Clay County Times-Democrat: High School Sports: That championship season (12/02/09)

This photo of the 1969 Piggott Mohawk football team was featured in The Piggott Times prior to their homecoming contest. Team members pictured included, from left: Front--Mike Morgan, Dale Birmingham, Robby Camp, Steve Champ, Stanley Morris, Danny Thomas, Charles Minton, Randy Jackson, Van Haley, Billy Seal, Stanley Graddy, Dennis Johnson and Danny Stokes. Second row--Dennis Pollard, Mike Gallegly, David Ballard, Rick Culver, Mackey Donner, Donnie Moffitt, Dennis Bellers, Stanley Moffitt, Ricky Staples, Monty Bellers, John Threet, Van Winton, Tim Huffman, Gary Mann and Steve Dover. Back--Bill Threet, Marvin Harris, Steve Hogard, Jimmy Johnson, Richard Robinson, Bob Gallegly, Junior Skelton, Kenny Payne, David Williams, Bradley Rouse, Rick Rodery, Joe Cole and Gary Wiley.
(Times file photo)

[Click to enlarge]

In the long and storied history of the Piggott Mohawk football program there were a number of great teams, but few compare to the 1969 2-A district champions. That year's edition of the Tribe was stacked with talent, size, speed and that intangible quality most refer to as heart. It was a recipe for success, and Coach Carl "Zig" Williams was the man with the spoon.

Going into the season the Mohawks were coming off a 10-2 campaign, and had lost at Corning 0-33 in front of a crowd of 3,000 in the season finale on Thanksgiving Day. Over the previous three seasons the Mohawks had compiled a record of 28-6 and prospects were good. And for the first three games of the year it looked as if the team was unstoppable.

The 1969 campaign began at Parker Field with a 39-6 win over Manila. But the victory cost the Tribe the services of senior Jimmy Hanna, who was injured on the opening kick-off after striving for years to earn a starting spot.

The squad followed that up with a 61-8 win at Pocahontas, and a 36-0 shut-out of the Gosnell Pirates at home. The following week they would taste defeat for the first, and only time that year, as they traveled to Malden and dropped a 20-27 loss to the Greenwave.

The Tribe bounced back the following week with a 35-16 win over Lepanto, then traveled to Osceola and squeaked out a 14-6 win over the Seminoles. The next Friday night the Mohawks hosted Walnut Ridge, and in a performance for the ages was led to victory by the play of quarterback Jimmy Johnson. As the Tribe trailed late, Johnson mounted the game winning scoring drive and had a key interception. The following week the Mohawks insured at least a tie for the conference title with an 18-6 win at Marion on a wet Halloween night.

The Mohawks hosted the Paragould Bulldogs for homecoming, and posted a 12-0 shutout. And on Friday, Nov. 14 they closed out the regular season at home with a 28-0 win over Corning to be named district champions. I'm sure it was a sweet win considering the results of the previous season.

The following Friday they took on the August Red Devils in Kays Stadium at ASU and fell 8-49. The consensus was that the rigors of the stretch run had taken a lot out of the potent Mohawks, along with the loss of fullback Gary Mann earlier in the season.

It would prove to be the last outright district championship for the program, and Johnson was chosen as the outstanding back in conference, and the top vote getter for all state honors. Also chosen as all district were tackle Bill Threet, offensive halfback Rick Rodery and defensive halfback Gary Mann.

The 1969 Mohawk football team was loaded with talent, but also left their mark on the world in many other ways. Later in life many of the team members excelled in their chosen professions, as their experiences helped them to be true winners in the world..not just on the field.

It's not often that a team like that comes along. And to those of you left, thanks for the memories.