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1967 Fairmont State Falcons football team

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The 1967 Fairmont State Falcons football team was an American football team that represented Fairmont State University as a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) during the 1967 NAIA football season. In their 16th season under head coach Harold "Deacon" Duvall, the Falcons compiled a perfect 11–0 record (7–0 against conference opponents) and won the WVIAC championship. The team advanced to the NAIA playoffs where they defeated Northern Michigan in the semifinals and then beat Eastern Washington in the Champion Bowl to win the 1967 NAIA national championship. The team led the NAIA in defense, allowing only 119.8 yards per game (60.5 passing and 59.3 rushing).[1]

1967 Fairmont State Falcons football
NAIA national champion
WVIAC champion
ConferenceWest Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record11–0 (7–0 WVIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumEast-West Stadium
Seasons
← 1966
1968 →
1967 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Fairmont State $^ 7 – 0 – 0 11 – 0 – 0
No. 14 Concord 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Glenville State 5 – 1 – 1 5 – 2 – 1
Salem 4 – 3 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
West Liberty State 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
West Virginia Wesleyan 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Bluefield State 1 – 6 – 1 2 – 6 – 1
West Virginia State 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
West Virginia Tech 0 – 6 – 1 1 – 7 – 1
Shepherd * 1 – 1 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
    * – Did not qualify for conference standings
    Conference standings based on power ratings
Rankings from NAIA poll

The Falcons' 1967 NAIA national championship was the State of West Virginia's first national title in football.[2] The 1967 Fairmont team was inducted into the Fairmont State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.[3]

The team played its home games at East-West Stadium in Fairmont, West Virginia.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16West Virginia TechW 42–7[4]
September 23Bluefield State
  • East-West Stadium
  • Fairmont, WV
W 52–13
September 30SalemW 21–13
October 7at West Virginia Wesleyan
W 48–0
October 21Glenville State
  • East-West Stadium
  • Fairmont, WV
W 21–0[5]
October 28at West Liberty StateWest Liberty, WVW 20–0[6]
November 4 No. 1 Waynesburg*
  • East-West Stadium
  • Fairmont, WV
W 7–010,000[7]
November 11at Central State (OH)*Wilberforce, OHW 8–0[8]
November 18at Concord (WV)Athens, WVW 23–20
November 25Northern Michigan*
W 21–77,000[9][10]
December 9vs. Eastern Washington*
W 28–2112,250[11]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from NAIA Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

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Waynesburg

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Week 7: Waynesburg at Fairmont State
1 234Total
Waynesburg 0 000 0
• Fairmont State 0 007 7
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Fairmont, WV
  • Game attendance: 10,000
Scoring summary
4FAIRMONTRobison 16-yard pass from Michael (John Huff kick)FAIRMONT 7–0

On November 4, the Falcons defeated defending NAIA national champion Waynesburg. Waynesburg was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, had averaged 63 points and 488 yards per game to that point in the season, and was on an 18-game winning streak. Fairmont was ranked No. 8 prior to the game. The game, played at Fairfield, was attended by an estimated 10,000 fans, the largest crowd in Fairmont history. The game remained scoreless until the final minute of the games. Fairmont's defense held Waynesburg to 68 yards of total offense and did not give up a first down in the second half. In the final 40 seconds, Fairmont quarterback Roy Michael threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to wingback Ron Robison.[7]

NAIA semifinals: Northern Michigan

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NAIA semifinal: N. Michigan at Fairmont State
1 234Total
Northern Michigan 0 700 7
• Fairmont State 7 770 21
  • Date: November 25
  • Location: Fairmont, WV
  • Game attendance: 7,000
Scoring summary
1FAIRMONTGeorge Edwards 19-yard pass from John Kara (John Huff kick)FAIRMONT 7–0
2FAIRMONTRon Robison, 3-yard run (John Huff kick)FAIRMONT 14–0
2N. MICH.Ron Stump 24-yard pass from Lloyd Carr (Gene Grady kick)FAIRMONT 14–7
3FAIRMONTDavid Coe 14-yard pass from Roy Michael (Huff kick)FAIRMONT 21–7

On November 25, Fairmont defeated previously unbeaten Northern Michigan, 21–7, in the NAIA eastern semifinal game. The game was played on a muddy field in Fairmont. Fairmont scored in the first quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from John Kara to George Edwards, then increased its lead in the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Ron Robison.

The Fairmont defense held Northern Michigan to 33 yards on the ground and intercepted three Northern Michigan passes. Lloyd Carr, later inducted as a coach into the College Football Hall of Fame, was the quarterback for Northern Michigan. With 43 second remaining in the first half, Carr threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Stump.

