Need to connect with a PNG historian

[78 Spartan]

Friends,

I played at Houston Stratford in 1978, the year we came into and were fortunate enough to win at the Reservation 30-28 to open our season. I can assure you that we had the utmost respect and admiration for the PNG program and playing at the Reservation was something none of us will ever forget. I know there were many Indian fans who followed us through the playoffs that year, as we could look up and see quite a lot of purple at the Astrodome when we played Kashmere, LaPorte, Churchill and Plano.

I am collecting some information on PNG's run from 1974-77, which I think is one of the most impressive four year stretches that any high school ever put together in all of Texas history. I need to correspond with someone who is in possession of detailed records from those years so my work will be accurate.

If you don't mind giving me a little of your time to ask my questions, please contact me via email at bobking84@yahoo.com.

Thanks and good luck this season.

 

[1989NDN]

Welcome 78 Spartan. You need to get a copy of the book, Down The Trails of Victory, written by John Buck Ford, Ed.D. You can probably go to Amazon and get a paperback copy relatively cheap. If you cannot find the book, I will loan you my copy. I live in Houston and I'm familiar with the I-10 and Dairy Ashford area -- home of the Spartans at Tully Stadium. Down the Trails of Victory is a history book about PN-G football and traditions. In the book, you can read about the beginning of PN-G football during the 1920s and its rise to power in the 1950s and 1970s. The book stops with the naming of Matt Burnett as head coach during the mid-1990s. You will find chapters dedicated to the 1974-1977 era under legendary head coach, Doug Ethridge. Coach Ethridge and Coach Cripps at Stratford had some good teams during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Doug Ethridge era at PN-G was special ... winning football, district championships, a state championship, a narrow loss to Plano in the 1977 state title game, and record-setting crowds for Texas high school football. If you can't find a copy of the book, let me know and I'll get in touch with you to loan you my copy. You can send me a PM on this site and I will respond. Thanks again for visiting the pngindians.com web site and message board.

Go Indians. Peace.

 

[78 Spartan]

Thanks 89NDN, I will look for it and if I do not find it I will contact you.

To say Stratford had great respect for PNG in those days was an understatement. It wasn't just that the team won (a lot). It was that they did it with such class, and that the community supported them so totally.

We just had the 30th reunion of our state championship team this summer, and I think there are more memories of our opener at PNG than there were of any of the playoff games. The experience was just so rich. It was my first varsity game as a starter, and I remember going through warmups before a near-full crowd 45 minutes before kickoff, and the tom-toms were going and the Indian was dancing and when the band fired up that fight song .... well, that was sphincter time for me.

I also remember looking up a few times during our playoff games at the Astrodome and seeing a sizeable contingent of purple jackets, watching us play. It wasn't enough to drive 100 miles to see the Indians play, some of those guys drove 100 miles to see US play. That was amazing, and flattering.

In retrospect, we now know we caught PNG in a down year in 78 .... but we didn't know that on Sept 15, 1978. We had to play our guts out to prevail that night, and as it turned out PNG was the only team we played that year that kept the result within a touchdown.

One of my questions ... I am wondering how long of a home winning streak we snapped that night. I would assume it was something like 15 or 20 consecutive home wins at The Reservation before we broke that streak ... but maybe you can look it up in the book and let me know when (before Sept 15 1978) was the last loss, who it was to, and how long the win streak was.

Thanks, and scalp 'em.

 

[PNG Proud]

I Like You, 78Spartan.
Good luck, and congrats on that State Championship year.

 

[78 Spartan]

I would sure like to see that rivalry renewed. It might be impractical, what with the impact of scheduling at the subvarsity level. It would be a fun trip for the kids, and to a bunch of old timers it would be a lot of fun to head back to The Reservation for another game.

It would be fun to do a home and home thing, have your state championship team honored at Tully Stadium where you won in 75, and have our state championship team honored at Indian Stadium, where we won in 78. I would imagine at least 30 of our team would be in Port Neches for that, come hell or high water.

Stratford is hanging by a thread at the 5A classification and my guess is, will likely be competing in 4A football starting in 2010. The 5A schools are so big these days, and Stratford is still about 2,000 students, give or take.

