Syracuse High School - Rocket Yearbook (Syracuse, NE)

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Story of the season is told by Coach Wagner's expression. HOLY NAME VS SYRACUSE Holy Name defeated the Rockets by a score of 33-6 on the Omaha field. The Rockets, plaqued by injuries and illness, played the Ramblers pretty close until giving up two quick touchdowns in the third quarter, Stan Meyer recovered a Rambler fumble in the third period to set up the lone Syracuse tally. RALSTON VS SYRACUSE Ralston spoiled Homecoming by reg- istering a 25-6 victory on a cold, windy, rain-swept field. Dave Way, transfer student from Syracuse, returned home to haunt his former teammates by catching nearly a dozen passes and scoring two touchdowns. Only a dozen pep club members re- mained in the stands to cheer the Rockets on. Once again, Syracuse scored their lone touchdown on a Brandt to Formanack pass. '66 Rocket football PLATTSMOUTH VS SYRACUSE Plattsmouth dominated the hapless Rockets, 40-6, on October 21 on the victors field. Platter back, Max Linder, broke the game wide open in the second quarter by returning a syracuse punt 60 yds. untouched for the score, Only bright spot for the losers was a flurry in the fourth quarter, when the reserves headed by quarterback Gary Weller, flashed power to drive for the lone touchdown against the Plattsmouth starters. PAPILLION VS SYRACUSE Syracuse traveled to Papillion for their third contest and were defeated by a score of 40-7. Although gaining more yards and more first downs than their opponents ,the Rockets trailed the Monarchs 27-0 at halftime. Dropped passes and fumbles continued to haunt the winless Rockets. The only scoring threat by the locals came in the third quarter as runs by Gary Spicer, Jim Pope, and Dan Bottcher moved the ball to the Papio 15 yd. line. Brandt found Formanack open in the end zone to account for the lone tally. Jim Pope is tackled by Auburn player.

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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.

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highlights. Only bright spot for the Rockets came in the closing stanza as some of the in- experienced reserves showed flashes of an offense. FALLS CITY VS SYRACUSE Still trying for their first victory of the season, the Rockets were beaten in the closing minutes by the Falls City Tigers, 20-13. Scoring for Syracuse was a 3 yd. line plunge by Jim Pope, Dan Bottcher added the extra point. A Brandt to Jerry Vtiebusch pass accounted for the other Rocket score, The loss put the Rockets in last place of the Southern Division ofthe conference and ended the firstwinless seasonin modern history. U I . S eg i cifxfhlsggg f :::'?52i'gq29Q A-rs. its-ur fm: Head Coach Ron Wagner explains practice schedule to Assistants Roger Witt and K. Appleget as Captains Bill Formanack, Bob Brandt, and Larry Wellman look on. or gf ...fs Plattsmouth Blue Devil stops Howard Hogancarnp during touchdown drive.