Stockton High School - Blackhawk Yearbook (Stockton, IL)

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'Hawks Go 12-1, Reach Semis To the cheers of many Blackhawk backers, the team takes the field against ROWVA. For the sixth straight year, the invincible Stockton Blackhawks prepared for the IHSA football playoffs. After being ranked 1 all year in the class 1A prep poll, the ’Hawks were elevated to class 2A just before playoff action began. The first test for the ’Hawks was the Forreston Cardinals. The Car- dinals took an early lead, but the Blackhawks proved that they could come from behind as they cruised to their first playoff victo- ry. The impressive defense held the Cardinals at crucial points in the game while the offense also poured on the steam, resulting in three long scoring drives. Stockton’s next victim was the Galena Pirates. Defense was the name of this game as the rain made playing conditions almost impossible. The only touchdown of the game was set up by a fake field goal in the second quarter. After that it was all defense. The next opponent for Stockton was the Oneida ROWVA Tigers. This time the weather cooperated with a perfect day for the quarter- final game on Stockton’s home field. The defense again was all over its opponents, holding ROWVA, a team that had aver- aged over 300 yards per game, to only 136 yards total offense. The game was nearly a shutout, with the Tigers scoring their only points with just six seconds left on the clock. The last game of the season for the Blackhawks was the semifinal war with the Woodstock Marian Hurricanes. Stockton, the under- dog in the game, came out strong and led 11-7 at the half. However, in the third quarter, the Hurri- canes exploded for three scores and prevented the Blackhawks from ever catching up. One week later Marian rolled to its second straight class 2A state champion- ship. The Blackhawks of ’87 gave the school and the community many thrills. School spirit was visible everywhere. Throughout the year the ’Hawks always gave 100%. Coach John O’Boyle summed it up best by saying, “The team had an outstanding year. They did everything we asked of them.” Tim Timpe and Scott Heller celebrate Dave Noller’s 1-yard TD plunge at Forreston. BIG ‘D’. The Blackhawk defense shuts down the Pirates on the wet, muddy Galena field. The ’Hawks stopped the Pirates three times inside the 10-yard line on their way to a 6-0 shutout. The faces of Chris Dvorak and Don Hoff show the tension of the Blackhawks’ narrow win over Galena. 12 Sports

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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ NWIC ALL-CONFERENCE — 1ST TEAM (OFFENSE): Dan Oppold, ’Scott Heller, Greg Heller, Tim Timpe. Mark Wright.. 1ST TEAM (DEFENSE): ’Greg Heller, Scott Heller, Dave Noller, Mark Wright. SPECIAL MENTION (OFFENSE): Kirk Haring, Shawn Haas, Greg Harmston, Chad Lawfer. SPECIAL MENTION (DEFENSE): Kirk Haring, Mark Rice, Shawn Haas, Tim Timpe, HONORABLE MENTION: Mark Wright. ( unanimous selection) FREEPORT .JOURNAL STANDARD ALL-AREA — 1ST TEAM (OFFENSE): Scott Heller. 1ST TEAM (DEFENSE): Greg Heller. 2ND TEAM (OFFENSE): Mark Wright, Dan Oppold, Kirk Haring. 2ND TEAM (DEFENSE): Shawn Haas, Dave Noller, Tim Timpe. HONORABLE MENTION: Mark Rice. ROCKFORD REGISTER- STAR ALL-AREA — 1ST TEAM (OFFENSE): Scott Heller. 1ST TEAM (DEFENSE): Greg Heller. SPECIAL MENTION (OFFENSE): Tim Timpe. Dan Oppold, Mark Wright. SPECIAL MENTION (DEFENSE): Scott Heller, Dave Noller, Mark Wright. HONORABLE MENTION (OFFENSE): Kirk Haring, Greg Harmston, Shawn Haas. HONORABLE MENTION (DEFENSE): Mark Rice, Kirk Haring, Shawn Haas, Tim Timpe. DUBUQUE TELEGRAPH- HERALD ALL-AREA — 1ST TEAM (DEFENSE): Greg Heller. 2ND TEAM (OFFENSE): Scott Heller. SPECIAL MENTION (OFFENSE): Dan Oppold, Mark Wright. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Blackhawks Hog Conference Title Outscoring their conference foes 197- 17, the Blackhawks claimed sole posses- sion of the NWIC crown. Following two early non-conference wins, the first conference test for the Blackhawks was the Eastland Cougars. The Cougars came into the game unde- feated, but they weren’t able to get a foot in the door against the Black- hawks. The ’Hawks rolled up 315 yards, 227 on the ground and 88 through the air, on their way to a 48-0 shutout. Last year’s class 1A state champs, the Freeport Aquin Bulldogs, came to town on September 25. Led by Shawn Haas’ 24 points, the Blackhawks established themselves as the NWIC leaders with a 31-6 win. During Homecoming week the team had to prepare for the Le-Win Pan- thers. This game had been called the “Super Bowl” of Northwestern Illinois. Le-Win came into the game state- ranked in class 2A while Stockton was rated 1 in class 1A. Putting together a big second half, the ’Hawks tamed the Panthers to give their fans a Homecom- ing victory and Coach John O’Boyle the 200th win of his 25-year career. On October 30 the Blackhawks closed out their regular season at Galena. At stake was outright possession of the conference crown versus having to share the title. Stockton’s tough de- fense once again came through, holding the Pirates to just one field goal and 66 total yards. Taking the game 17-3, the ’Hawks claimed the NWIC crown on their way to the IHSA playoffs. In the third quarter Tim Timpe catches a 15- yard pass to set up a Blackhawk touchdown during the season opener against Polo. The ’Hawks broke open a close game in the second half and went on to shut out the Marcos 23-0. Varsity Football 11

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Coach O’Boyle receives the congratulations of fans at a community celebration following the big win. After the 42-8 Homecoming victory, Dan Oppold and Scott Heller carry their coach off the field. Meanwhile, Blackhawk backers in the stands released maroon and gold balloons to celebrate the win. Homecoming Win Milestone For O'Boyle After being inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in the spring of 1987, John O’Boyle had a memorable 25th season for the Blackhawks, recording his 200th victory. This made Homecoming something special for everyone. After playing quarterback in high school in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, O’Boyle went to college. There he played baseball his freshman year and then no longer participated in intercollegiate ath- letics. He began as early as high school to think about a career in coaching because he enjoyed athletics and admired several high school coaches. O’Boyle came to Stockton in 1959 and spent four years as an assistant to head coach Emery Munson. O’Boyle stated that this was an extreme- ly valuable learning experience for him. Taking over the varsity program in 1963, O’Boyle’s team compiled a 6-2 record. Since that time his teams have had twenty-two more winning seasons and have made twelve IHSA playoff ap- pearances, reaching the semifinals once (1987), the finals twice (1975 and 1977), and winning the class 2A state crown in 1978. (The playoff system began in 1974.) When asked to reflect on his coaching career, O’Boyle characteristically had few comments. His greatest reward, he said, was “seeing the kids suc- ceed”. All the credit for his success “belongs to the kids. They’re the ones who win.” This statement goes a long way toward explaining O’Boyle’s re- cord. Further explanation comes through his answer to the question, what is the most important lesson you would like your players to learn? O’Boyle replied, “Hard work and preparation pay off.” Two generations of Blackhawks have learned that lesson well as a result of Coach John O’Boyle’s hard work and dedication. The “Hogs”, the Blackhawk line, block for Mark Wright in the quarterfinal game. Varsity Football 13