. This is one of the area's oldest records and one that remains unbreakable. Changes in rules, platooning, refinements in the passing game and improvements in the kicking game have made shutouts increasingly rare in prep football.
Among modern-era teams, the best defensive team - statistically - was the 1965 West Covina squad coached by Mal Eaton. West Covina went 13-0 that year, and shut out nine of its 13 opponents while giving up only 37 points.
Most wins in a season: The 1992 Bishop Amat team, coached by Mark Paredes, remains the Valley's only 15-game winner. The Lancers went 15-0 that season and became the first area team to play 15 games in a season since Covina in 1926 (Covina went 13-2 that year). Since it is unlikely the CIF ever will sanction more than 15 games in a season, Amat's 15 wins is another of those unbreakable marks.
Most consecutive wins: Temple City's 46 wins in a row, accomplished from 1969-1973, has long been the Valley's standard.
The Rams, under coach Bob Hitchcock, put together back-to-back-to-back 13-0 seasons in 1970-72, sustained excellence the area is unlikely to see again.
To give you an idea of how impressive Temple City's mark is, the superb Diamond Bar teams of the 1980s "only" won 27 in a row.
The great 1980s Muir teams of coach Jim Brownfield topped out at 26 wins in a row (accomplished in 1985-87).
The sensational Bishop Amat teams of the 1990s also topped out at 26 consecutive wins.
Temple City's accomplishment eclipsed St. Francis' 30-game unbeaten streak, assembled in 1963-65. St. Francis' mark includes one tie.
The difficulty in sustaining a long winning steak in prep football is obvious. Only one team in each division is going to finish out the playoffs with a victory.
Thus, to accomplish a winning streak of more than 20 games, a team has to win at least one CIF title during that span.
jim.mcconnell@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2383
Comments
Correction...
Just think New York if they did spend more time on the field there WOULDNT BE so much vulgarity and the immmature post here on the blog
Posted by: I Agree | September 5, 2008 2:58 PM
Just think New York if they did spend more time on the field there wouldnt be so much less vulgarity and the immmature post here on the blog
Posted by: I Agree | September 5, 2008 2:52 PM
Those were the days when people actually spent more time on the playing field than they do on the blogs...tough to imagine....
Posted by: New York | September 5, 2008 12:47 PM
someone get that old fart some gas ex
Posted by: gas ex | September 4, 2008 9:15 AM
I guess I'm one of those "IDIOTS" that played against ObIe Graves and Dale Bunn.
If I get called an "idiot" for playing against those guys who were truly great athletes. Then I guess I will be a proud "Old Fart Idiot"
Posted by: An Old Fart Idiot | September 4, 2008 8:32 AM
Temple City's 46 in a row will never be surpassed.
Alhambra Moors were the 46th victim, at a packed house of 10,000 plus at Moor Field, with fans 4 deep around each end zone. Players could barely exit the field after warm up.
It was 14-14 at half - 35-14 final. And it was coaching that was the difference...TC made several halftime adjustments and capitalized on them. Moors came out ranked 3rd or 4th in CIF that year (following an 8-1 season) and were loaded with talent. The loss devasted Alhambra, who were blown out 27-0 by Servite the following week. We ended up 3-6 on the season, a horrible year for myself and all the seniors at AHS that year.
Thanks McConnell for bringing up that crappy memory.
Posted by: Goldenarm | September 4, 2008 6:07 AM
atascadero and muir were number 1 & 2 during the 1980s
Posted by: bp brave | September 3, 2008 8:16 PM
test
Posted by: fredj | September 3, 2008 7:54 PM
bp brave,
who had the #'s 1 and 2 records over that same time?
Posted by: Joe Amat | September 3, 2008 2:25 PM
And what about you donkey boy? We all know donkeys have no brains, you prove THAT point EVERY day.
Posted by: donkeys have no brains | September 3, 2008 2:13 PM
Al Bundy has no game: you prove your own point about stupidity. Donkey!
Posted by: Donkey!! | September 3, 2008 1:41 PM
before diving back 40 years or more ,what about the dominant baldwin park braves from the late 70s with paul nath,gary allen, and ron brown, through the early 80s with mike ,norm,and greg santiago and michael johnson leading their respective teams to the 3rd best record in all of c.i.f. for the 1980s.With the direction of a couple of the valleys best coaches that were also omitted from your list,trifone pagone and tony zane.if you are going to size up the valleys best, BP dominated this era as the south hills,charter oak, and bishop amat do of other times.
Posted by: bp brave | September 3, 2008 11:17 AM
That's because they ARE idiots, no matter what age they are, STUPID.
Posted by: Al Bundy has no game | September 3, 2008 9:07 AM
60 years old and calling people idiots? shame on you grandpa!!
