Hopkins High School - Reflector Yearbook (Hopkins, MI)

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57670fbllff First rowg R. Redenius, J. Miller, B. Moulenbelt, R. Church, F, Miller, W. Gilligan, D. Mc- Kinnon, D. Goodsell, L. McEwen, D. Marcinek, M. Miner, R. Arnsman, D. McClung. Second row: Mr. Little, S. Chappell, W. Weick, E. Canel, I. Parmelee, D. Tiller, W. Riksen, E. Knobloch, O. Beard, D. Kisner, R. Beck, C. Lodenstein, D. Pavlak, H. VanDerKo1k, Mr. Schultz, Mr. Bengford. Third row: P. Wynne, M. Stoepker, S. Stearns, T. Pavlak, G. Herp, D. Kiel, I, Miner, A. Stone, L. Vollink, J. Arnsman, L. Fleming, D. McBride, P. Miller, R. Lowery. Winning four out of eight, tying two and losing only two, the 1956 edition of the Bluedevil gridders compiled one of the best records in Hopkins' football history. The Bluedevils were un- defeated and had extended their win list to four and one tie before losing to a fired-up Saranac Indians 26-13. The Bluedevils finished the season with only 60 points chalked up on the opponents' side. Their total reached to 136 points. Hopkins began the 1956 season with a 35 to 6win over Fenn- ville, which put them in position to soundly thrash Wayland 21-6. Following the Wayland win, the Blue- devils met with the Martin team on the home field and turned them back 20-7. The following week they motored to Byron Center to meet a strong, fighting, rugged team. The Bulldogs tied Hopkins 6-6. The Homecoming game, the first in Hopkins gridiron history, brought fans from every town in this area as the Bluedevils came up against Delton. Delighting the Homecoming crowd and turning in an outstanding performance, the Bluedevils defeated the rival team by a score of 35 to 0.

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N Athletics FOOTBALL SCORES We They Fennville 35 6 Wayland 21 6 Martin 20 '7 Byron Center 6 6 Delton 35 0 Saranac 13 26 Middleville 6 6 Caledonia 0 6 EUGENE KNOBLOCH DENNIS PAVLAK Left Tackle Fullback .171 no 6 Q L., ' L- X BOB BECK BILL RIKSEN Right 1-ialfback Right Tackle BILL WEICK OTTO BEARD HENRY VANDERKOLK Left Half Center Center

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After falling to Saranac, the Bluedevils journeyed to Middleville to take part in the Home- coming activities there. The Bluedevils, smarting from their first defeat, gave Middleville all they could handle. Middleville, highly favored, tied Hopkins 6-6. The big game of the season came on November 2, when Caledonia came to Hopkins. Both teams were rated fairly even, with Caledonia having the edge on weight. The teams battled it out on even terms the first half and found Hopkins on the 1 yard line as the half ended. Caledonia pushed forward a TD the third quarter, resulting from a Hopkins fumble, setting up the only 6 points. Nevertheless, all members of the Bluedevils team put in hard performances. Under the fine coaching of Ken Bengford, the Bluedevils proved what a co-operative group of gridders working together could do. Gerry Herp, co-captain, was named Honorable Mention A11-State to the Detroit Press, and also to the All-Conference teams of the Grand Rapids Press and the Herald as quarterback. Bill Weick, co-captain, also made the All-Conference Second Team as halfback, Dennis Pavlak fvoted most valuable player by his team-matesj, Eugene Knobloch, Dick Brown, and Calvin Lodenstein placed on the All-Conference squads. The regular line men were Dick Brown and John Miner, endsg Bill Riksen and Eugene Knobloch, tackles, Delbert Tiller and Dave Kisner, guards, and Otto Beard at center. This line was bolstered often and well by Henry VanDerKolk, Ed Canel, Calvin Lodenstein, Daniel Marcinek, I im Parme- lee, and Max Miner. The backfield chores were handled by Gerry Herp, Bill Weick, Dennis Pavlak, Melvin Stoep- ker, Stuart Chappell, Bob Beck, Paul Wynne, and Jim Arnsman. Martin Game