The table was set for this special season in 1961 when the Raiders went undefeated for the first time since 1949. The next year saw many juniors rack up playing while the football squad posted a 7-2 record. The Raiders scored a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage in the final game of the season. This trend would continue into the 1963 season.

On September 13, 1963, the first game of the year, the Raiders scored on the first play from scrimmage and destroyed the Leon Cardinals 55-0 on the Mount Ayr field. Leon collected 80 total yards while the Raiders amassed 345.

Game two was played on September 20 at Villisca, and Mount Ayr scored on the first play from scrimmage. Rick DEFENBAUGH scored four touchdowns, and Ed PINE and Rick FARRELL led a strong defensive effort. The Raiders humbled the Blue Jays 54-0.

The next game was against Greenfield at Mount Ayr. Again, the Raiders scored on the first play from scrimmage. Joe BROWN and Jim WORTHINGTON led a tight defense, holding the Tigers scoreless. Mount Ayr won easily 26-0.

Game four saw the Raiders travelling (sic) to Lorimor October 4. The Raiders scored on the first play from scrimmage for the fifth time in a row going back to last year's final game. The East Union Eagles fought back, advancing to the Raider three-yard line, but Mount Ayr's solid defense forced a fumble and the Eagles failed to score at all. The Raiders rolled up 33 points (the newspaper said 33, the Ayrian said 32).

October 11 was Homecoming and the Raiders faced the Bedford Bulldogs, Dale HERRINGTON wrote in the Record-News that this game had the largest attendance in Mount Ayr football history. While Marie EURITT was crowned Homecoming Queen, the Raiders defense handed Bedford another zero. Final score, Mount Ayr 19, Bedford 0.

The sixth game of the year was played October 18 at Lenox. Eugene RICKER returned a punt for a touchdown and two touchdowns were scored by the defense, one by Ed PINE and the other by Rick DEFENBAUGH. The Mount Ayr Raiders pounded Lenox for a 26-0 victory.

Game seven was at Mount Ayr against a strong Griswold team on October 25. Griswold was the first team to score against Mount Ayr, and they did it twice. Finally, Jon THOMPSON fell on a fumble, setting up the winning touchdown and Mount Ayr saved their undefeated season with a 19-12 win.

The next game was at Clearfield on November 1, and again the Raiders were scored on twice. In the second half, Roger TRULLINGER blocked an Oriole punt, setting up the game-winning touchdown. Mount Ayr won 27-12.

The Tall Corn Conference title already belonged to Mount Ayr, but there was one game left in the season and that was against the Creston Panthers on November 8.

The game was played at Mount Ayr, and it would be a low-scoring affair. In the second quarter, Rich DEFENBAUGH caught a long pass from Dave STILL and raced for the touchdown. Joe BROWN made good on the point - after try and that proved to be the winning point as the Raiders slipped by the Panthers 13-6. Alvin SICKELS, Dale STEPHENS, and Joe BROWN had strong defensive efforts for the winners. Mount Ayr finished the season 9-0.

The Des Moines Register awarded coach Joe McNEILL their Prep Coach of the Year title for 1963.

For the season, the Raiders scored 271 points, while giving up 30. In 1931,the Mount Ayr football team collected 257 points and allowed only six. Both seasons have been called the best ever. Maybe . . . we haven't had our best season yet. Go Raiders!

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2014

 

IOWA OLD PRESS
An Iowa GenWeb project that collects articles from old Iowa newspapers. Have a look back at the lives and times of our Iowa ancestors as reported in early newspapers. The home page for Iowa Old Press Project, complete with a searchable database, may be accessed at: http://iagenweb.org/iowaoldpress/