(Updated, 7/13) Today, the Times ranks the best Dorchester High School football teams of all time.
Over the last several months, our staff surveyed several DHS fans and alumni -- including former players and student managers. We believe that we have accurately identified and ranked the top ten Longhorn teams to ever hit the gridiron. Beginning with the best DHS football team of all time, they are:
1.) 1971 (Undefeated and touted as the best Class D team in Nebraska by many sportswriters.)
2.) 1979 (Undefeated and touted as one the best Class C-2 teams in Nebraska by many.)
3.) 1977 (Ranked No. 7 in Class C-2 by the Lincoln Journal and No. 5 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end. Pioneer Conference champs. "The hardest hitting team ever to wear the DHS uniform," one local expert said.)
4.) 1976 (Ranked No. 5 in Class D by the Lincoln Journal and No. 7 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end. Pioneer Conference champs.)
5.) 1978 (Ranked No. 5 in Class D by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end. Pioneer Conference champs.)
6.) 1958 (Ranked No. 2 in six-man by the Omaha World-Herald.)
7.) 1959 (Ranked No. 8 in six-man by the World-Herald.)
8.) 1986 (Ranked No. 8 in Class C-2 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end. State qualifier.)
9.) 1987 (Ranked No. 9 in Class C-2 by the Lincoln Journal and No. 5 by the Omaha World-Herald at season's end. State qualifier.)
10.) 1994 (State qualifier in eight-man. Only team to lead Falls City Sacred Heart that season.)
** Honorable Mention: 2006 (State qualifier in eight-man) and 1999 (eight-man).
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Complete and utter bull the fact that you left off the team of 1991. That team should have been playing 8-man ball and would have won state. It scored 88 points on a ranked D-1 team, Malcolm I think it was.
ReplyDeleteAbout my comment above, that might have been the fall of 1990
ReplyDeleteYou put 2006 as Honorable Mention? They would have gotten blown out by 1999! That team lost only 2 regular season games, one was to class D2 #2 Shickley. And they lost their playoff game because their starting QB got hurt. 1999 would have pushed 2006 around, and Burkey would have ran for 200 yards and 5 TDs....Easily. Its a shame that 1999 team isnt on here.
ReplyDeleteThat 1999 team was when the graduating class of 2000 were the seniors.
You really should have put the team of 1988-89 as honorable mention. Far superior athletes compared to those of the 90s and certainly 2000s.
ReplyDeletegreat idea, even if some might disagree with the order
ReplyDeletethe team in 1979 was the best.
ReplyDeleteits a real dissapointment that all the teams listed are 11 man teams.
ReplyDeletethe 1999 team had a 7-1 regular season record with the #2 rusher in the state of Nebraska.
you got to play the hand you were dealt and this was a darn good team
The 2006 tean was only 6-3??
ReplyDeleteand got totally destroyed in the first round of playoffs
Who does your research? The 1976 team ranked #4 on your list - REALLY? That team only won 2 games all year.
ReplyDeleteDonald Johnson
Class of 1976
I can only speak for the time I played, which was the late 80's....I know all who played football for Dorchester share the same feelings of pride. It was a great experience to be on the football field those Friday nights busting your butt for the guy next to you, your team mates and your school. I wouldn't of traded those four years for anything!! WHAT A BLAST!!
ReplyDeleteYes, Thank you for the above comment about the 1999 team. Correction, only lost 1 regular season game which was to class D2 #2 Shickley. They knocked off a rated Pole Hordville team that was ranked 4th or 5th to start the season. They also hosted the first home playoff game in 10+ years (thats a guess. I know it was a long time). They blew out every other team they played.
ReplyDelete*****You put 2006 as Honorable Mention? They would have gotten blown out by 1999! That team lost only 2 regular season games, one was to class D2 #2 Shickley. And they lost their playoff game because their starting QB got hurt. 1999 would have pushed 2006 around, and Burkey would have ran for 200 yards and 5 TDs....Easily. Its a shame that 1999 team isnt on here.
That 1999 team was when the graduating class of 2000 were the seniors.
1999 has to be in the top 5 of best 8-man teams at DHS
ReplyDeletethe 06 team would of put up a fight with any team.. They had put speed and size.. They could pass the ball if they wanted or run it.. They also had a very stellar defense.. Not to mention if it wasn't for one of their key players being hurt, they more than likely would of won the first round of playoffs and beyond
ReplyDelete1979 was the best motivated team!Although Gary Cooper moved on...his basic principles did not. Even with the "average" head coach (J.R.) Chuck (Doc) Bolton motiviated players to maximize their potiential. Good athletes performing @ 100% = GREAT TEAM!
ReplyDelete1979 was a highly motivated team. Although Gary Cooper moved on...his basic principles did not. Even with an "average" head coach...Chuck (Doc) Bolton lead the team to one of the greatest seasons in Dorchester history. Was it the best team ever??? No one will ever know.
