The Times Herald from Port Huron, Michigan • Page 16

48 Area Teams In Grid Starts i Some PC-3 Big Reds Pessimistic I Pessimism is the byword these days at Port Huron High's football practices. Coach Bob Hayes, starting his 14th season, has charged into his preparations with the vigor and enthusiasm of a college grad starting his first year as head coach. "WE'VE GOT a young club," Hayes stated, "They're eager to learn and they're working hard. We're a bit on the small side. We have a little speed, but lack experience and depth." Hayes has 12 lettermen back from last year's team that won two games, lost four and tied two.

In the Eastern Michigan League the Big Reds finished in a three-way tie for fourth place at 2-3 1. The Reds' backfield has three battle-wise veterans back, headed by tricky Eric Price, among the fastest 440-yard runners in the EML last season. Price, a 150-pound senior, is abetted by Jim Cowboy Thomason, 105-pound senior fullback and Co-Captain Tom Frazier, 185-pound flanker back. Frazier played end last year, but Hayes moved him into the backfield to utilize his exceptional blocking ability. "You know we lost our two quarterbacks Fred Laughlin and Sandy Henry through graduation," Hayes said, "but we have a pretty good situation at the spot going between senior John Goudie and junior Rick Heel ing.

Both of them throw the ball well, they have good size and both are highly coachable." Hayes figures Travis Jack, 180-pound senior Co-Captain, as the leader in the line. "Jack is our center," Hayes said, "and we feel he'll do a good job. We're so confident PORT HURON HIGH LEADERS Reach Coach Bob Hayes of the Port Huron High Big Reds and co-captains Tom l'rasrier, left, and Travis Jack, halfback and center, respectively, plan to help lift Port Huron into contention in the Eastern Michigan league title race this ueason. (Times Herald Staff Photo) BIG RED QR Junior Rick Heering will pilot the Port Huron High squad for 1961. (Times Herald Staff Photo).

Football Index 2 Port Huron, KM1. Roundup 4 St. Stephen, Notre Dame 6--Maryvllle, Central Mirh. 6-Junior High Big 10, Detroit Peck, Sandusky 10 St. 11- Marine City Holy Crosn 13 Marine City IV-Algonac, Thumb lttclimond, Bt.

Auisutlliif 19-Wetern Thumb lg-Yale 10-Croa-Lcx 20 Capac 21 Mnmphla, Drydrn 22 Armada, Anchor Bay, New Haven 23 Brown City, Almont 24Deckervllle, No. Thumb 25--Carnonvtlle, No. Cent. 1) a- Harbor Beach, Oi 27 lmlay City 28 North Branch, Millinntun 20 Marletto, Bad Axe JO-PH Raider, NFL, A Ft, 31- Mich. Stiite 3 Schedules Blue Water Area coaches calling in football result should phone Yl'Lon 5 7171.

Prep Players Set For Action 1961 Football Season Lifts Curtain Today The mi high school footbnll season, fuli of anticipation and thrills, unfolds with a full schedule of conference games Friday for Blue Water Area prep teams. THE TIMES HERALD is proud to acknowledge the advent of the gridiron season with this Pigskin Preview. A total of 48 District schoolboy football teams set out for championships in nine leagues. More than l.iHK) players will perform before area fans for eight Fridays diuing the season. Last week the season opened with non-conference games.

Outstanding prep stars will be aiming for honors which may lead them to all-conference, all-area and finally all-state teams. For many this Fall is a stepping stone to further glory on the nation's collegiate gridirons. And, if the past two seasons is any indication, roaches from many of the colleges will cast an eye toward youngsters on District football teams. The last two years more area prep football players earned scholarships and are in the running for varsity positions than ever before. There's Mike McDonald, Port Huron High halfback, set for heavy duly at Iowa; Jim Ward.

Imlay City quarterback, is a promising fullback candidate at Michigan: Bob Fisher, Brown City standout, was most valuable player at Central Michigan University as a sophomore last year, and should have a better season in Iflfil as a junior halfback. The Times Herald staff will watch closely the talent in the Blue Water Area and constantly check with coaches and officials on who should receive consideration at seasons' end on the third annual Class and C-D All-Area teams. WE URGE YOU fans to supHrt your teams. Attempt to see your alma mater play at least once this year, make an effort to see every home game. Who's the best team in the nation? How will Michigan do and the Spartans of Michigan State? What team is favored in the Na-, lional Football League and how about the Port Huron Raiders in the American Football Conference? You'll find all the answers in The Times Herald's Pigskin he ean that we moved Max Wegener to tackle." Hayes indicated that nobody has a job cinched.

"That's why we have all those practices during the first two weeks, we're looking for our football players and it's up to the boys. They've got to show us they want to play." Juniors Bill Barden, Steve Van-Buskirk and Ken Mclntyrc also figure in Hayes plans at tackle. letter winning Tom Hull, 175-pound senior, has been moved to guard and challenging him are Ray Johnston, Dale Jurk, and Dick Smalldon, another letter winner. F.nd candidates likely to see plenty of duty are veteran Dave Mnvn i efk Lange, 5-11, 165-pound senior, 6 3 junior Mike Toles, Impounder and Chuck Ingram, 65, 185-pound junior. Stu Israel, senior tackle is the biggest man on the squad at 6-2 and 260-pounds.

