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December 23, 2022 – 19,041 Days Later…Original November 6, 1970 Muskegon Catholic Central vs Reeths Puffer Football Radio Broadcast!!!!

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Hello 1970 Muskegon Catholic Central Football Community!!!

Going through some family audio cassette recordings recently from the 1970’s we discovered a cassette with a recording of the last 10 minutes of the 1970 Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders vs Reeths Puffer Rockets football game from November 6, 1970. The details of that game are on the Muskegon Catholic vs Reeths Puffer blog post we published back on November 6, 2020, the 50th Anniversary of that game titled 1970 MCC Football Game 8: Reeths-Puffer Rockets at Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders.

The link below is a recording of the last ten minutes of the last game we won that year…our 7th win in a row. Before this game we had already been christened Lake Michigan Athletic Conference (LMAC) Champions. After this game we were ranked Associated Press #1 in Class B.

We believe that this could be the only recording , either video or audio, of any of our games from the 1970 Muskegon Catholic Central Football season. If anyone has more 1970 MCC Football audio or video from that year, please let us know and we will be happy to post those also.

The timing of this post just before Christmas, 2022 is not a coincidence.  At 7:00 pm ET tonight, December 23, 2022 it will mark exactly 19,041 days ago to the minute that this game began.

We want to dedicate this post to all of our Teammates, Coaches, Cheerleaders, Band, Classmates, Families and Fans as a Christmas present and a tribute to all of you, both living and to those who have passed on.

We hope this recording provides some joy and fond memories to all of you for this holiday season, and beyond, that you can share with your loved ones.

We can raise our glasses together tonight at 7:00 pm ET to celebrate our historic season…

CHEERS!

Muskegon Catholic Central vs Reeths Puffer Rockets Original Radio Broadcast Game Recording
November 6, 1970

Around 10:36 left in the 4th quarter on the game clock…

NOTE:  If you want to download this audio, just click on the 3 dots to the right of the recording bar and click “Download”.

1970 MCC Football Game 9: Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders at Muskegon Big Reds

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GAMETIME CONDITIONS:
  • Location: Muskegon, Michigan
  • Date: November 13, 1970
  • Game Location: Hackley Stadium
  • Geographic Coordinate: 43°13′29″N 86°14′46″W
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset:  5:24 pm ET
  • Condition:  Cloudy
  • Temperature:  44 Degrees
  • MPH Wind Speed:   13 MPH
  • Wind Direction:  N

Opponent Profile:

1970 Muskegon High School

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class A

Colors: Cardinal and Cream

Nickname: Big Reds

Year Founded: 1872

League:  Lake Michigan Athletic Conference

Head Coach:  Roger Chiaverini

Record Prior to MCC Game:    6 – 2

Record After MCC Game:        7 – 2

1970 Season Final Record:      7 – 2

Muskegon High School (MHS) 1970 Scores

MHS/MCC Game Statistics

1970 Muskegon High School (MHS) Football Notes:

  • MHS was the 7th Class A Team played by Class B MCC in the 1970 season.
  • MCC had already clinched the LMAC Championship before the MHS game.  MHS finished second.
  • The two losses on the 1970 MCC Schedule were to Class A MHS (#5, 12-20)  and Class A Grand Rapids Catholic (#1, 18-32-2)) who are both in the top five in most games played against MCC and the only two schools in the top five that have a winning record through 2020 against MCC.
  • The 32 points scored and 285 yards gained by MHS was the most given up by MCC in the 1970 season.
  • Between 1964 and 1970 MHS Coach Chiaverini was  7 – o at MHS vs. MCC lifetime
  • After the 1970 football season, MHS Coach Chiaverini left MHS and moved to MCC .  It took him until the 1973 season to beat MHS. Between 1971 and 1978 he was 4-4 at MCC vs MHS lifetime.
  • MHS Coach Roger Chiaverini was honored three times by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA)  as a West All Star Coach and Hall of Fame Coach in 1983, and as a Jim Crowley Award winner in 1993.  He was also inducted in the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, the same year as MCC track star Jerry Fitzpatrick and MCC running back Bobby Morse.
  • 1970 MCC JV Football Coach Larry Sellers wrote tributes to both MHS Coach Chiaverini and MCC Coach Waldo Keating for their MHSFCA Crowley Awards.
  • Chiaverini coached for 7 high schools and 1 college (Western Michigan University) in his 31 year coaching career.

