Centralia Sports Hall of Fame

1969 Centralia High School Football Team
The Centralia Sports Hall of Fame
1989 Team Award Winner

ROW ONE: (Kneeling left-right) Dale Arning, Dewayne “Squeak” Jones, Jim Danielwicz, Gary Smith, Roland Fetgatter, Ken Smudrick, Bill Still, Roger Barrow, Tim Wrinkle, Don Cunningham, Bob Kell.
ROW TWO: (left-right) Coach Don Smith, Mike Hooper, Gary Robinson, Dave Enrietto, John Ryan, Gary Heard, Dean Langenfeld, Rocky Currie, Tom Miller, Tony Weiss, Mike Steinmann, Harvey Coe, Barry Kracht, Tony Castellari, Mike Ellis, Asst. Coach Bill Blair.
ROW THREE: (left-right) Harold Walker, Larry Kiatt, Mark Gibson, Bill Timberlake, Allan Marcum, Gary Brown, Don Sensel, Ron Woodard, Ron Davis, Steve Mohr, Roger White, Craig Engel, Ed McGee, Curtis Eagan, Dennis Rose, Randy Love, Jerome Stack, John Bryant, Maurice Killon, Tim Roller NOT PICTURED: Mark Myers, Mgr., Jim Barnes, Mgr.

The “Wild Bunch” posted a perfect 9-0 record as they took all comers and outscored them by an average of 30 p.p.g. Gary Robinson rushed for 447 yds., John Ryan passed for 1,242 yds., Mike Steinmann had receptions totaling 460 yds. to lead the team on the year.

As the 1969 season rolled around great things were anticipated as many players returned from the 1968 season which saw a 7-1-1 slate. Those with high expectations were not disappointed as the “wild Bunch” posted a perfect 9-0 record.

With exception to tight two-point wins over Carbondale and Marion and posting C.H.S’s first football victory over Cahokia by five, the rest of the schedule was a cakewalk. Game scores were: Salem 44-0, Carbondale 14-12, Cahokia 14-9, Herrin 28-0, Harrisburg 52-6, Benton 72-0, Marion 8-6, Mt. Vernon 46-6, West Frankford 34-0.

Gary Robinson rushed for 447 yards, John Ryan passed for 1242 yds, and Mike Steinmann had receptions totaling 460 yds. to lead the team on the year.

They averaged 34.67 points per game, 30 ppg more than their opponents.

At the conclusion of the season the individual accolades came pouring in.

Four players were named to all-state teams: John Ryan, Mike Steinmann, Jim Danielwicz and Dewayne “Squeak” Jones. All-South Seven Conference selections were: Ryan, Harvey Coe, Danielwicz, Jones, Dale arning, Dave Arning, Dave Enrietto and Steinmann, Ryan was named WSIU-TV player of the year. Danielwicz was Southen Illinois lineman of the year and Steinmann was Southern Illinois Player of the Year as named by Evansville Courier.

COACH: Don Smith. ASSISTANT COACH: Bill Blair.