 

[pngfan93]

None of us can speak for the new coaches, but I'd bet that they'd rather play 5A schools rather than 4A. If you notice, our 1 scrimmage is against a 5A school. I'd think that would carry over next year to preseason. At least powerhouse 4A programs. The team learns nothing from playing local programs of smaller size. In short, that game could be a reality with the proper urging of the coaches.

 

[squaw]

The last game we lost before y'all was the year before to South Houston. It was a preseason game and they beat us 16-13 and in regionals we beat them by about 30 points. That was the year we won state. The next year we were unbeaten all year and lost state. Go figure--I've heard too much partying the night before, too many big heads. Who knows? Those were the glory years and we had a son playing outside linebacker and Coach Etheridge let all the parents into the locker room after the game--moms and all. I was much smaller then and those boys were throwing me around! What a trip! I've always said I don't need drugs to get high-just the Indians.

 

[78 Spartan]

Was that South Houston game at home or at Pasadena Memorial? I am interested in the length of the HOME winning streak that was broken.

Thanks!

 

[squaw]

Both of those games were played in South Houston. I remember them rolling an old tire around and calling themselves the "junkyard dogs." After the second game which was on a cool, beautiful day, the junkyard dogs went running with their tails between their legs. I couldn't talk the next day for all the yelling we did. And in case anyone remembers, I was part of the few that snuck into the Astrodome by going on a "tour" and slipping into a bathroom on our way down. We had to stand on the toilets with the doors closed because guards were checking the restrooms. Gosh, we were scared. I didn't know I could even hold my breath that long. But we had great seats! lol Here's hoping we have another run at a state title.

 

[PNG Proud]

If I remember correctly, we lost to South Houston 17-16, and we got the last points on a 2 point conversion to end the game, with no time left. That showed the Never-Say-Die spirit of that 75 team. Even though they KNEW they could not win, they pressed on to the point of a 2 pointer to end the game, just so they could get within 1 point.

 

[pngfan1]

The last game we lost before y'all was the year before to South Houston. It was a preseason game and they beat us 16-13 and in regionals we beat them by about 30 points. That was the year we won state. The next year we were unbeaten all year and lost state. Go figure--I've heard too much partying the night before, too many big heads. Who knows? Those were the glory years and we had a son playing outside linebacker and Coach Etheridge let all the parents into the locker room after the game--moms and all. I was much smaller then and those boys were throwing me around! What a trip! I've always said I don't need drugs to get high-just the Indians.

The last game we lost before Stratford in 78 was to Plano in the finals in 77. Also leaving a year out(76). We didn't make the state finals two years in a row. We won state in 75, lost in semis in (San Antonio Churchill at Rice stadium) 76 and lost the state championship game in 77 to Plano( only loss that year as you stated).

 

[1989NDN]

78Spartan -- I believe the answer to your question is ... Port Arthur Lincoln in 1974. PN-G defended The Reservation well during Coach Ethridge's 1974-1977 run. I believe in 1974, Port Arthur Lincoln beat PN-G at The Reservation and then we did not lose another home game until those Stratford Spartans came to Port Neches in 1978. I will reserach the question more closely this weekend. I think PN-G had a nice home field winning streak in between 1974 and 1978 when, in 1978, Craig James and the Spartans beat us 30-28. I read that you were a TE on that 1978 Spartans team ... did Stratford throw much? Give the ball to Craig James and pound the ball ... and, then throw off of play action? I would love to see Stratford and PN-G play a home and home series. Tully Stadium is still a neat place to watch a game. Not too many stadiums sunk into the ground the way Tully Stadium is ... field turf there now, right?

Go Indians. Peace.

 

[squaw]

If I remember correctly, we lost to South Houston 17-16, and we got the last points on a 2 point conversion to end the game, with no time left. That showed the Never-Say-Die spirit of that 75 team. Even though they KNEW they could not win, they pressed on to the point of a 2 pointer to end the game, just so they could get within 1 point.

You're right--we did lose 17-16 and came back and beat them in Bi-district with a 32 to 7 win over there. This was the year we won state. The next year the only loss was at Rice Stadium when we played San Antonio Churchill in the coldest game I've ever been to. We lost 7-6. Next year we went undefeated until we played state and lost to Plano.