Crusaders mentioned in the Muskegon Chronicle clipping below*:

  • Bruce Bourdon
  • Mark Carslake
  • Tom Holmes
  • Dave Komosinski
  • John Zimmer
  • Frank Engle
  • Jim White
  • Steve Jados
  • Jim Spilka
  • Dan Ozios

*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL NEWSPAPER QUOTEs OF THE WEEK:

“Well it was quite a season for us just the same.  We had a great bunch of seniors and we’ll miss them all. We’ll still be accepting the Lake Michigan Athletic Conference trophy at our league meeting on Monday” said the coach (Waldo Keating). 

“The last time I was involved in a state championship game was 1959.  I hope it’s not another 11 years before we get the same opportunity” he remarked (Waldo Keating).”

Click link for large view: Muskegon Catholic vs Muskegon, Muskegon Chronicle, Nov. 14, 1970

Next Post:

1970 Muskegon Catholic Central Football Postseason Final Rankings /Awards

  • Final Rankings
  • Individual Honors
  • 1970 Muskegon Catholic Central Football Season Epilogue

1970 MCC Football Game 8: Reeths-Puffer Rockets at Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders

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GAMETIME CONDITIONS:
  • Location: Muskegon, Michigan
  • Date: November 6, 1970
  • Game Location: Kehren Stadium
  • Geographic Coordinate: 43°13′8″N 86°16′20″W
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset:  5:30 pm ET
  • Condition:  Cloudy
  • Temperature:  54 Degrees
  • MPH Wind Speed:   16 MPH
  • Wind Direction:  SW

Opponent Profile:

1970 Reeths-Puffer

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class B

Colors: Green and White

Nickname: Rockets

Year Founded: 1958

League:  Seaway Conference

Head Coach:  Gale Bolthouse

Record Prior to MCC Game:    4 – 2 – 1

Record After MCC Game:        4 – 3 – 1

1970 Season Final Record:      4 – 3 – 1

Reeths Puffer (RP) 1970 Scores

RP/MCC Game Statistics

1970 Reeths Puffer Football Notes:

  • The 30 points scored by MCC was the most given up by R-P in 75 previous games.
  • After 7 games, 6 against Class A opponents, game 8 against R-P was only the second and final Class B team on the 1970 MCC Football schedule.
  • Mona Shores earned its only win of their season by beating R-P in the first game of the season.
  • R-P played Fruitport HS to a tie in game 5 but came in second in the Seaway Conference to Fruitport due to a loss to last place Whitehall High School in game 7.
  • The 1970 R-P team played only 8 games so the loss to MCC was their last game of the 1970 season.
  • Head Coach Bolthouse was 1st team all Southwestern Michigan  Conference quarterback for Grand Haven HS in 1943, enlisted in the Navy in June 1944 immediately after graduating and, after serving, played center for the Michigan State Football squad for 4 years.
  • Head Coach Bolthouse passed away in 1972  less than 2 years after the 1970  season at only 45 years old.
  • R-P honored Coach Bolthouse by renaming their football field “Gale Bolthouse Stadium” in 1973.
  • Gale Bolthouse Stadium was demolished in 1998 when R-P moved to the current Rocket Stadium.

Crusaders mentioned in the Muskegon Chronicle clipping below*:

  • Jim Spilka
  • Dave Komosinski
  • Steve Jados
  • Tom Holmes
  • John Dombrowski
  • Frank Belmonte
  • Tom Kern

*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL NEWSPAPER QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“The 17 – 8 deficit forced Catholic to demonstrate the mark of a true champion…the ability to come from behind.”

