Rock Island High School - Watchtower Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

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VARSITY GRIDDERS HAVE UP- AND-DOWN YEAR Big Don Greenwood churns out yardage against East Moline. 18 Varsity Football

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ATHLETICS Rock Island High School pro¬ vides many opportunities for the students and community to obser¬ ve and participate in, such as many varied athletic events. Each year, hundreds of students, both male and female, devote endless time and energy to sports for individual achievement and the enjoyment of the fans. They maintain average and above GPA ' s and often hold jobs. These athletes are self-disiplined and well trained. They are the str¬ ength which binds the entire com - munity together with the student body of Rocky. 17

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New Varsity Head Coach Hugh Johnson. The 1976 Rocks finished with a disappointing 4-5 record after getting off to a great start with a well- played 19-8 victory over LaSalle- Peru, and the 20-0 shutout of Alleman. The Alleman game returned the city championship to Rocky. An estimated 10,000 fans crowded into Rocky stadium, the largest crowd of the season. The Rock ' s first away game was a 33-16 loss to Assumption, a second half Rock Island rally was not enough to overcome a big Assumption lead. Game four saw the Rocks break it open in the second half as Tony Scott scored four touchdowns to lead Rock Island to a 32-14 victory over Moline. The Rocks then lost a dis¬ appointing 36-0 Homecoming game to Davenport West, a 17-14 double-overtime thriller to UTHS, and an 18- 12 decision to Galesburg that ended the Rock ' s playoff hopes. A victorious 16-8 visit to Quincy snapped a three-game losing streak, it was highlighted by Tony Scott ' s 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In the final game, the Rocks held their own through the first half but fell hard in the second, as Davenport Central, the eventual Iowa State champs, dealt the Rocks a 58-6 defeat. There were many bright spots, however, as the Rocks placed Tony Scott, Kirt Platt, Carl Hill, Mark Abolt, Mike Cohen, Mike Johnson, and Kevin Platt on various Big Six and Metro Conference All-Star Teams. Kirt Platt also made the Chicago Daily News All-State first team, and Tony Scott made second team. At the Fall Sports Banquet the following players received awards: Kirt Platt, best defensive player and best blocker; Mike Cohen, best team man; Mike Johnson and Randy Peterson, most improved; Bob Bower, bandit; and Tony Scott, most valuable player. FRONT ROW: Michael Sterling, Abraham Jones, Ray Lomas, Steve Brandt, Vince Morrow, Dana Douglas, Carl Hill, Tony Scott, Scott Allen, Mark Abolt, Kevin Schweinberger, Don Greenwood, Randy Peterson, Steve Daxon, Kurt Redenbo, Tim Pressly, Jim Franz, Tom Sparkman. SECOND ROW: Mgr. Kevin Tanner, Coach Bill Burrus, Coach Duane Bonsall, Coach Lew Miscowicz, Terry Leigh, Jeff Hudson, Kirt Platt, Guy Frank, Michael L. Johnson, Doug Breiby, Kevin Jackson, Mike Cohen, Scott Newland, Tom Steele, Jeff Vogt, Everett Wil¬ liams, Head Coach Hugh Johnson, Coach A1 Gorgal. BACK ROW: Mgr. Duane Olson, Mgr. Bob Cherry, Darryl Avery, Walter Johnson, Bob Bower, Tom Smith, Mark Maxwell, Randy Welser, Doug Gerber, Tim DeGeeter, Michael E. Johnson, Dale Gana- way, Ron Tiedge, Chuck Guthrie, Scott Walker, Mitch Pratt, Jon Taylor, Adam Jawoisz, Tim Eagle, Kevin Platt, Rod Long, Dave Wherry, Tom Hooks, Frank Top¬ ping, Bruce Johnston, Trainer Neil Randerson, Trainer Dick Brown. Varsity Football 19