ReplyDeleteDorchester switched over to 11 man during a divided season in the fall of '69' we played 6-11man games and 3-8man games in the same season. someone older then I, will have to tell you when they switched from 6man to 8man.
ReplyDeleteyou cannot compare teams of old to new because kids are bigger, faster, and stronger then they use to be. Thanks to weight lifting, personal trainers. The competition has gotten tougher because of this also. Athletes now will spend money to go to places to get specific athletic training.
ReplyDeleteto the 06 team.
ReplyDeleteinjuries happen, so that cant be an excuse.
the 99 team lost one heck of a player in the playoffs. Its all part of the game.
I would love to compare opponents won loss records. I bet the bloggers never think of this.
the 06 teams schedule was very weak.
In answer to the question by Don Johson, I think the team they are talking about was the team from the fall of 1976, not the graduating class of 1976. I, too, am from the class of 76. We won the homecoming game fall of 75 and one other game that year. My brother played on the fall of 76 team and graduated in 1977.
ReplyDeleteKR
To Donald Johnson
ReplyDeleteI think the team the Times is talking about is the 1976-77 team. The team you're talking about is the 1975-76 team.
Good history here! I didn't know that DHS had played 8-man as recently as the late 60s. I do remember when we went back to 8-man in the fall of 1991 ... sad day. I miss seeing 11 guys on the field.
ReplyDeletethe 06 team had one of the hardest districts in the state. also the 06 team produced a hand full of college athletes
ReplyDeletethat last 8 man team in the fall of 1968 could play with anyone.
ReplyDeleteJack Guggenmos's 4 years as coach produced a 29-5-2 record. 3 of those losses came on the fall of 1969 while reloading after the great class of 1969 had graduated.
That team in the fall of 1971 was damn good.
somewhere in the mid-50's, Dorchester went from 6 to 8 man. 1949 the football program was restarted in Dorchester after decades of not playing the game.
ReplyDeleteThis response is directed to "Anonymous" who made the comment about kids being bigger, faster, stronger. That is true to a certain extent. Times have changed in the respect that athletes train harder and have more opportunity to better their performance. BUT...as far as Dorchester athletes, you cannot tell me that there has been bigger kids in recent years than the ones from the mid to late 80s. Have you ever noticed the guys from the class of '89' when they get together? Cory Roth is 6'8; Matt Bolton is 6'5; W.J. Plouzek is 6'6; the Vynalek twins are 6'4 & 6'3; Shane Carr and Kenny Uher are at least 6'1. Man...those are some big boys. In addition, whoever submitted that comment obviously never had to try and tackle Don Bruha, Lance Bobolz, or Shane Carr. They would have laid you out on the ground blowing snot bubbles from your nose!
ReplyDelete06????
ReplyDeleteI can think of one college athlete??
who were the others
The one thing I'd like the players of DHS today to take from this is that they represent more than just themselves and their current school on the field. They also represent all of the greats who have ever worn the uniform, dating back to the 1930s. Maybe earlier. Keep the Longhorn Pride alive and well. Be respectful of the Horns that are on that helmet.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know football was about just height. Looks like they should of had a good basketball team. I am not just talking about Dorchester teams. The over all competition has gotten tougher because of weight lifting and the complexity of the game. It is not just 3 yards and a cloud of dust. blocking assignments have gotten tougher and defenses more complex. Just look and Nebraska's teams over the last 20 years. In the late 80's line weighed 250 and that was big now the line averages 300. college football claims that a 400lb linemen is not far away.
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt, high school kids hit the weights more nowadays. And mommy and daddy certainly spend more on camps than they did in the 70s, 80s, or 90s. But are the athletes better? Not even close. They might be smarter and better practiced. But they seem to be less developed and less willing to take a hit. I attribute it too the high obesity rate in kids and lower participation rates(less competition on the field), more single-parent homes, and a softer society.
ReplyDeleteThose 70s and 80s teams are where they belong on your poll. The DHS kids back then would have left half the later teams paralyzed.
Anonymous 3:48 PM - The other athletes from class of 2006 likely went to "colleges" like Peru or Dana. So really, they were more like high school students who had a few more years of eligibility.
ReplyDeleteplaying college football at any level is not easy to do. There are a select few that go on to play college ball after high school
ReplyDeleteonly one way to solve this... Get alumni football tournament inline!
ReplyDeleteAnnonymous- July 16, 2010 9:26 PM
ReplyDeletehahahahah big shot. i bet you went on and played at a D-1 school, right? please.
That would be nice to see alumni football, but you couldnt get enought ambulances to take care of the old guys, and young ones that would get hurt, we are not as young, and bones crack easier.
ReplyDeleteTo Number 64,
ReplyDeleteDittos to your comment. All DHS teams want to do their best!
and
To Anonymous on July 16th at 9:26,
tsk, tsk!!!
What was the 94 teams record?
ReplyDelete