Next Game:

Game 9

Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders (7 -1)

at

Muskegon Big Reds (6 – 2)

FRIDAY, November 13, 1970 7:00 PM

1970 MCC Football Game 7: Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders at Benton Harbor Tigers

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GAMETIME CONDITIONS

  • Location: Benton Harbor, Michigan
  • Date: October 30, 1970
  • Game Location: Filstrup Field
  • Geographic Coordinate: 42°06′12″N 86°27′26″W
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset:   5:39 pm ET
  • Condition: Mostly Cloudy
  • Degrees:  55 Degrees
  • Wind Speed: 9 MPH
  • Wind Direction:  SSE

Opponent Profile:

 

 

1970 Benton Harbor Football Team

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class A 

Colors:  Orange and Black

Nickname:  Tigers

Year Founded:  1870

League:  Lake Michigan Athletic Conference (LMAC)

Head Coach:  Les Butgereit

   Record Prior to MCC Game:  4 – 2

Record After MCC Game:  4 – 3

1970 Season Final Record:  5 – 4

1970 Scores

GAME STATISTICS

GAME NOTES

  • The win against Benton Harbor clinched the 1970 Lake Michigan Athletic Conference (LMAC) Championship for MCC.
  • The LMAC Championship was the first Conference Championship in MCC history.
  • The 1970 MCC win against Benton Harbor was the 6th against against Class A teams.
  • BH had only 54 yards Total Offense.
  • BH was held to only 35 yards Rushing making it the 6th straight game holding the opponent to less than 55 yards
  • Both BH Running Backs Don Hopkins and Rodney Rhodes, ran a sub 10 second 100 yard dash.
  • Don Hopkins signed a baseball contract in 1970 and played for the Oakland Athetics through the 1976 season.
  • Rodney Rhodes was a 2 year letterman as a split end for the University of Wisconsin Badgers.
  • Comedian “Sinbad” was a Freshman at BH in 1970 and was probably at the BH Homecoming Game against MCC.
  • BH Head Coach Les Butgereit only coached Varsity football for 3 years from 1969 through 1971.
  • BH Head Coach Butgereit was primarily the Benton Harbor varsity golf coach,  a position he held for 20 years from 1956 through 1976 when the sport was dropped by the high school.
  • Less than seven years later, BH Head Coach Butgereit passed away at only 46 years old on October 4, 1977.

Crusaders mentioned in the Herald – Palladium and  Muskegon Chronicle clippings below*:

  • Jim Spilka
  • Tom Holmes
  • Frank Belmonte
  • Bruce Bourdon
  • Steve Spetoskey
  • Jim White
  • Mark Carslake
  • Dave Komosinski
  • Steve Jados
  • John Dombrowski
  • Neil Sweet
  • Dave Beckmann
  • Dennis Treptow
  • Jim Tejchma
  • Steve Lenar

*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Herald – Palladium

Benton Harbor NEWSPAPER QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Muskegon Catholic Central’s football factory is back in business again.”

Click here for larger Herald Palladium clipping

Muskegon Chronicle

Muskegon Catholic NEWSPAPER QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Picked in pre-season play to be no higher than third or fourth, Catholic thus fashioned it’s first conference football crown in what is considered one of the strongest grid leagues in the state.” 

Click here for larger Muskegon Chronicle clipping

Next Game:

Game 8

Reeths Puffer Rockets (4 – 2 – 1)

at

Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders (6 -1)

FRIDAY, November 6, 1970 7:00 PM

1970 MCC Football Game 6: Kalamazoo Hackett Fighting Irish at Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders

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GAMETIME CONDITIONS:
  • Location: Muskegon, Michigan
  • Date: October 23, 1970
  • Game Location: Kehren Stadium
  • Geographic Coordinate: 43°13′8″N 86°16′20″W
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset:  5:49 pm ET
  • Condition:  Cloudy
  • Temperature: 60 degrees
  • MPH Wind Speed:  8 mph
  • Wind Direction:  E

Opponent Profile:

