1961 Boys Football

The DeWitt football program’s storied history can be traced back to the 1961 season, which saw the Panthers finish with a perfect 8-0 record and capture the Central Michigan D conference championship, the first for both in school history.  Football playoffs did not begin in Michigan until 1975.  Had it been around for the 1961 season, DeWitt—which had a student enrollment of 212—would have been serious contenders for a Class D State Championship.  Under the leadership of head coach Larry Churches and with the experience of nine returning seniors, DeWitt outscored its opponents 276-166, averaging 34.5 points per game.  To start the season, the Panthers had wins against Bath (40-13), Woodland (31-14), Ashley (31-6), Potterville (27-7), Vermontville (52-12), and Diamondale (35-27).  Sitting at a perfect 6-0 record, the Panthers went into a homecoming match-up against league rival and defending Central Michigan D champion Fowler.  Over a thousand spectators watched DeWitt jump out to an early 20-0 lead and eventually clinch a share of the Central Michigan D championship with a 27-12 win.  Heading into their final week of the season, the Panthers needed a win over Sunfield to claim an outright league championship and to finish with the school’s first undefeated season.  All five Panther touchdowns came in the first half and all of them came on plays covering 35 yards or more to secure a 33-20 victory.

The 1961 Boys Football team included the following members:  Rich Arthur, Alan Bedaine, Bob Bouts, Brian Bouts, Carlton Brooks, Harold Deines, Robert Donders, Doug Isanhart, Tom Isanhart, Robert King, Ronnie King, Mike Leonard, Kim Little, Dennis Locher, Keith Nabbefeld, Brent Newman, Mike Pierce, Clio Ruiz, Tom Soltow, Philip Trumble, George Wedel, Gary Wilcox, and Head Coach Larry Churches.