The Undefeated Seasons of Coach Dale Hackett
School Year 1952-53
#38 Bill Weaver, #36 Kenny Graham, #39 Harold Griffey,
#44 Marvin Walter, #43 Darrel Jackson, #42 John Nally,
#41 Leslie Pierce, #47 Charles Davis
#42 John Nally Nally, #36 Kenny Graham and #44 Marvin Water listen intently as Coach Hackett explains the best way to execute an important play.
Front row (L to R): Jim Lightfoot, Mgr., Elroy Pierce, Leroy Vrbsky, Carol Bangs, Eldon Wright, Kenneth Wright, Bud West, Ronnie Booker, Gary Thompson
2nd row: Gordon Rea, Don Michel, David Tyndale, Larry Piper, Darrel Jackson, John Nally, Leslie Pierce, Charles Davis, Artie Gilmore
3rd row: Sup’t, Orin Mann, Ass’t Coach Loren Aldrich, Jim Scott, Wayne Supernaw, Richard Ohrt, Leroy Spears, Bill Weaver, Kenneth Graham, Harold Griffey, Marvin Walter, Carl Ditmars, Donald Booker, Coach Hackett
This was one of Farragut’s most successful seasons in history as we went through the season undefeated. A week before school started, 27 boys which included 8 returning lettermen started practicing.
Although the weather was hot at first, we worked hard and got into good condition for our first game.
The squad included:
5 seniors: Artie Gilmore, Kenny Graham, John Nally, Marvin Walter, and Larry Piper
12 Juniors: Charles Davis, Harold Griffey, Darrel Jackson, Donnie Michel, Leslie Pierce, Gordon Rea, Jim Scott, Wayne Supernaw, David Tyndale, Bill Weaver, Bud West, and Kenneth Wright
4 Sophomores: Dick Ohrt, Carol Bangs, Don Booker, and Leroy Spears
6 Freshmen: Ronnie Booker, Carl Ditmars, Elroy Pierce, Gary Thompson, Eldon Wright and Leroy Vrbsky
Of these players, there were 19 letter winners.
We compiled a total of 534 points to our opponents 119
Farragut 53 Clearfield 9
Farragut 57 Coin 20
Farragut 53 Randolph
Farragut 56 Shelby 32
Farragut 60 Thurman 7
Farragut 67 Pickett 28
Farragut 77 New Market 13
Farragut 54 Tabor 0
Farragut 56 College Springs 13
- 1952-53 FHS Yearbook
Bottom row, L to R: Leslie Pierce, Bud West, Harold Griffey, Bill Weaver, David Tyndale, Larry Rowe, Elroy Pierce, Bill Sorenson, Roger Wells, Marvin Pierce
2nd row: Coach Stienhoff, Leroy Vrybsky, Carol Bangs, Joe Murphy, Wayne Ross, Max Griffey, Tilbert Walters, Donovan Michel, Gary Warner, Kenny Wright, Eldon Wright, Coach Dale Hackett
3rd row: Leroy Spears, Darrel Jackson, Richard Ohrt, Gordon Rea, Jim Scott, Charles Davis, Gary Thompson, Eugene Livingston, Ronnie Walter, Phillip Gilmore
No. 1 In the State
The Admirals
Why were the Admirals picked the top six-man team in the state of Iowa? Read this terrific record and you will see.
One week before school started, August 24, the Admirals started preparing for their opening game with Shelby, who was supposed to be a top contender for the conference title. With Farragut determined to live up to its last year’s record they showed Shelby who’s boss in our conference with a 35-13 victory.
The following week Clearfield floated into town and was immediately sunk by a score of 67-12. New Market also received a defeat of 54-13.
In the next two games the Admirals came near to disaster after opposing teams played a strong first half but were unable to overcome the powerful Admirals. In the final half, the scores were Farragut 40 - Coin 14 and Farragut 20 - College Springs 7.
Against Tabor’s aggressive team the Admirals played a fine offensive game but were weak on pass defense. As a result the Ads won by a triumphant score of 33-20.
Since the Admirals had an open date, they stepped out of the ranks of six-man to play Hamburg in an eleven-man game. With only one week of practice, the Ads tied Hamburg, 12-12. Since everyone favored the change, the Admirals will play eleven-man football in 1955.