1970 Kalamazoo Hackett

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class B

Colors: Kelly Green and White

Nickname: Fighting Irish

Year Founded: 1964

League:  Lake Michigan Athletic Conference

Head Coach: Dick Soisson

Record Prior to MCC Game:    2 – 3

Record After MCC Game:         2 -4

1970 Season Final Record:      4- 5

Grand Rapids Union 1970 Scores

KH/MCC Game Statistics

1970 Kalamazoo Hackett (KH) Football Notes:

  • After 5 straight Class A teams, KH was the first Class B team on the 1970 MCC Football Schedule.
  • The win against KH guaranteed a winning season for MCC for the first time in 8 years.
  • The MCC Defense held KH to only 34 yards rushing, the 5th straight game an opponent was held to less than 55 yards.
  • The only touchdown of the game for KH was scored by Mike Holmes who became a legendary MCC Coach from 1978 through 2012 with 212 wins and had the MCC football field in Kehren Stadium named after him.
  • 1970 was the last year that KH was a member of the LMAC and the last time KH played MCC.
  • After finishing with a 4 – 5 record in 1970, KH went 9 – 0 in 1971 and 8 – 1 in both 1972 and 1973.
  • KH was founded in 1964 making it the youngest school on the 1970 MCC Football schedule.
  • KH Head  Coach Dick Soisson, coached for a combined 41 seasons at Owosso St. Paul, Kalamazoo St. Augustine and Kalamazoo Hackett and posted his 200th win in 1984 en route to a 233 – 124 – 7 coaching record.
  • KH Head Coach Dick Soisson was admitted to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame (MHSFCA) in  1983.

Crusaders mentioned in the Kalamazoo Gazette and Muskegon Chronicle clippings below*:

  • Jim White
  • Jim Spilka
  • Frank Engle
  • Bruce Bourdon
  • Steve Spetoskey
  • Tom Garzelloni
  • Ted Kling
  • Dan Ozios
  • Frank Belmonte
  • Tom Kroll
  • Steve Jados
  • John Zimmer
  • Steve Coyne
  • Neil Sweet
  • Steve Lenar
  • Jim Tejchma

*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Kalamazoo Gazette

KALAMAZOO HACKETT NEWSPAPER QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Third ranked Muskegon Catholic put a second half knockout punch on the forces of Hackett High School and roared to a 29 – 6 Lake Michigan Athletic Conference win Friday.” 

Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON CATHOLIC CENTRAL NEWSPAPER QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“The results, MCC’s fifth straight win, brought happy smiles for the first time in months to its quarterback of only three seasons ago, Ted Kling.” 

Next Game:

Game 7

Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders (5 -1)

at

Benton Harbor Tigers (4 – 2)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1970 7:00 PM

1970 MCC Football Game 5: Traverse City Central Trojans at Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders

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GAMETIME CONDITIONS:
  • Location: Muskegon, Michigan
  • Date: October 16, 1970
  • Game Location: Kehren Stadium
  • Geographic Coordinate: 43°13′8″N 86°16′20″W
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset:  6:00 pm ET
  • Conditions:  Cloudy
  • Temperature: 40 degrees
  • Wind Speed: 3 MPH
  • Wind direction: South

Opponent Profile:

