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“Back of the Week” in the state papers. Other players getting praise were Lyon, Hines, Rose and Herman. Lehl and Crowder shared the quarterbacking duties in the 19-7 conquest of Chadron. Jim Hosher reeled off a 60-yard touchdown run and Frank Rose rushed for a total of 61 yards.
The string of losses continued into the last game, a 57-2 disaster against potent Omaha U. The Indians had a tremendous year and accepted a bid to the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla., after the season.
and very few stayed for the four years. Doane was finding it more and more difficult to compete on equal terms with schools who were enjoying enrollment growth. The 1954 season was a 2-7 affair, the lowest mark in 20 years. Doane was matched with larger schools and found the path a rocky one. This trend would continue and victories would be scarce, but Merrill seemed to ring a little louder when the Tigers could manage to defeat one of their larger rivals.
2009 OUTLOOK
Kearney Breaks Chain The Kearney bubble family burst in 1954. After the long string of Doane victories, the Antelopes completely dominated the game and won 21-7. The Tigers were out-charged the first half, but then they improved. A Crowder-Dean Lyon pass brought the Doane score in the final three seconds.
Peru crushed them 53-20 that year. Wayne was here for the Homecoming inauguration ceremony that saw Donald M. Typer become Doane president. The visitors led 13-0 at the half and then 20-0 before Crowder could put the Bengals on the scoreboard. He passed to Dean Lyon for one and plunged for another for the 20-12 final.
It was the same old story that fall: inexperience. The teams were loaded with promising freshmen but most of them fell by the way-side
Lack of Depth Hurt Doane Football Chances in Late 1950s (Nov. 23, 1967)
But over that seven-year span the Tigers won 29, lost 26 and tied five. There were a few games that should not have been lost, but were. And on two occasions, the Doane team pulled major upsets that provided fans with hairbreath finishes, making some of those long years worth recalling.
Lack Depth He scheduled a practice game against Concordia that fall; it was an eye-opener when his club could manage just a 7-2 victory. He had seasoned backs in Don Crowder, Jim Griffin, Swede Graff and Jim Herman, but the squad lacked depth.
Max Shindler gave them a lift with a crashing tackle near the Missouri goal, and Ted Weldon recovered on the four. Griffin went over for the touchdown, and Crowder’s deflected conversion attempt barely made it. That made it 7-7,
Homecoming Thriller It really was an upset the next week when Peru came to Simon Field for Homecoming. The lead changed hands six times, but the final gun came when the Tigers held a 22-20 margin. The Doane lineup: ends Ed McIninch and Don Haberman, tackles Vern Swanson and Lynn Lyon, guards Troy Lyon and Ron Chrans, center Bill Campbell, and backs Lehl, Crowder, Gibson and Herman.
Nebraska City junior Lynn Lyons and Wilber senior Ron Chrans made all-conference from that 3-4-1 team.
Ourada opened with a 19-yard field goal but a bad snap from center set up a Bobcat touchdown. Griffin capped a long drive and Doane forged ahead 9-7. Peru regained the lead on a 40-yard Sid Brown-John Gilmore pass. It was Doane’s Griffin who brought the Homecoming fans to their feet, when his two-yard plunge returned the lead to the Bengals, 15-13, at the half. The fans buzzed over the catches made by Gibson and Tom Brannan that first half, and wondered if the Tigers could hold on for another 30 minutes of action. Hopes dimmed when a short punt gave Peru possession of the 32. They scored for a 20-15 lead. Then Doane launched an 80-yard drive, with Gibson the wheelhorse. The climax came on a CrowderMathiasen pass, with the McCool native bowling over one defender as he fought his way over the goal. Ourada’s kick made it 22-20, and a memorable Homecoming victory. Lynn Lyon topped the tackle chart in that game. The 1955 finale came at Wayne, where a strong wind hampered both clubs. Doane scored early, with Jim Herman leading the way. It was 6-6 at the half, but Mike Johnson made it 13-6 for the Wildcats. The score went to 19-6 before the Tigers sent Crowder over from the one. The game ended a 19-13 loss. Jim Herman was the
Lovercheck Returns Bill Lovercheck returned the following year and quickly took over a starting end position. He teamed with Bob Erickson, with Les Roslund and Lyon at tackles, Don Michal and Mathiasen guards and center Tom “Stormy” Weathers. The opening backfield included Lehl, Gibson, Herman and Bud Jasnoch. The first game was a doubleheader here, with Doane taking a 13-0 decision from Northwest Missouri in the nightcap. Gibson and Jasnoch did the scoring, with Lovercheck, Mathiasen and Lyon the top defenders. McPherson College fell the following week, 147. Doane stayed on the ground as both Gibson and Jasnoch scored again. Jasnoch accounted for more than 100 yards. Their third win came over Midland in a 20-0 game. Herman scored on a 25-yard gallop and a Lehl-Don Detlefsen pass covered 53 yards, setting up a Griffin plunge. Reserve Joe Zareter intercepted a late pass and returned it for the last touchdown. Lehl Injured In practice that week, quarterback Mike Lehl suffered a shoulder injury and the signal caller duties went to Crete freshman Larry Roth. Other injuries added to Papik’s woes and Hastings delivered a 25-0 licking. Defending champion Kearney was held to a 7-7 draw until late in the game, after a Roth-Bob Erickson pass scored. But the Antelopes were deep, and sent in fresh waves of manpower to
HISTORY
They found themselves out-weighed at Northwest Missouri Teachers in the first regular game. Twice they drove inside the ten, but 70 yards in penalties in the first half was too much to overcome. The Bearcats scored on a pass, putting the Tigers in a 0-7 hole.
leading rusher with 95 yards and Dick Leevers was the top tackler.
2008 REVIEW
When Papik moved from Crete High to Doane, his place was taken by Ray Westover. The two had opposed each other in the late 1940s when Westover was a regular at Nebraska Wesleyan. The year 1955 was kind to Westover, as his Crete High team won its first of three state Class B championships. But it wasn’t as rosy for Papik.
win. A safety in the final minute made the final count 12-9 in favor of Kearney.
THE TIGERS
Looking back on Al Papik’s first seven season as Doane football coach, it is easy to dismiss them as losing years. Doane was the smallest school in the Nebraska College Conference, and the Tigers were continually matched with the powerhouses from Kearney, Peru, Wayne and Hastings.
TIGER COUNTRY
Timeline (1954-1956)
2009MEDIAGUIDE