Heres the full story from todays DDN. Members of unbeaten Fairmont 1974 team to reunite KETTERING — It was 40 years ago that Fairmont West capped a 10-0 season by beating Wayne. There had been three other 9-0 Fairmont teams in the late 1950s, but that was the first — and only — Fairmont East or West high school team to go 10-0. “It’s amazing after 40 years how we all think we really were now,” said Tim Kritzer, a key member of that senior-laden team. “We all ran for more yards and caught more passes.” Kritzer, an outstanding wideout, is still playing a significant role. After huddling with former West head coach Dick Hoppe last summer Kritzer decided to spearhead an effort to reunite members of that undefeated team. Today at Roush Stadium many members of the 1974 unbeaten West team will be introduced during Fairmont’s game against visiting Greenville. There also will be an informal gathering from 10 p.m. to midnight at Buffalo Wild Wings on Stoop Road in Kettering afterward. That West team was part of an impressive 10-year run for the defunct Western Ohio League, which produced seven unbeaten teams in that span. Beavercreek was 10-0 in 1968, followed by 10-0 Troy teams in 1970-71. Fairmont East was 9-0-1 in 1973 and West went 10-0 in ’74. Centerville emerged as a major WOL player under coach Bob Gregg with consecutive 10-0 teams in 1976-77. Unfortunately, none of those teams advanced to the playoffs. Back then, only four teams in the state in the three classes qualified for the postseason. Moeller often hogged this region’s Class AAA playoff bids, as it did in 1974. “We were told we missed the playoffs by .2700 of a point,” recalled Kritzer, still in angst. Loaded with 24 seniors, West opened the 1974 season with its closest contest, a 10-0 non-league defeat of Chaminade, which hadn’t yet merged with Julienne. The rest of the Firebirds’ games were against WOL rivals. West trailed twice that season, 9-6 to rival East (a 34-9 win) and 7-0 to Troy after Bryan Ferguson returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. West’s defense posted four shutouts. West senior running back Jeff Feicht (Miami University) was unstoppable that fall. Quarterback of the team was junior Jim Merrill. He played ball at the U.S. Naval Academy and became a Navy flier. Tragically, he perished while flying in the Bermuda Triangle at age 25. Kritzer and several others on that team played football at Ball State. Among his teammates there were the Hoke brothers, Jon and Brady. Hoppe later coached at Alter, the University of Dayton and Waynesville. In all, former players from about 15 states will be present today. All the coaches and many band members, cheerleaders and former Rhythmettes also plan to attend.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:57:14 +0000
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