Page 8 - Dresden Buzz 06/27/25

PAGE 8 | SPORTS JUNE 27 - July 10, 2025

PORTS

1960 Hometown Heroes for a night find game ball in Flea

Market halfway across Ohio by Roy Noland

1960 Jayhawk Varsity Football teammates Gary Longaberger (tackle), Roy Noland (center), Jerry Strohacker (guard) and Myron Lacy (halfback) [not pictured] all reconnect after game ball is found.
Matthew Dotson

Before we became the Tri-Valley Scot- son that year, 1960, we had won one a team, the coach had even given up on We came back to beat Frazeysburg 24 –
ties, we were three independent schools: game so far, one win, and eight losses, us! 12!
Adamsville High School, the Dresden but on the other hand, Frazeysburg was Well, at halftime, Pete came into the So anyway, this is how I remember
Jefferson J-Hawks, and the Frazeysburg having a glorious season, they were nine dressing room, we didn’t know he was that night, so many years ago, 65 years
Red Raiders. and zero. And to make things worse, we even at the game, and he was fired up, ago. And I’m sure there are many great
This is just one of many “Glory Days” had to go play these guys up on their and made a game plan and said, “This stories that ought to be told about great
of the past that were brought back to field! is what we are going to do!” He resur- football games since that night, but
light by Danny Fulk’s grandson, Landon We kicked off to them to start the rected us back from a “bunch of los- this is our story, and I’ll never forget it!
Wilson. Danny has told him, “If he ever game, and they ran it back for a touch- ers” to a bunch of guys who believed in Thanks, Pete Hendricks, wherever you
found anything that pertained to Dres- down, and it ran through my mind, themselves, and I believe we could have are, we love you, coach!
den in any way, see if you can buy it for “Oooh Nooo! Here we go again!” But, beaten any team in the MVL that night!
me”. they kicked the ball off to us and we
Well, guess what he found? The game ground it out, then went on to tie up the
ball! game 6 – 6, hardly anybody had place
Landon Wilson was on his way to a Cin- kickers in those days, we always went
cinnati Reds ball game, and he allowed for two points. So, we kicked off to them
himself enough time to stop by a Flea and they had us at 12 – 6 at the half.
Market in Springfield to shop around for Now. I left part of this story out, so I’ll
anything interesting. He found the game tell it now.
ball from the game we played 65 years It was a rainy week that week before
ago. It’s amazing this ball exists after the game, and we were having a great
all these years. And how did it end up time grabbing anybody we could (the
in a Flea Market in Springfield? But, we underclassmen) and throwing them in a
want to thank Landon for having a keen mud puddle and not paying much atten-
eye and bringing it back to his grandpa, tion to the coach who “bless his heart”
Danny Fulks. Pete Hendricks was still trying to get
But Danny noticed there were several us ready for the last game of the year.
names on the ball; that’s how we know Finally, he said, “You guys are a bunch
it’s for real. The names of the guys who of [expletive] losers,” and walked off
played in the game. Ian Wilson (Land- the field, leaving us all standing there
on’s brother) notified me that my name looking at each other like “what just
was on this football that his brother happened”. So, we didn’t have practice
found in a Flea Market in Springfield. the rest of the week, and to top it off,
One of the Glory Days or Nights of the the coach didn’t even ride the bus up to
past was between two proud schools. the game with us. So you can see what
Now we weren’t having a very good sea- a psychological effect that had on us as Picture from the Jefferson High School 1960 Yearbook of the varsity football team.