1970 Traverse city central

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class A

Colors: Black and Gold

Nickname: Trojans

Year Founded: 1853

League:  Lake Michigan Athletic Conference

Head Coach: Jim Ooley

Record Prior to MCC Game:  3 -1  

Record After MCC Game: 3 – 2

1970 Season Final Record: 7 – 2

Traverse City Central (TCC) 1970 Scores

TCC/MCC Game Statistics

1970 TCC Football Notes

  • The MCC game against TCC was the 5th straight game against a Class A opponent.
  • The MCC game against TCC was the 4th straight win against a Class A opponent.
  • The MCC win against TCC broke a 13 game, 3 year LMAC winning streak by TCC and Head Coach Jim Ooley.
  • The MCC team spent every day between the Mona Shores and TCC game studying TCC game films to dissect the TCC offense.  During the TCC game, MCC Linebackers were able to point out exactly where the TCC play was going before the snap.  TCC tried to change their offense scheme at halftime with no success.
  • MCC held TCC to only 68 total yards and 7 first downs.
  • After MCC Head Coach Waldo Keating moved north to coach Traverse City St. Francis, Coach Ooley asked Coach Keating how he was able to stop the potent 1970 TCC offense….Coach Keating just smiled.
  • In 1970 TCC was only 4 points from an undefeated season because of a 2 – 0 loss to Bay City Central and the 8 -6 loss to MCC.
  • The MCC defense held TCC scoreless. The 6 points scored by TCC was a defensive return of an MCC fumble for a TD.  TCC missed the tying 2 point conversion against the MCC defense.
  • TCC beat both Grand Rapids Catholic and Muskegon High School, the only two losses and “Away” games on the MCC 1970 schedule.
  • TCC was founded in 1853…exactly 100 years earlier than MCC in 1953.
  • TCC Head Coach Jim Ooley coaching honors in his 40 year career included being named Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame (MHSFCA) Regional Coach of the Year twelve times, MHSFCA Class A Coach of the Year three times, Detroit Free Press Coach of the Year, Associated Press Coach of the Year, induction into the MHSFCA Hall of Fame and the University of Wisconsin-Stout Hall of Fame with his last honors being named as the MHSFCA 1992 Coach of the Year and Crowley Award winner.
  • The MHSFA Crowley Award was presented to Coach Ooley by 1970 MCC JV Coach Larry Sellers.
  • TCC Head Coach Jim Ooley was famous in Traverse City for his motto:  “Conceive It, Believe It, Achieve It,”
  • The TCC football fans had a special cheer for Head Coach Ooley:

“Big O, Little O, L – E – Y Ooley,Ooley, He’s our Guy!”

Crusaders mentioned in Grand Rapids Press and Muskegon Chronicle articles below*:
  • Jim White
  • Bruce Bourdon
  • Bill Hotwagner
  • Jim Spilka
  • Tom Kern
  • Jim Tejchma
  • Dave Komosinski
  • Frank Engle
  • John Dombrowski
  • Steve Jados
  • Steve Spetoskey
  • Neil Sweet
  • Dan Ozios
*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Traverse City Record-Eagle

Traverse City Central Newspaper Quote of the Week:

“It had to happen sometime and last night was the night.”

Muskegon Chronicle

Muskegon Catholic Central Newspaper Quote of the Week:

“The victory, easily the school’s most symbolic since that last minute 27 -21 win over Flint Northern 12 years ago, means that Catholic has returned to its former status as one of the state’s grid powers  for the first time in nearly a decade.”
  • Please Zoom In on Clipping to Enlarge for Reading
 

Next Game:

Game 6

Kalamazoo Hackett (2 – 3)

at

Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders (4 -1)

Friday, October 23, 1970 7:00 pm

1970 MCC Football Game 4: Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders at Mona Shores Sailors

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Sailor Stadium picture courtesy of current Mona Shores Director of Athletics Todd Conrad
GAMETIME CONDITIONS
  • Location: Norton Shores, Michigan
  • Date: October 9, 1970
  • Game Location: Sailor Stadium
  • Geographic Coordinate: 43°11′08″N 86°16′20″W
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset:   6:11 pm ET
  • Condition: Cloudy
  • 63 degrees
  • 16 mph wind speed
  • SSW wind direction

Opponent Profile:

1970 Mona Shores Team Profile

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class A 

Colors: White, Navy Blue, Columbia blue

Nickname: Sailors

Year Founded: 1962

League:  Lake Michigan Athletic Conference (LMAC)

