West Carrollton High School - Piratan Yearbook (West Carrollton, OH)

Page 21 text:

JIM BYRD Guard LARRY McVEY Fullback BOB WELLER Center JERRY DAVIS Tackle CARL MAYS Quarterback Jack Freier rips off a 73-yard run against Butler. Coach Steve Graban, in his first year as head coach at WC, did a remarkable job in shaping the Pirates into the fine aggregation that they were. Assistant Coach Don Bogan should also take his share of plaudits for the season. Graduating this year will be three of the four starting backs and five linesmen from the defensive and offensive units. Leading the list of departing seniors is Bill Wood, who directed the team from his quarterback post and did an outstanding job in coordinating the Pirate machine. Also being graduated are Jim Chance and Jack Pummill, halfbacks, who, along with sophomore Jack Freier, paced the squad in yards per try by rushing. Jack “the Ripper” Pummill personally led the team in 17 departments while Jim Chance compiled the most amazing statistic, that of losing not one yard in 94 rushing attempts. Up front the Pirates lose Donnie McClelland, one of the finest guards in the state and a three-year letterman; John Cook, an end who established himself as a great pass catcher: Richard Bran-ner, who, playing in an end position, blossomed into a rugged defensive stalwart; Bill Payne and John Croy, both outstanding at the tackle slots; Jim Byrd, who operated at guard; Eddie Baker, a fine defensive halfback; and centers Lowell Randolph and Bob Weller. Both offensively and defensively Lowell was a main cog in the center of the Pirate line.

Page 20 text:

RICKEY BRANNER End JIM CHANCE Halfback don McClelland Guard EDDIE BAKER Halfback BILL PAYNE Tackle Jack Pummill, the Pijates' leading yard gainer, bowls his way for yardage against Eaton. The Pirates rolled to easy victories over Jefferson and West Milton but then stumbled and almost fell to both Tipp City and Eaton. In the Tipp encounter, West Carrollton found itself behind at the half for the only time during the year and had to scrap all the way for a 20 to 18 decision. The following week the Pirates’ battle with Eaton seemed destined to wind up a scoreless tie until the Red and Black put on a desperate fourth quarter march and, with less than a minute remaining, scored to win 7 to 0. Germantown and Trotwood-Madison proved no trouble for the Pirates. However, when West Carrollton traveled to Vandalia to do battle with the high-flying Aviators, they found that they, too, were unbeaten in league play. West Carrollton’s line allowed the highly-touted Butler ground attack to advance only to the Pirates’ 43. Meanwhile, the Pirates managed two second-half T.D.’s and a very convincing 14 to 0 triumph. With Butler out of the way, the Pirates coasted to the end of their unblemished season with victories over Randolph and Lebanon. DICK GIBBONS JACK PUMMILL LOWELL RANDOLPH BILL WOOD End Halfback Center Quarterback

Page 22 text:

MR. STEVE GRABAN MR. DONALD BOCAN Head Football Coach Assistant Football Returning to the 1954 squad to form the nucleus of what Coach Graban hopes is Coach going to be another unbeaten season will be Dick Gibbons, Jerry Davis, Bob Schuder, Larry McVey, Carl Mays, place-kicking specialist Jerry Coon, and sophomore standouts John Coon and Jack Freier. The Pirates were feted at the Southwestern Buckeye League Banquet held at Trot-wood. There Bill Wood, Jack Pummill, Lowell Randolph, Don McClelland, Richard Branner, Bill Payne, and Jerry Davis were given all-league honors. The Rotary and Lions Clubs also honored the team at a banquet held at the Moraine City School. The 1953 football season was truly wonderful. High praise should go to everyone w'ho helped make it possible: the squad, Coaches Graban and Bogan, Athletic Director Croy, and you, the most important part of football, the fan. by Jerry Graham JOHN COOK End 1 1 Congratulations to the victors of Butler! JERRY COON Halfback BOB SCHUDER Tackle JACK FREIER Fullback JOHN COON Guard