The peak of their exciting victories came when they downed Woodside High School of Des Moines 28-7 on Homecoming night. Co-Captains, Charles Davis and Harold Griffey, crowned and presented the queen, Peggy Pierce, with flowers.
The final game of the year was played at Pickett High of St. Joseph, Missouri. Even though the temperature was below freezing and the ground was covered with snow, the Admirals conquered the “Show-Me” boys with a hard-fought battle, 27-18.
For their constant efforts to play good football, Mr. Hackett presented Charles Davis, Leslie Pierce, Harold Griffey, Bud West, Jim Scott, Don Michel, Leroy Spears, Richard Ohrt, Gary Thompson, Joe Murphy, Ronnie Walters and Eugene Livingston with letters.
Leslie Pierce and Charles Davis brought honors to the team when they were named to the All-State First Team and Harold Griffey was named All-State Third Team.
Coach Dale Hackett was named Coach of the Year in Southwest Iowa by Fred Hawks, Sports Editor of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil. He has continually been able to produce outstanding teams at FHS since the fall of 1941.
The Admirals again received the repeated honor as the No. 1 six-man team in the state of Iowa. The opposition probably considers the Admirals, with their ability to play good football, as Public Enemy No. 1.
- 1953-54 FHS Yearbook
The Admirals went through their second consecutive victorious season. Coached by Mr. Hackett and assisted by Mr. Steinhoff and Mr. Cox, the Admirals sailed through eight games ending the season No. 2 in Southwest Iowa.
Twenty-seven boys participated with twenty-two earning letters.
There were nine seniors on the squad, meaning that next year Mr. Hackett will have a larger roster of lettermen back to work with.
Game scores were:
Farragut 62 Malvern 0
Farragut 46 Elliot 0
Farragut 33 Griswold 13
Farragut 32 Tabor 0
Farragut 49 Fairfax, MO 14
Farragut 20 Sidney 0
Farragut 56 Hamburg 14
Farragut 39 Essex 0
The Admirals maintained a scoring average of 42.12 points per game while holding their opponents to only 5.12 points per game.
- 1956-57 FHS Yearbook
(Player identification courtesy of my memory)
[it is unfortunate this team photo was split by the page break in the yearbook…looks like Denny Hackett on the far left of the top row and possibly Durward Limbacher next to him ?]
Coach Hackett; #14 John Allen; #11 Jon Martin; #88 Greg Shearer; #86 John Burkhiser; #87 Kenny Kammann; #13 Ed Thomas; #12 Larry Gruber; #10 Jim Mann; #77 Gary Annan; #76 Bill Bickett; Coach Warren Dobry; #89 Gary Moody; Coach Joe Jack
When football practice began in August 1964, there was a “quiet confidence” throughout the community in anticipation of this year’s team, and for good reason.
The Admirals hosted Clarinda to open the season and defeated the Cardinals 13-0. There was palpable excitement throughout the crowd that night when Larry Gruber caught a pass from Jim Mann and raced 80 yards to the endzone. Later in the game, Gruber took a handoff from Mann and outran everyone for his second touchdown. Following the game, The Des Moines Register moved Farragut to the top of their small school football poll where they remained for the entirety of the season. The Corner Conference Championship came down to the final game of the year between the two undefeated conference teams … Essex and Farragut. The Admirals defeated the Trojans 19-12 and The Des Moines Register named Farragut the #1 Class B team in the state and the “mythical state champions” (this was before the playoff system was instituted).
The Admirals outscored their opponents 348-38 in their undefeated season.
Farragut 13 Clarinda 0
Farragut 39 Nishna Valley 0
Farragut 38 Fremont-Mills 0
Farragut 38 Hamburg 14
Farragut 39 New Market 6
Farragut 55 Malvern 0
Farragut 33 Sidney 0
Farragut 45 Stanton 6
Farragut 29 South Page 0
Farragut 19 Essex 12
The Class of 1965 would be Coach Hackett’s final football team to coach as he handed off his head coaching responsibilities to his assistant Warren Dobry in school year 1965-66.
… Dwight Durfey – Class of 1971