Head Coach:  Don Mosley

   Record Prior to MCC Game:    1 – 2

Record After MCC Game:         1 – 3

1970 Season Final Record:      1– 8

1970 Scores

Game Statistics

Game NOTES

  • The 1970 MCC win against Mona Shores was the 3rd straight against Class A teams.
  • The 1970 MCC defense held the Sailors to only 37  total yards and 2 first downs. 
  • The 46 point winning margin by the 1970 MCC team was the largest  in the 50 game series against MS spanning between 1964 and 2013 and the second most total points scored by MCC in a single game against MS eclipsed only by the 2011 MCC team’s 48 points.
  • MS Head Coach Don Mosley was admitted to the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame (MASHF) in 2009 primarily from his legacy of being the MS Wrestling Coach as described in his profile: Between 1962 and 2001, his teams racked up a 489-186-4 record, winning an amazing 72 percent of their matches. During that span, the Sailors dominated the city wrestling meet, earning 20 city titles.
  • Coach Mosley was MS Head Football Coach for only 3 years from 1968 through 1970.
  • Head Coach Mosely’s best record in MS Football was 8 -1 in 1968 whose .889 winning percentage stood as best all time for a MS football team for 47 years  until the 2015 Sailor football team, with a 1o – 1 record/.909 winning percentage finally took the top spot.
  • In Week 3 1070, MCC played Grand Rapids Union, one of the oldest Michigan High Schools founded in 1859. In Week 4 1970, MCC played Mona Shores (MS) that was one of the youngest Michigan High Schools at that time, founded in 1962.
  • The Muskegon Chronicle article below was one of only two all season NOT written by Chronicle Sports Writer Mart Tardani.

Crusaders mentioned in the Muskegon Chronicle article below*:

  • Jim Spilka
  • Dan Ozios
  • Bruce Bourdon
  • Jim White

*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Newspaper Quote of the week:

“Coach Mosley, calling the Crusaders “a fine team”, said it was the worst defeat one of his teams had ever suffered.”

Muskegon Chronicle

Click article for “View Full Size” larger view

Next Game:

Game 5

Traverse City Central Trojans (3 – 1)

at

Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders (3 -1)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1970 7:00 PM

1970 MCC Football Game 3: Grand Rapids Union Red Hawks at Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders

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Gametime Conditions:
  • Location: Muskegon, Michigan
  • Date: October 2, 1970
  • Game Location: Kehren Stadium
  • Geographic Coordinate: 43°13′8″N 86°16′20″W
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset: 6:24 pm ET
  • Condition: Mostly Cloudy
  • 61 degrees
  • 12 mph wind speed
  • W wind direction

Opponent Profile:

1970 Grand Rapids Union

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class A

Colors: Red and White

Nickname: Red Hawks

Year Founded: 1859

League:  Grand Rapids City League

Head Coach: Milo Sukup

Record Prior to MCC Game:    1 – 1

Record After MCC Game:         1 -2

1970 Season Final Record:      2- 7

Grand Rapids Union 1970 Scores

1970 Grand Rapids Union (GRU) Football Notes:

  • In 1970, GRU played three common MCC opponents, Traverse City Central, Grand Rapids Catholic and Portage Northern and lost to all three.
  • 1970 was the 1oth year of the scheduled MCC vs GRU series that started in 1954 but was extended two more years through the 1972 football season.
  • After 1972 MCC didn’t play GRU again until the 1985 – 1988 seasons.
  • The Muskegon Chronical article below is incorrect on one fact. The 1970 MCC 39 points against Class A GRU on Friday, October 3, 1970 was the first time in 5 years and 35 games that MCC scored more than 3 touchdowns, not 43 games like the Muskegon Chronicle reported .  Ironically the previous game with more than 3 MCC touchdowns scored was also against GRU 5 years and 1 day earlier on October 1, 1966 with a 36 – 12 winning score.
  • The 1970 MCC 39 points against Class A GRU was both the most scored and largest winning margin against GRU by MCC in the 15 game history between 1954 and 1988.
  • The win against GRU was the second straight win in the 1970 season for Class B MCC against a Class A opponent.
  • Founded in 1859, GRU is one of the oldest schools in Michigan compared to MCC founded 94 years later in 1953.
  • Legendary GRU Head Coach Milo Sukup was born in Muskegon Heights and was inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame (MASHF).
  • GRU ran the same “Single Wing Formation” offense with an unbalanced line and an extra receiver that the 5’8″, 190 lb Sukup played as an offensive guard at the University of Michigan blocking for Tom Harmon from 1938 through 1940.
  • In 1970 Coach Sukup was in the twilight of his career and coached for only one more football season. He retired in 1972 after a 29 year coaching career.
  • Here is a brief summary of Coach Sukup from the  MASHF:

An outstanding all-around athlete at Muskegon Heights High School from 1933-37, Milo Sukup earned All-State honors in basketball and football. Sukup also excelled in track, holding the school’s record in the 100-yard dash at 10.2 seconds, and in baseball, as an infielder for the Tigers. His athletic exploits were recognized with 12 varsity letters.

