1972 Football

It had been over 20 years since an AHS football team had advanced into the state football playoffs. Coach Chuck Burns and his 9-1-1 team of 1972 would put an end to that long drought and then some.

Coach Burns knew early on that this senior class was stacked with good athletes when as a JV team, they scored 100 points against Molalla. After finishing the 1971 season with a 7-2 record in which the majority of the team were juniors, there was a lot to look forward to for the 1972 season.

Not since John Warren’s 1933 team shutout their first three opponents had an Astoria High School team opened the season with three straight shutouts. Astoria blanked Sweet Home (32-0), Forest Grove (34-0) and Newberg (21-0) on its way to a Hall of Fame season.

Playing in the Coast-Valley league against schools much larger than Astoria, the team was not intimidated by the size of the opposition. Every Friday night, Coaches Chuck Burns, Al Jacobson and Dan Fay had their team ready to pound the ball around the end until the defense figured out a way to stop them. Sweep 5 and sweep 6 were the bread and butter that this team lived on and they executed them perfectly by double teaming the defensive line and then throwing the whole backfield towards the ends. It was a simple but effective offensive weapon.

Highlights of the season:

vs. Sweet Home – Andre Baugh rushed for 137 yards and a pair of scores while Ron Middleton logged 127 yards and setting up easy touchdowns. Jim Forrester, the 225 pound center, and Dave Paschall, 265 pound tackle, opened holes all night long to keep the running game effective.

At Forest Grove – Tight end Scott Holmstedt latched on to three Dennis Gantenbein aerials for a trio of trips into the end zone. The running game was working so well, that there were only three passes the entire game and each turned into six points.

Vs. Newberg – Gantenbein and Greg Arceneaux both threw scoring strikes to Holmstedt. Jim Dulcich added the final touchdown on the ground. Dulcich, like many other players on the team, played both offense and defense. At the linebacker spot he also had a big night on defense being credited with 17 tackles.

At St. Helens – The Lions were the first team to score on the Fishermen but became the fourth straight opponent to be added to the Fishermen’s catch.

Vs. Grant – Gantenbein hurled a pair of touchdown passes to Raleigh Larson and Holmstedt and then rushed for another as the team beat the Portland schools powerhouse on a beautiful night at Gyro Field.

Vs. McMinnville – Astoria’s only blemish during the regular season ended a defensive battle in a 6-6 tie with the 6-2-1 Grizzlies.

At Central – Coach Burns thought he could get better production from QB Gantenbein if he moved him to a running back and having Arceaneaux take the snaps under center. The hunch paid off as Gantenbein rushed for 205 yards on 25 carries and a pair of touchdowns.

Vs. Dallas- Astoria’s 22^nd homecoming was a big test for the team. Holding on to a 6-0 lead that came from Ron Walker’s late first quarter score, the defense stepped up their game and shut down several Dallas scoring drives. The Dragons finished the season 7-2, right behind the Fishermen.

Vs. Silverton – Representing the Coast half of the Coast-Valley league, the Fishermen matched up with a physical Silverton team in the mud at Gyro Field. Raleigh Larson picked off a pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown and Phil Brech, Gantentbein and Arceaneaux added touchdowns to the scoreboard for the team to move into the state playoffs.

Vs. Grants Pass – In a week of turmoil and uncertainty centering around the eligibility of one of the Grants Pass players that caused the team to have to forfeit their league title, a judge ruled the team eligible and the number one rated Cavemen came to Astoria on a last minute decision. Medford, the league runner up was in town to play the Fishermen but had to return home after the judge’s decision.

In front of one of the largest crowds ever to watch a football game in Astoria, the Fishermen came up fired up for an upset. The scoring began with Ron Walker reeling off a 46 yard touchdown and then followed up by an Arceneaux to Holmstedt pair of early scores. Focused on stopping the running game, the Cavemen defensive backs let their guards down as the Astoria aerial attack moved the ball down the field.

At Wilson – Twelve AHS rooter buses rolled up to Civic Stadium to cheer on the Fishermen in the state quarterfinal game at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. Wilson, which featured a couple of big nights from Rich Dodge, who went on to start at OSU, and Steve Wantland, proved too much for the Fishermen defense. The game which was played on artificial turf, proved to be a costly disadvantage to the Fishermen who only brought their grass spikes thinking they would be furnished with turf shoes when they got there. Slipping and sliding all night, the Trojan offensive dual was a step ahead of the Fishermen and ended what was an incredible season.