 

[78 Spartan]

I have it on pretty good authority from another source that the previous home loss was in 1974, pre-district, versus South Houston. You guys played at PA Lincoln that year, so if you lost it was a road loss.

So according to my source, your home win streak was 19 when we eaked one out against you in 78. It could conceivably be longer, because I think he assumed all playoff games were at neutral sites. However, that could be wrong. Any chance PNG played a bi-district game at The Reservation in those years?

Here's the research I was presented, by a guy who is steeped in Golden Triangle football. Pick at it if you are convinced anything here is wrong.

1974 PN-G Schedule
9/6 Pasadena Rayburn
9/13 Stratford
9/20 South Houston (LOST 7-22)
9/27 @ Beaumont High
10/4 Beaumont French (home win #1)
10/11 @ Beaumont Forest Park
10/18 @ Vidor
10/25 PA Jefferson (home win #2)
11/1 @ PA Lincoln
11/8 Nederland (home win #3)

1975 PN-G Schedule
9/5 Dobie (home win #4)
9/13 @ Stratford
9/20 @ South Houston
9/26 B-C-P (home win #5)
10/3 @ Beaumont French
10/10 Beaumont Forest Park (home win #6)
10/17 Vidor (home win #7)
10/24 @ PA Jefferson
10/31 PA Lincoln (home win #8)
11/7 @ Nederland

1976 PN-G Schedule
9/3 @ Dobie
9/10 Stratford (home win #9)
9/17 South Houston (home win #10)
10/1 Beaumont French (home win #11)
10/8 PA Lincoln (home win #12)
10/15 @ BC-P
10/22 PA Jefferson (home win #13)
10/29 @ Beaumont Forest Park
11/5 Nederland (home win #14)
11/12 @ Vidor

1977 PN-G Schedule
9/2 Dobie (home win #15)
9/9 @Stratford
9/16 WO-S (home win #16)
9/24 @ PA Lincoln
9/30 Nederland (home win #17)
10/7 @ Beaumont French
10/14 Vidor (home win #18)
10/21 @ PA Jefferson
11/4 B-C-P (home win #19)
11/11 @ Beaumont Forest Park

1978 PN-G Schedule
9/1 @ Dobie
9/8 Stratford (Lost 28-30)

 

[78 Spartan]

78Spartan -- I read that you were a TE on that 1978 Spartans team ... did Stratford throw much? Give the ball to Craig James and pound the ball ... and, then throw off of play action? I would love to see Stratford and PN-G play a home and home series. Tully Stadium is still a neat place to watch a game. Not too many stadiums sunk into the ground the way Tully Stadium is ... field turf there now, right?

Go Indians. Peace.

89NDN, we didn't throw it a lot, no, because we really didn't have to that much. But in the few games we needed to pass, we could do it. Our top WR was second team all state that year (Ronnie Stukalin), and sure, we tore a lot of people up with play action passes when they were committing a lot of DBs to force the wide option play. One such TD by Stukalin was in the second quarter of the PNG game. You guys had so many ppl committed to stop the option, Stukalin just had to beat one on one coverage in the open field to score. He did that several times that year.

I caught eight passes the whole year (15 games). I was the better blocker of our two TEs that year, we had another TE who was faster than me and was in the pattern more often. I was more like a third tackle, but I did catch one in that last drive against PNG to convert on a third and long, scored a TD against LaPorte in the regional finals, and caught two against Plano in the championship game.

I think we threw for 1,500 yards that year, not a lot by today's standards but 100 yards of passing per game average by a wishbone team in those days was pretty respectable. Our offensive coordinator was pretty remorseless, so if he saw a weakness in the secondary he would certainly exploit it, and our QB (Mark Gabrisch) was very good, not just on the option but an excellent passer who played college ball at UNLV, then transferred to UT and backed up Rick McIvor and later Robert Brewer.

===========

Yes, they returfed Tully last year, and now it has field turf. Very nice. This summer they have re-paved the parking lot, and next year they will upgrade the press boxes and the concession stands. So it should be, once again, a competitive stadium. The only thing it is lacking is the jumbotron.