Posted by: shame on you grandpa | September 2, 2008 8:47 PM
it's Obie Graves for all you idiots trying to remember... and there's also no way Bonita and Glenn Davis could play D against anyone with a passing attack, they'd look ridiculous, I'm 60........the game has changed so much, you can't compare era from 60 plus years, get real....the only sport that you can compare eras is baseball but even then the bats have made hitters out of everyone!
Posted by: whitey | September 2, 2008 7:24 PM
show some respect dont get too excited that pacemaker may stop working
Posted by: pacemaker | September 2, 2008 3:22 PM
What's the matter Al? At least they have memories of the game you NEVER played. They'll always have that one on you.
Posted by: Al Bundy has no game | September 2, 2008 3:11 PM
There is NOTHING amusing about some young loud mouth who disrepects those that came before him. In fact it's kind of sad and says alot about the parents that raised him.
Posted by: Show Some Respect | September 2, 2008 2:56 PM
is there nothing more amusing than old farts looking back at their old HS football days? Enjoy Al Bundys of the world.
Posted by: Al Bundy's | September 2, 2008 1:17 PM
Obe Graves yup thats who it was......Ahhh the mind is still sharp.
Obe Graves and Dale Bunn those guys were studs.
Posted by: Old Mighty Mat! | September 2, 2008 1:12 PM
As a young linebacker playing for a mission valley league team playing against monrovia one night. I remember skating down the line drawing a beed on a monrovia back named Obe Graves. I thought I was going to tatoo his ass, but as he turned the corner he kicked it in to hyperdrive and was gone. all I got was air. Its almost a shame to mention Dale Bunn and not mention Obe
Graves in the same breath. They were probably the two best HS atheletes I ever faced. As I remember they both went on to Citrus and broke a bunch of records also.
I want to give props also to one of the best QB's in the valley during that same era. Billy Wilson of Temple City was the QB during the Hitchcock dinesty when they went undefeted. I dont remember if Billy played two or three years varsity. But he was there. One of the reasons we didnt hear that much about him was there was another QB in the valley at the time that played for BA named Pat Haden.
Fred you can check out these facts I'm sure they put up some interesting numbers
Posted by: A Fan | September 2, 2008 12:00 PM
As a young linebacker playing for a mission valley league team playing against monrovia one night. I remember skating down the line drawing a beed on a monrovia back named Obe Graves. I thought I was going to tatoo his ass, but as he turned the corner he kicked it in to hyperdrive and was gone. all I got was air. Its almost a shame to mention Dale Bunn and not mention Obe
Graves in the same breath. They were probably the two best HS atheletes I ever faced. As I remember they both went on to Citrus and broke a bunch of records also.
I want to give props also to one of the best QB's in the valley during that same era. Billy Wilson of Temple City was the QB during the Hitchcock dinesty when they went undefeted. I dont remember if Billy played two or three years varsity. But he was there. One of the reasons we didnt hear that much about him was there was another QB in the valley at the time that played for BA named Pat Haden.
Fred you can check out these facts I'm sure they put up some interesting numbers
Posted by: A Fan | September 2, 2008 12:00 PM
Yeah you guys at Monrovia were just studs I always remember the running back had the strongest legs I had ever played against. Didnt Dale Bunn have a brother too that year? And wasn't there a guy whose name was Graves that was a stud too on that team.
I just remember as a sophomore defensive tackle and playing Varsity ball I was like wooooow these guys are good and fast.
I didn't realize any of the CIF stuff was going on in the background.
Posted by: Old Mighty Mat! | September 2, 2008 11:52 AM
Great stuff, if given the chance, I would happily volunteer to help with the research.
My dad, who is 84, graduated from Whittier High in 1942 and tells of the long trips to away games, all the way to Pasadena, Covina and Los Angeles. No freeways, just non-airconditioned road trips to watch his Cardinals get beat mpst of the time!
Posted by: Conq76 | September 2, 2008 11:10 AM
San Gabriel got an ass whippun because the turned the "Cats in to the CIF for a practice violation which cost a trip to the playoffs. The Monrovia principal suspended Coach Paton for a game because of running up the score. This was perhaps Monrovia's best team ever. No one could beat us..on the field.
Posted by: old wildcat | September 2, 2008 11:04 AM
"Because of rule changes enacted since 1945, it is impossible for a team to score 100 or more points in a game."
Ummm... Bloomington dropped triple digits on Jurupa Valley pretty recently. Not that Markham teams or imitation Markham teams were ever notorious for "good sportsmanship".
Posted by: Jhykron | September 2, 2008 10:15 AM
Oh by the way, the year was 1974.
Posted by: Old Mighty Mat! | September 2, 2008 9:37 AM
I remember as a young sophomore at San Gabriel High School playing against Monrovia and Dale Bunn.
Dale Bunn was one of the areas great athletes at that time.
Needless to say Dale & Company handed us our asses with a 75-0 whooping.
But the next year was sweet revenge.
Oh yes the old Mission Valley League back in the day.
Posted by: An Old Mighty Mat! | September 2, 2008 9:35 AM