Westmar College - Eagle Yearbook (Le Mars, IA)

Page 158 text:

GRIDDERS RECEIVE ALL-AMERICAN, ALL-CONFERENCE AND NAIA HONORS Bob Ferguson All-American Honorable Mention, All-Conference NAIA Phalen Schuler All Conference Larry Smrcka All Conference 154 Hal Kuck All-American Honorable Mention All-Conference NAIA Gary Hoffman All-Conference Honorable Mention Most Valuable Player NAIA

Page 157 text:

Coach Scott worked hard for his second straight Tri-state Championship, not only at the games but during many weeks of practice, and in the end he got it. ‘“He’s over!” for that winning touchdown over Yankton which assured Westmar of the tie for Tri-state Championship.

Page 159 text:

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION ALL CONFERENCE Again Westmar College placed some talented ath- letes on the Tri-state all conference selections, Four Eagle gridders represented the co-championship team. Repeats from last year’s selections were Hal Kuck and Bob Ferguson. Kuck is on the conference team for the third time, while Ferguson has been chosen to the team twice in as many years. Joining Kuck and Ferguson on the offensive unit was guard Phalen Schuler. Schuler was on the honorable mention list last year but made all conference this year. Kuck this year snagged 28 passes good for 327 yards and seven touchdowns. ‘Fergy’” broke the school rushing record pounding out 1,107 yards. Defensively the Eagles were represented by Larry Smrcka. Smrcka played middle guard for the Eagles. Larry made numerous tackles and intercepted passes to lead the defensive unit this year. Eight more Eagles received honorable mention: Dave Hantke, tackle; Dave Else, halfback; Carl Ades, kick- er; Terry Christensen, quarterback; John Schoolen, guard; Bob Strouse, halfback; Dave Chittenden, half- back; and Gary Hoffman, end. NAIA HONORS Individually football laurels did not end with Tri- state conference honors. Three Westmar players were voted to the District 15 NAIA team (Iowa Division). Hal Kuck placed for the third year on the team. Not only an outstanding offensive end, Kuck did the punting for the Eagles and averaged 39 yards a punt for 31 punts. Bob Ferguson not only broke the school rushing rec- ord for the second straight year, but also led the squad in scoring crossing “pay dirt” for eight TD’s. Gary Hoffman, a defensive end, gave the Eagles a big boost this year in stopping the end sweeps. Gary was also named most valuable player by his team- mates. LITTLE ALL-AMERICAN HONORS End Hal Kuck and halfback Bob Ferguson, All-Con- ference and NAIA honor winners were also selected to Honorable Mention, Little All-American by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Kuck, a senior, received the honor for the second straight year. Soon after he was signed to a profes- sional football contract by the Minnesota Vikings. Ferguson received the Little All-American honors for the first year. With a total yards rushing of 1,107 yards, he was sixth in the nation. 155