On the gridiron, the powerful fullback led the Tigers to 27 consecutive victories and three mythical state titles between 1933 and 1935. In his honor, the final football game of his senior year was played on a day declared “Milo Sukup Day.”

Following graduation from the Heights, Sukup attended the University of Michigan. At Michigan, head coach Fritz Crisler moved the 5-foot-8, 176 pound back to the offensive line, as the running guard for Wolverine great Tom Harmon. Despite his small size, Sukup excelled on the line.

Soon after completing his college career, Milo became head football coach at Grand Rapids Union High School. At Union, Sukup installed the single wing attack used at Michigan. Between 1942 and 1971, his Red Hawks earned five outright City League titles and shared a sixth. His 1948 squad went undefeated en route to the mythical state crown in Class A.

  • Upon his retirement in 1972, Coach Sukup was honored by the State of Michigan House of Representatives that passed a resolution of tribute to him.

Crusaders mentioned in Grand Rapids Press and Muskegon Chronicle articles below*:

  • Jim Spilka
  • Jim White
  • John Zimmer
  • Dave Komosinski
  • Steve Lenar
  • Dave Beckmann
  • Greg Fodrocy
  • Dennis Treptow
  • Neil Sweet
  • Jerry Tejchma
  • Steve Jados
  • John Dombrowski

*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Grand Rapids Press

Muskegon Chronicle

Next Game:

Game 4

Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders (2 -1)

at

Mona Shores Sailors (1 – 2)

Friday, October 9, 1970 7:00 pm

1970 MCC Football Game 2: Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders at Portage Northern Huskies

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Gametime Conditions:
  • Location: Portage, Michigan
  • Date: September 25, 1970
  • Game Location: McCamley Field
  • Geographic Coordinate:  42.198013 | Longitude : -85.586285
  • Game Start: 7:00 pm ET
  • Sunset:   6:34 pm ET
  • Condition: Fair
  • 66 degrees
  • 5 mph wind speed
  • ESE wind direction

Opponent Profile:

1970 Portage Northern Team Profile

Michigan Sports Classification:  Class A 

Colors:  Brown, White, Orange

Nickname: Huskies

Year Founded: 1965

League:  Big 6

Head Coach:  Bud Breed – 1982 MHSFCA Hall of Fame Inductee

   Record Prior to MCC Game:    1 – 0

Record After MCC Game:         1 – 1

1970 Season Final Record:      8- 1

1970 Scores

1970 Portage Northern Football Notes:

  • Portage Northern lost only 1 game in 1970 – to Muskegon Catholic Central.
  • The 22 – 6 MCC/Portage Northern final score represented the the worst Portage Northern offensive and defensive effort in 1970.
  • MCC held Portage Northern to 2 yards rushing.
  • In 1970, Portage Northern played one common MCC opponent, Grand Rapids Union.  MCC beat that team.
  • In game 9 Portage Northern beat Grand Rapids Union 18 – 0.
  • Portage Northern Head Coach Bud Breed is a dual Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) inductee as one of the original Board of Directors and as a Football Coach.
  • The original McCamley Field built in 1959, home to Portage Northern, was torn down in 2018 and upgraded to a new facility at the same location (pictured above).

Crusaders mentioned in the Kalamazoo Gazette and Muskegon Chronicle articles below*:

  • Bruce Bourdon
  • Tom Kern
  • John Zimmer
  • Tom Holmes
  • Dave Komosinski
  • John Dombrowski
  • Mark Carslake
  • Frank Belmonte
  • Steve Jados
  • Dan Ozios
  • Jim Spilka
  • Frank Engle
  • Jim Tejchma

*Let these Crusaders know that they are in the newspaper this week…only 50 years later!

Kalamazoo Gazette

Muskegon Chronicle

Next Game:

Game 3

Grand Rapids Union Red Hawks

at

Muskegon Catholic Central Crusaders

Friday, OCTOBER 2, 1970 7:00 pm