He is a returning Ictterman slated for duty on the defensive unit. THE SMALLEST letter winner is junior Jack Reese at 5-foot-7, 135-pounds. He is a guard. Hayes singled out as "potential helpers" hacks Jim Karl, Larry Butler, Jim Vigrass, Mark Soko-loff and Jon Koob. Port Huron its season Sept.

15 at Flint Southwestern. Pickup agate wide sprints tough with his bursts up the middle. The man on the spot at quarterback is Dave Nielson. He is heir apparent to the job since Brown graduated and moved on to Iowa. Birmingham-S a 1 Mt.

Clemens and Port Huron shared fourth place In the EML, all with 2 3-1 records. Birmingham Coach Carl Ix-mle has a pair of capable 200-xund tackles in Bill Prahler and Dinke. loo Carter. Quarterback Fred Muemchinger and fullback Jack Harvey arc take charge personalities in the backfield. MT.

CLEMENS Coach Steve Nowak has a couple of big linemen in tackles Chuck Boskee 222) and Bill Marsack 201), Jim Heb-ert is a prime end target while Norman Cooper and Gordon Zagei provided adequate quarterback-ing. Rebuilding his backfield is No-wak's pressing task. Coach Larry Ilartsig at East Detroit High has 14 lettermen back, but he feels he hasn't the he should have. Hartsig claims he has a senior Three All-EML Returnees Tab Hazel Park As Team To Beat With three all-Eastern Michigan League team members bolstering an already experienced squad, Hazel Park High's Vikings are heavily favored to end Ferndale High's two-year grip on the EML football championship this season. Coach Charles Skinner's Vikings wound up second last year with a 4-1-1 record, a scoreless tie with I'ort Huron kept them from sharing the title with Ferndale.

FRANK STAOG, 6-2, 220 pound fullback, who was picked on several All-State teams as a junior is the prime mover in Hazel Park's attack. Stagg runs the 100 in 10 seconds and he'll probably receive as much attention as did Ferndale's All-State quarterback Mike Brown last year. With Stagg on the EML team were shifty halfback Dick Golin-ski, 170-poundcr witj three years experience and Guard Ron Goov-' oi 5-11, 165-pound blocker. Skinner also has plenty of savvy in tackles Randy Jennings and Floyd Lynch and end Chuck Byrd. Quarterback Bill Merkle is back and is considered a smart signal caller and good passer.

Royal Oak Kimball's Knights. under coach Pin Ryan, was the only EML team to defeat Ferndale last season. Ryan welcomes back two of the EML team senior center Dick Ries, 180-poundcr and Craig Kirby, 6-2, 190-pound end. The pair will anchor a toward wall with experience and size. Russell Maynard, the team's leading scorer, is back and he's paired at halfback with Bill Chilton, Knight's top basketball scorer.

Wally Gabler has the inside track for the quarterback post and Steve1 Wilson is a strong candidate for thu fullback sjxit. Intending champion Pern-dale lost a host of classy seniors as well as coach Ted Meister who resigned. The Eagles will be led by Coach Frank Joranko, former aide at Royal Oak Dondero. Doric Reid, EML 100 yard dash champion who also won the State title, should give the Eagles plenty of speed. Co-Captain Jay Burgess is a strong man at halfback and returning fullback Bob Micheau should make containing Ileitis PORT HURON TIMES Hf RAID backfield with a junior line.

Halfback Bob Marasco is the main threat ball carrying threat and Dennis Kucharek should help out. Roseville, recently admitted to the EML and the eighth member of the circuit, will play out its Trl-County Lenguc schedule tfiis fall and join the EML grid sked in 12. i 8ipt. lR-EttNt Detroit at Dtih-'1rro, Oroven tit Blrnilnghum-Mi-iilmlm, HO. Klmbnll at HmithflrUI, Port Huron at Flint Fernditla at Berkley, Huwl Park at Fltzgniilrt.

Sept. lft- Mt. Clemens at Lukevlrto. Kept. 23 nochenter at Mt.

Clemen, Klmbnll at Blrmlnglium, Urowe Polnte at Port Huron, Houthfleicl at Ferndalo, O. Dondero at Hunel Sent. 29--Mt. Clemen at HO. Kimball, Detroit at Ferndale, Hacel Park at Birmingham, J'oit Huron at Hatnlramck, i Oet.

-Femdala at Mt. Clemen, llo.ievllle at Eait Detroit, Hi i ham at Port Huron, -H O. Kimball at Hntsel Park. i Oct. 13--Mt.

Clemens nl li)it Huron, -Hael Park at Klaol DiHoit, -Ferndale at Blrmlniihain. Oct. 14-rt'ltxgeruld at HO Kimbull. Oct. 20--BlrinliiKlmm at Mt.

'-KaBt Detroit at Kimball. -Port Huron at Ferndale, Dearborn at Haxcl Park. Oct. 27 '-Hazel Park at Mt, Clemen, -Fat Detroit at Hli inlniiiiain, Kimball at Port Huron. Dear-born at Ferndale.

Nov. J--Port Huron at Ilel Park, -Mt. Clemen at Fant Detroit, Birmingham at O. Dondero. O.

Kimball at Ferndale. No. 10 --Ferndula at Hel park, -Port Huron at Kt Detroit, lllr-mlngham at Southfirld, O. Domlero at O. Kimball.

FML game. MONDAY, SIPTIMtl II, IMt Nowak Sets Late Start Steve Nowak, former Marine City High football coach, was unable to join his Mt. Clemens High gridders during (he first few weeks of practice. He had an appendectomy. PAGE TWO.