Hopkins High School - Reflector Yearbook (Hopkins, MI)

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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

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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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lfaskcfball First row: R. Thompson, R. Vollink. Second row: G. Herp, I. Miner, B. Riksen. I. Kerber, D. Doorlag, D. Brown, B. Weick, P. Wynne. Third row: S. Chappell, B. Punches, E. Knob- loch, D. Tiller, J. Hennip, M. Stoepker, Mr. Little. The Bluedevils, under the competent leadership of Coach Don Little and his assistant, Mr. Johnson, had a very successful season and were a highly rated team, The Bluedevils have chalked up a very impressive record of fourteen wins and two losses. The crowned Bar-Ken-All League Champions of 1956-57 had an unblemished conference record of seven wins and no losses. Starting the season, the Bluedevils, with John Miner shooting 25 points, won over Martin 73-40. The next team to come up against Hopkins was Fennville, who was defeated by a '77-53 margin with Kerber, high with 21 points. With two wins out of two starts, Hopkins started the B3l KCIl'Al1 League Conference with an im- pressive win over edonia '12-46, Next, the team joumeyed to Delton to defeat the Panthers 55 by the capable shoot- ing of Miner and lag. The Wayland Wild- cats were the next to feel the taste of defeat by a 64-44 score. Doorlag was high with 29 points. After winning over Saugatuck 82-55, with Don Doorlag net ring 33 points. H0pkir1S entertained Grand Rapids Rogers and added another win of 69-46. Doorlag had 28 points when the final buzzer sounded on Hopkins' next win of 61-47 over Byron Center. Hopkins '76 - Delton 43 was the score of the avenging, previously defeated, Delton team, Doorlag hit 30 points. Hopkins then traveled to Saranac to drop the Redskins 48-37. Bob Riksen