Northern Michigan returned the opening kickoff of the second half for 60 yards. The Wildcats drove deep into Fairmont territory for a potential tying score, but fullback Lonnie Holton fumbled a pitchout at the four-yard line, and Fairmont defensive back Sonny Bartic recovered the loose ball. Northern Michigan coach Rollie Dotsch said afterward that the fumble "ruined our momentum" and was "one of the key turning points."[9]

Fairmont scored its final touchdown late in the third quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Roy Michael to tight end David Coe.[10]

Champion Bowl: Eastern Washington

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Champion Bowl: E. Washington vs Fairmont State
1 234Total
Eastern Washington 0 1407 21
• Fairmont State 0 7147 28
  • Date: December 9
  • Location: Morgantown, WV
  • Game attendance: 12,250 (est)
Scoring summary
2E. WASH.Dave Svendsen 3-yard pass from Bill Diedrick (Pat Zlateff kick)E. WASH. 7–0
2E. WASH.Zlateff 34-yard pass from Diedrick (Zlateff kick)E. WASH. 14–0
2FAIRMONTLarry Blackstone 1-yard run (John Huff kick)E. WASH 14–7
3FAIRMONTJim Mertens 18-yard pass from Roy Michael (Huff kick)TIE 14–14
3FAIRMONTBlackstone 1-yard run (Huff kick)FAIRMONT 21–14
4E. WASH.Rick Hardie 31-yard pass from Roy Stookey (Zlateff kick)TIE 21–21
4FAIRMONTGeorge Edwards 27-yard run (Huff kick)FAIRMONT 28–21

On December 9, the Falcons defeated Eastern Washington in the Champion Bowl to win the NAIA national championship. The game was played at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Eastern Washington took a 14–0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Bill Diedrick. Fairmont capitalized on mistakes to come from behind in the third quarter. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Rick Hardie fumbled at the 20-yard line, and George Edwards recovered the fumble for Fairmont. Three plays later, Roy Michael threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jim Mertens. Three minutes later, Eastern Washington turned the ball over again as the center snapped the ball over the head of the punter. Fairmont took over at the one-yard line and promptly took the lead on a one-yard run by Larry Blackstone.[11]

Awards and honors

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Coach Duvall was unanimously selected by the WVIAC coaches as the "Football Coach of the Year".[12]

Senior Larry Blackstone played offensive fullback and defensive end and led the team with 1,292 rushing yards. He was selected as the "Back of the Year" by the conference coaches and was also named as a first-team defensive end on the NAIA All-America teams selected by the NAIA and the UPI. His twin brother Barry Blackstone was a starter at the other defensive end position for Fairmont.[12][13][14][15]

Roster

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Offense

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  • Larry Blackstone, fullback, No. 33
  • David Coe, tight end, No. 84
  • George Edwards, tailback, No. 43
  • Roger Hill, tackle, No. 71
  • John Huff, guard and place-kicker, No. 67
  • John Kara, quarterback, No. 10
  • Rick Merrill, center, No. 51
  • Jim Mertens, split end, No. 82
  • Roy Michael, quarterback, No. 13
  • Jack Reagan, guard, No. 61
  • Jim Reynolds, guard, No. 70
  • Ron Robison, wingback, No. 20
  • George Shreyer, tackle, No. 72

Defense

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  • Martin Bartic, linebacker, No. 42
  • Barry Blackstone, defensive end, No. 41
  • Larry Blackstone, defensive end, No. 33
  • Roy Dowell, defensive tackle, No. 79
  • Bill Ewusiak, safety, No. 21
  • Matt Fortier, defensive tackle, No. 75
  • Mike Marra, cornerback, No. 30
  • Jim Mertins, defensive halfback, No. 82
  • Ron Robison, safety, No. 20
  • George Shreyer, defensive tackle, No. 72
  • Tom Swisher, linebacker, No. 63
  • Mark Tennant, cornerback, No. 85
  • Dave Williams, middle guard, No. 74
  • Marvin Williams,[1] middle guard, No. 86

[16][17]

Coaching staff

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[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Defensive Standout Returns, Boosts Fairmont's Title Hopes". Pittsburgh Press. December 8, 1967. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "1967 Football Team To Be Honored During Homecoming Weekend". Fairmont State University. August 9, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Duane Cochran (September 30, 2017). "1967 national championship football team inducted into FSU Athletic Hall of Fame". Times West Virginian.
  4. ^ "Fairmont Grabs Victory By 42–6". Weirton Daily Times. September 18, 1967. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Untitled". Weirton Daily Times. October 23, 1967. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Unbeatens: Concord, Fairmont Maintain Perfect Marks; Bobcats Bow". Gazette-Mail. October 29, 1967. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "No. 1 Ranked Waynesburg Upset by Fairmont St". Democrat and Chronicle. November 5, 1967. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Blocked Punt Kills Central". Dayton Daily News. November 12, 1967. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Fumble Proves Costly for Northern". Lansing State Journal. November 27, 1967. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "21–7 Victory to Fairmont; N. Michigan Bows in Duel of Unbeaten Elevens". The Baltimore Sun. November 26, 1967. p. A8.
  11. ^ a b "Fairmont State Tops Eastern Washington". The Hartford Courant. December 10, 1967. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Duvall WVC's Coach Of Year". Cumberland Evening Times. December 7, 1967. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Quartet Of Fleet Backs Head NAIA All-American". The Daily Advertiser. December 31, 1967. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Larry Blackstone, NAIA All-American". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. December 29, 1967. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "LU Lads Star For Fairmont In NAIA Play". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. December 7, 1967. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "12th Annual NAIA Champion Bowl program". NAIA. 1967. p. 6.
  17. ^ "Champion Bowl Teams". The Spokesman-Review. December 9, 1967. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ 12th Annual NAIA Champion Bowl program, p. 7.
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