Glouster High School would go through a multifaceted change in the 1970s.  They would leave the Mid-Ohio Valley Conference after the 1970 season and spend a majority of the decade independent.  They would then lose 20 consecutive games from 1971 until week four of 1973.  That 1973 season, however,  would lay the foundation for the Tomcat football program.  The first element was when the high school moved just outside Jacksonville and the name of the district was changed from Glouster High School to Trimble Local High School.  The second key factor was at the end of the  ‘72 season Coach Joe Bokovitz stepped down and 23-year-old Paul Culver was hired to guide the program in ‘73.  Many will say that Culver changed the attitude of the community to give more of an emphasis to football.  Taking over a program that was in a multi-season losing streak, Culver went 4-5 in his first year, and never had another losing season during his tenure.  His 1974 team finished 8-1-1 which, at the time, was the best record for any 10 game season in Trimble Township history.  That ‘74 team had “The Best Defense in Southeastern Ohio” and featured All-Ohio selection Dave Hartley which would start a consistent run of Trimble players gaining All-Ohio recognition that continues to this day.  Culver’s teams cultivated the toughness of the community with athleticism, which was quickly recognized by the local press.  The 1977 team was called “Culver’s Mad Bombers” since the offense could explode at any moment leading to the nickname the “Bomb Squad”.  In 1978 Trimble competed in the Tri-Valley Conference. In the first TVC game against Warren, Jeff McClelland took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown en route to a 27-8 victory and ultimately leading to a Co-Championship in the first year of conference competition.  At the conclusion of the 1978-79 school year, Coach Culver left for Buckeye North High School and Trimble turned to one of their own, Ed Bolin.  Coach Bolin’s first season ended with another TVC Co-Championship with all of the right pieces returning for the 1980 season.

Glouster leaves the MOVC at the conclusion of the school year and will play and independent schedule until 1978.  This was the first matchup of Glouster and Nelsonville-York after both schools consolidated.  They have played every year since 1970. Reemlin was the Boys Industrial School of Lancaster, in some newspaper articles they are only referenced as BIS.

Post Season Awards:

All MOVC - Byron Guinther Back of the Year; Dick Hughes Defensive player of the Year; Carl Kamento; Carl Coffman; Mike Bycofski

All District - First Team: Byron Guinther

Team Members: Rick Stinson, Carl Coffman, Terry Everett, Byron Guinther, Dick Hughes, Jerry Kovach, Chuck Mecum, Mike Bycofski, Steve Antle, Rex Angle, Steve Moore, Carl Kamento, Cy Rockhold, Ed Morris, Joe Olbers, Don Standley, Robert Everett, Gary Humphrey, Jim Wright, Terry Hooper, Emmett Olbers, David Frank, Tom Richards, Dave Meade, Eric Bingman, Lester Neel

Team Members: Carl Kamento, Tom Richards, Gary Humphrey, Dave Meade, Cy Rockhold, Jim Wright, Ed Morris, Steve Moore, Butch Olbers, Rick Stinson, Terry Hooper, Mark Gillespie, Donnie Standley, Denny Gillott, Joe Olbers, Ron Coey, Don Coey, Steve Antle, Charles Richards, Lester Neel, Sam Kamento, Dave Frank, Dirk Walton, Jeff Coffman, Tim Sikorski, Jim Collins, Tony Trace, Rodney King, Randy Trace, David Hartley, Wayne Kolbe, Stu Patton, Wayne Shuttleworth, Joe Bokovitz

Assistant Coach: Craig Bundschuh

Managers: Benny Bingman, Jon Bokovitz, Rick Garey

OHSAA starts the playoff system

Final Computer rank 41st Class A Region 11

Team Members: Kevin Hall, Dave Hartley, Wayne Kolbe, Joe Olbers, Denny Gillott, Terry Hooper, Randy Trace, Mark Sikorski, Stu Patton, Chas Richards, Tim Sikorski, Wayne Shuttleworth, Randy Covella, Tony Trace, Al Richards, Robert Lowery, Don Coey, Larry Border, Mitch Brunton, Pat King, Mike Echstenkamper, Steve Lewis, Jan Hooper, Rich Shafer, Rick Hartley, Butch Bokovitz, Rodney King, Mickey Blackford, Dirk Walton, Ron Coey, Eric Bingman, Brent Gillespie, Mike Fleming, Don Standley, Steve Moore

Assistant Coaches, Steve Miller, Joe Wildenthaler, Joe Morse

The Vinton County game was canceled due to a teachers strike at Vinton County Schools

The Southern game was called with 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter, due to “rough play”

Final Computer Rank: 28th Class A Region 11

Post Season Awards:

All Messenger: Chas Richards, Dave Hartley, Rodney King

Team Members: R. Trace, S. Lewis, R. Covella, W. Shuttleworth, W. Kolbe, D. Walton, M. Fleming, T. Sikorski, K. Hall, J. Hooper, S. Patton, M. Smith, B. Bokovitz, D. Hartley, T. Trace, R. King, B. Lowery, B. Christman, R. Shafer, P. King, B. Gillespie, C. Richards, M. Brunton, M. Lewis, E. Bingman, M. Echstenkamper, H. Leach, M. Hunter, K. Darby, L. Morrison, C. Malone, R. Coey, T. Moody, P. Faires

