This Week in

Gowanda Football History...

     As the regular high school football season comes to a close - a look back at the junior varsity football teams at Gowanda that have posted perfect seasons. Although Frank Markell was a fine baseball coach winning over 100 games at the varsity level, his 1962 and 1963 JV football teams posted identical 6-0 records. Following the 1963 season, and with the help of the late Art Mentley, the team was treated to a steak dinner.

     The 1981 Panthers, under Head Coach Mark Benton and assistant Gary Hewitt, posted the school’s first 8-0 record at any level. The defense, led by Mike Miller and Jeff Pfeifer, posted six shutouts and allowed only 14 points for the entire season. Thirty-one players started and ended the season on the roster.

     In 1988, Mark Heichberger and Jason Beckman, now both varsity assistant coaches at Springvllle and Tonawanda respectively were contributing members to the 8-0 squad coached by Mark Leous and Dan Cassidy. Current JV Head Coach Rod Utley was at the helm for the 1997 season that registered the school’s last 8-0 season for the boys who play on Saturday mornings.