Tully seats about 15,000, and nowadays most games Stratford brings about 5,000 or 6,000 ppl, so it's almost never like when we played you in 77 and 79 and the stadium was jammed on both sides. A couple of years ago, they nearly sold it out when Stratford opened against Cy Fair and the two stars were Andrew Luck and Sam McGuffie. I would guess there were 13,000 ppl at that one. Still, not quite like the "good old days" when there were people sitting on the grass in the north end zone.

Nowadays Katy uses Tully a lot as their preferred "neutral site" in the playoffs, and boy do they fill it up. Katy travels now about like PNG used to.

 

[squaw]

"like PNG used to"??? PNG still does if they have the team to reach the playoffs. Just ask Schertz-Clemens--they were unbeaten in 1999 when we played them at Kyle Field at Texas A&M. We were losing in the 4th quarter and on the last drive of the night won that game. The stands were pretty packed then, too. They will be again, soon I hope.

 

[IBLEEDPURPLE]

78Spartan -- I read that you were a TE on that 1978 Spartans team ... did Stratford throw much? Give the ball to Craig James and pound the ball ... and, then throw off of play action? I would love to see Stratford and PN-G play a home and home series. Tully Stadium is still a neat place to watch a game. Not too many stadiums sunk into the ground the way Tully Stadium is ... field turf there now, right?

Go Indians. Peace.

89NDN, we didn't throw it a lot, no, because we really didn't have to that much. But in the few games we needed to pass, we could do it. Our top WR was second team all state that year (Ronnie Stukalin), and sure, we tore a lot of people up with play action passes when they were committing a lot of DBs to force the wide option play. One such TD by Stukalin was in the second quarter of the PNG game. You guys had so many ppl committed to stop the option, Stukalin just had to beat one on one coverage in the open field to score. He did that several times that year.

I caught eight passes the whole year (15 games). I was the better blocker of our two TEs that year, we had another TE who was faster than me and was in the pattern more often. I was more like a third tackle, but I did catch one in that last drive against PNG to convert on a third and long, scored a TD against LaPorte in the regional finals, and caught two against Plano in the championship game.

I think we threw for 1,500 yards that year, not a lot by today's standards but 100 yards of passing per game average by a wishbone team in those days was pretty respectable. Our offensive coordinator was pretty remorseless, so if he saw a weakness in the secondary he would certainly exploit it, and our QB (Mark Gabrisch) was very good, not just on the option but an excellent passer who played college ball at UNLV, then transferred to UT and backed up Rick McIvor and later Robert Brewer.

===========

Yes, they returfed Tully last year, and now it has field turf. Very nice. This summer they have re-paved the parking lot, and next year they will upgrade the press boxes and the concession stands. So it should be, once again, a competitive stadium. The only thing it is lacking is the jumbotron.

Tully seats about 15,000, and nowadays most games Stratford brings about 5,000 or 6,000 ppl, so it's almost never like when we played you in 77 and 79 and the stadium was jammed on both sides. A couple of years ago, they nearly sold it out when Stratford opened against Cy Fair and the two stars were Andrew Luck and Sam McGuffie. I would guess there were 13,000 ppl at that one. Still, not quite like the "good old days" when there were people sitting on the grass in the north end zone.

Nowadays Katy uses Tully a lot as their preferred "neutral site" in the playoffs, and boy do they fill it up. Katy travels now about like PNG used to.

No disrespect..... but PN-G has always traveled well. Winning or losing. Today, yesterday...and tomorrow...

 

[78 Spartan]

I don't think you should take it as an insult that I compared the way Katy travels now to the way you guys traveled in the 70s. Nothing compares to AVERAGING nearly 36,000 per game at five playoff games.

You just haven't had the same opportunities recently (since the late 90s I think). That's why I am speaking in the past tense.

Obviously, I honor everything there is about the Indian Nation, I thought my posts on the subject were sufficiently clear on that point. I pull for you guys every week.

If I didn't make that clear, please forgive me.

 

[squaw]

No problem. We realize that not everyone realize how serious our football team is to both these communities of Port Neches and Groves. In fact, we have a lot of following from the community and around the world, too. I don't think anyone meant any disrespect to you--just wanted people not to say "used to" in terms of the Indians. Winning is cyclical and hopefully our turns coming soon.