Syracuse High School - Rocket Yearbook (Syracuse, NE)

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fT 'f-.,,, Dan Bottcher gains yardage against Plattsmouth. Football team compiles dismal Rocket footballers finished a dismal season with an 0-8 record. With the loss of several key offen- sive players from last years' cham- pionship team, the Rockets were plaqued most of the season with an offense that failed to click con- sistently. Despite a disappointing team showing, the lastplace Rockets placed three players on the Ak-Sar-Ben All- Conference aggregation. Seniors Bill Formanack and Wayne Brehm both gained spots on the honorary team, Sophomore, Jay Van Housen, playing a guard was also selected by the coaches in the conference for the coveted team. VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM: FRONT ROW: Head Coach: Ron Wagner, Assistant Coach: K. Applegetg Bob Brandt, Larry Wellman, Bill Formanack, Assistant Coach: Roger Witt. SECOND ROW: Gary Weiler, Dan Bottcher, Dan Crownover, Ron Scheinost, George Hanssen, Dan Fentiman, Dale Kruse, Wayne Brehm, Jay Nisely, Jim Pope, Duane Hopp. THIRD ROW: Jim Whitehead, Scott Clark, Howard Hogancamp, Randy Crownover, Darrel Hopp, Jay Van Housen, Keith Kimbell, Gary Kuenning, David Lane, Jim Fey, Danny Bruns, Clark Gartner. FOURTH ROW: Kenny Lamb, Bob Engelbrecht, Junior Steinhoff, Ralph Martens, Wayne Heather, Steve Meyer, Doug Se-vers, Stan Meyer, Jerry Wiebusch, Bruce Keim, Kurt Ehlers, Bud Ruge. BACK ROW: Gary Spicer, Dennis Royal, Gary Mohr, Roger Royal, Scott Engelbrecht, Quentin Severe.

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Q -if X Despite being defending Ak-Sar-Ben football champions the Rockets were unable to replace the graduating Seniors and re- corded an 0-8 season record. The season, however, was not without a bright spot as Bill Formanack was picked to play in the Shrine Bowl. Coach Wagner was also se- lected to serve on the coaching staff for the shrine game. The sports department experienced winning ways with the outset of the basket- ball season. Coach Roger Witt and his Cagers compiled a 15-7 season record. The team placed second in the conference tour- nament and was defeated by Auburn in a 0rlS double overtime game in the finals of the Dis-trict. Coach Dick Stock's volleyball team posted an 8-7 season record before being defeated in the Peru Invitational Tour- nament. Spring brought two sports to the scene as athletes participated in track and golf. Mr. Lawrence held the reigns of the track team as they had little cooperation from the weatherman, The tracksters defeated Norris in one of the home meets. Coach Wagner headed up the new golf program. Golfers traveled to Nebraska City for their practice rounds and matches.

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0-8 season record. Fullback George Hanssen eludes Nebraska City defender. NEBRASKA CITY VS SYRACUSE Both teams played very little defensive as arch-rival Nebraska City defeated the Rockets by a score of 26-20, on the local gridiron. The Rockets first score came as George Hanssen carried the ball on a plunge to put the Rockets ahead 7-6. Sophomore back, Gary Spicer picked off a Pioneer pass and scooted 50 yds. to push the score to 13-7. The Rocket offense bogged down in the closing minutes of the first half as they fumbled on their own 27 yd. line and Nebraska City made good on the opportunity and tallied a touchdown. The first half action ended in a 13-13 deadlock.. With time running out, and down by a score of 26-20, the Rockets drove to the Pioneer 23 yd, line but had to relinquish control of the ball when the fourth down try was inches short. Nebraska City played ball control the remaining minutes, but were forced to punt to the locals with one minute left, The punt touched a Syracuse player and was recovered by a Pioneer to ice the contest. Although the football team failed to gain recognition, two individuals received state wide recognition. Coach Hon Wagner was selected to serve as an assistant coach of the South Shrine Bowl Squad and Bill Formanack was one of the few Class B players to be picked to play in the bowl game. TECUMSEH VS SYRACUSE Syracuse played the Tecumseh Indians to a scoreless first half at Syracuse in the opening game. The Indians came back strong the second half as they took the opening kickoff and marched 77 yds. for their first score of the game. The Rockets were unable to move against the tough forward wall of the visitors as the locals fumbled on their own 26 yd. line and set up a second touchdown for Tecumseh, Senior quarterback, Bob Brandt, got the Rockets in the scoring column with an aerial to Bill Formanack to account for the lone syracuse score. Tecumseh scored another touchdownin the closing minutes to put the final score at 19-6. Bill Formanack receives pass from Bob Brandt and picks up valuable yardage against Auburn.