Assistant Coach: Joe Morse

Final Computer Rank: 8th Class A Region 11

Post Season Awards:

All District: First Team - Rodney King, Mike Echstenkamper, Dave Hartley, Second Team - Stu Patton, Tony Trace, Tim Sikorski

All Ohio- Third Team - Dave Hartley - Honorable Mention Rodney King, Mike Echstenkamper, Stu Patton

Team Members: Mickey Blackford, Wayne Kolbe, Randy Trace, Don Coey, Wayne Shuttleworth, Dirk Walton, Rodney King, Stu Patton, Tony Trace, Randy Covella, David Hartley, Tim Sikorski, Monty Christa, Bruce Christman, Leo Morrison, Rich Shafer, Mark Smith, Greg Holbert, Mark Hunter, Mike Lewis, Bob Jago, Mike Echstenkamper, Phil Faires, Jan Hooper, Rich Coey, Randy Dearing, Rick Mingus, Skip Exline, Chuck Love, Jeff Moody, Harold Leach, Mitch Brunton, Kevin Meade, Pat King, Kevin Hall, Mark Trace, Dean Dupler, Rusty Higgins, Aaron Angle, Tom Collins

Assistant Coaches: John Abdella, Joe Morse

Mike Echstenkamper scored every point in the Nelsonville-York game, he caught two touchdown passes and also ran the ball into the endzone for a safety after an errant snap. 

According to statistics published in the Athens Messenger (11/9/1975), Kevin Meade threw for 1,045 yards becoming the first Trimble quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in a season.

Final Computer Rank: 21st Class A Region 11

Post Season Awards:

All District: First Team-Mike Echstenkamper

All Ohio: Second Team-Mike Echstenkamper

Team Members: Mike Echstenkamper, Brent Gillespie, Jan Hooper, Rich Shafer, Kevin Hall, Pat King, Mitch Brunton, Greg Matthews,Terry Duncan, Mark Hunter, Michael Lewis, Bob Jago, Dave Roback, Phil Faires, Bryan Christman, Harold Leach, Chuck Love, Jeff Moody, Randy Coffman, Bruce Christman, Skip Exline, Aaron Angle, Randy Dearing, Mark Trace, Dean Dupler, Kevin Meade, Rusty Higgins, Rick Mingus, Greg Holbert, Rusty Love, L.R. Faires, Kurt Hall, Bill Hale, Norman Richards, Carl Fouts, Sam Jones, Jeff McClelland

Assistant Coaches: John Abdella, Ed Bolin, Darrell Dugan

Greg Holbert is the first Trimble Receiver with over 500 yards receiving with 526 yards.

Final Computer Rank: 25th Class A Region 11

Post Season Awards:

All District: First Team-Phil Faires, Second Team-Rich Coey, Terry Duncan

Team Members: B. Jewell, B. Hale, R. McElfresh, K. Meade, S. Exline,  J. Dixon, M. Jenkins, J. McClelland, D. Roback, G. Holbert, R. Coey, B. Jones, M. Hunter, T. Duncan, M. Lewis, R. Shafer, A. Angle, C. Curry, J. Faires, C. Love, C. Fouts, S. Bycofski, M. Trace, R. Mingus, P. Faires, S. Jones, R. Ahle, K. Hall, R. Higgins, B. Jago, D. Dupler, B. Christman, H. Leach, B. Irwin

Jeff McClelland became the first Tomcat Running Back to rush for over 1,000 yards with 1,523 yards rushing.

Final Computer Rank: 10th Class A Region 11

Post Season Awards:

All District: First Team Greg Holbert, Kevin Meade, Dean Dupler, Rusty Higgins 

All Ohio: Second Team - Greg Holbert, Third Team - Kevin Meade Special Mention - Dean Dupler, 

Team Members: R. Ahle, S. Jones, C. Fouts, J. McClelland, J. Faires, B. Irwin, M. Jenkins, J. Jewell, B. Jones, E. Faires, R. McElfresh, D. Roback, D. Dupler, G. Holbert, K. Meade, R. Burch, M. Trace, A. Angle, R. Higgins, R. Mingus, S. Bycofski, L. Dixon, J. Jones, M. McClelland, M. Deal, G. Campbell, D. Brown

Jeff McClelland became the first Tomcat Running Back to rush for over 300 yards in a game with 330 yards against Federal Hocking.

Trimble joins the Tri Valley Conference

Final Computer Rank: 7th Class A Region 11

Post Season Awards:

All TVC: Jeff McClelland (Player of the Year), Carl Fouts, Sam Jones, Bill Jones

All District: Jeff McClelland (Back of the Year), Carl Fouts, Mike Roback

All Ohio: First Team - Jeff McClelland, Special Mention - Carl Fouts, Mike Roback

Final Computer Rank: 12th Division V Region 19

Post Season Awards:

All TVC: Rick Ahle, Jay Faires, Brett Irwin, Bill Jones, Gene Campbell, Mike Roback

All District: Jay Faires, Brett Irwin, Gene Campbell, Bill Jones

All Ohio: Second Team - Jay Faires, Third Team - Brett Irwin