Wilson High School - Eagle Yearbook (Wilson, OK)

Page 20 text:

The Football Team The Wilson High School Football team, the Eagles, coached by Sherman (Cotton) Loyd, finished the most successful season since 1927 when they defeated Fox 26-0 in a post-season game for the 1937 South Central Conference Championship. The 1937 eleven was one of the best teams in Southern Oklahoma, since three of its men were placed on the Daily Ardmoreite’s All Southern Oklahoma Team. During the season the Eagles lost the opening contest to Ardmore, then defeated Ringling. Graham, Alma, Zaneis, Healdton, and tied Dundee in the South Central Conference. Pauls Valley of the Big Five Conference, Duncan of the Southern, Sulphur of the Red River Valley and Lindsay lost to the Eagles. In a post-season game, played at Ringling, Wilson defeated Fox 26-0 for the South Central Conference Championship. Up to this game Fox was undefeated in state play. This fine record was a continuation of the list of championships gathered by Coach Loyd, who has the distinction of having produced a conference championship team every year during his coaching career. His teams have won 40 games, lost 5 and tied 2. The 1937 starting lineup was: Backs—Maurice Epley, Jack Epley, Calvin Huffaker, and Eugene Brooks. Ends—Boyce Myers or Lemuel Apala, and Carl Edwards or J. R. O’Dell. Tackles—Harold “Red” Sparks and Ira “Heavy” Williams. Guards—Jack Walker and Pat Reed. Center—Oscar Swinford. Substitutes were: Becks—Lynn Jones, Bruce Hicks and Oral Loveall. Line—J. C. Kerr, Max A. Guthrie, Orville Davis, Bill Marutzky, Waldo Teel, “Fritz” Clark, Keith Wright, Ray Mitchell, J. B. “Hawk” Brown, and Edward Brittain. September 20—The Eagles started their season off with a 14-0 defeat by the Ardmore Tigers. Coach Loyd’s eleven showed every sign of becoming a great team, although they were erratic at times and did not function as a perfected team. September 24—The Eagles turned in their first victory of the season by defeating the Ringling Blue Devils by the decisive score of 31-6. In this game was seen the results of a week’s ironing out of the rough spots shown in the opening game. In this game, also, little Lynn Jones, halfback, played his first football. October 1—In their second victory of the season the Eagles had little trouble turning back the Lindsay High School team by a 33-0 score. This game featured most of the reserves, after the regulars had scored five touchdowns. October 8—The Eagles turned in a second conference victory when they beat the Graham Bearcats in a terrible rainstorm. Huffaker, halfback, took the opening kickoff back for the first touchdown of the game. Epley, fullback, in the third quarter plunged over from the 5 yard stripe for the second counter of the game, the Eagles winning 14-0. October 15—Striking swiftly and with deadly precision, the Eagles’ high voltage football machine defeated a highly touted Duncan team 7-0 on the Wilson field. Slated beforehand to take a beating from the invading Demons, the alert Wilson crew completely turned the tables before a crowd of more than 2000 astonished fans. The Eagles took advantage of the breaks and held the upper hand through most of the sensational battle. The defensive work, led by Swinford, center, and closely followed by Reed, guard, Williams, tackle, Edwards and Myers, ends, Jack Epley and Eugene Brooks, backs, with the line smashing of Maurice Epley and the signal calling of Huffaker, are the shining features of this never-to-be-forgotten game.

Page 19 text:

T II E B A N I) The Wilson High School Band was organized in September, 1935, under the direction of Mr. Lyel Upshaw. It consisted of about forty pieces. At the district meet at Durant the band placed second. During the summer of 1936, the number was increased to eighty pupils. Uniforms costing $2200.00 were purchased. The band placed first in the South Central Conference meet at Fox; first at district meet at Durant; first in Class B instrumental music at the district meet; excellent rating at the state meet, Stillwater; and excellent rating in marching at the state meet. The Southwestern Band Queen has been chosen from the Wilson Band for the past two years, the band festival being held at Altus, Oklahoma. Band Queen for 1936-37, Mary Jo Roberts. Band Queen for 1937-38, Ruth Smith. The Wilson Band represented Southern Oklahoma at the O. U.-A. M. football game at Norman, when a dual stunt was given between halves by the Wewoka-Wilson bands. Since the band’s organization, first place has been won by twenty-six solos, second place by twelve solos and third place by four. The brass quartet has placed first for the past three years. The band intends to make a good showing at the meets this year. V () C A L M U S I C Miss Josephine Hoggard was engaged as director of vocal music at the mid-term of 1937. She began at once to build up a large vocal group. In the South Central Conference Meet at Fox that year the Girls Glee Club placed first, the Mixed Chorus first; and the Boys Quartet second. At Durant that year the Girls Glee Club placed first, the Boys Glee Club first, the Mixed Chorus first, and the Boys Quartet first. This was the first year in several years that Wilson has been represented at the State track meet. There each of the groups was given an excellent rating. The vocal department now has approximately n'nety members. Miss Hoggard has organized a Junior Choral Club which is gaining wide recognition. The high school vocal group entered the South Central meet at Ringling where the Mixed Quartet placed second, the Girls Quartet first, the Boys Quartet first. Doth girls and boys Glee Club first, the Mixed Chorus first, and two soloists first, and one soloist second. We are expecting these groups to bring home even more victories from the District track meet and from the State.

Page 21 text:

fhe Football Team October 22—The Eagles journeyed to Pauls Valley to play a non-confcrence game with the Panthers. Because of the unfavorable weather conditions, the Eagles were slow getting started. A blocked Panther punt by Brooks in the second quarter, covered by Williams, was the only touchdown of the game. Ivy, Panther quarterback, attempting to return one of Huffaker’s punts, was smothered behind his own goal by the alert Eagle end, Boyce Myers for a safety. The Eagles won 8-0. October 29—With the final count 44-0 the Eagles chalked up their third conference victory of the season by defeating the Alma Red-Hots under the floodlights at Wilson. In this game the Eagles displayed a brand of football and pep that has not been equaled this year. The reserves contributed three counters to this game. November 5—The seventh consecutive Eagle victory was at the expense of the Healdton Bulldogs on the Healdton field. The Bulldogs were smothered under a 33-7 barrage. This game was played mostly by reserves, and not soon will be forgotten the courageous play of little Lemuel “Moose” Apala, who played all the game with a painful leg injury. November 11—One of the classiest teams to appear on the Wilson field in several seasons, the Zaneis Wildcats, were repulsed by a 3-0 score, due to a field goal by Huffaker in the closing seconds of the first half. Grady Worsham will long be remembered by the Eagles as one of the classiest little running backs ever to step upon a high school “gridiron.” November 19—Due to injuries, the Eagles, long winn'ng streak was halted when they met the Dundee Tigers on the Wilson field, the g:ms ending in a scoreless tie. Maurice Epley received a serious head injury in this game. November 23—Although beaten by the Eagles 44-6, this game was the first in which Coach Foy Stout’s Sulphur Bulldogs had scored during the 1937 season. The Eagle reserves played most of this game, while the greater part of the Senior linemen scored touchdowns. December 3—By a 26-0 victory over Fox in a post-season game, the Eagles were given an undisputed right to the South Central Conference champ onship. Playing the brand of football their opponents were supposed to play, the Eagles passed and smashed their way to victory. Boyce Myers and J. R. O’Dell, ends, threw the Fox backs for repeated losses. O’Dell was undoubtedly the star of the game, scoring all four touchdowns, by receiving two of Huffaker’s long passes and blocking two pants. The Calendar We Opp. Sept. 20 Ardmore (There) 0 M Sept. 24 Ringling (Here) 31 6 Oct. 1 Lindsay (Here) 33 0 Oct. 8 Graham (Here) 14 0 Oct. 15 Duncan (Here) 7 0 Oct. 22 Pauls Valley (There) 8 0 Oct. 29 Alma (Here) 44 0 Nov. 5 Healdton (There) 33 7 Nov. 11 Zaneis (Here) 3 0 Nov. 19 Dundee (Here) 0 0 Nov. 23 Sulphur (Here) 44 6 Dec. 3 Fox (At Ringling) day. 26 0 243 33 ♦Post season South Central Conference playoff