Back

1967 NHS Season Statistics

Evansville Courier & Press Newspapers ALL CITY/METRO Selections

RESULTS

SCORING

PASSING

Individual stats for rushing and receiving are unavailable at this time.

Highlights included: With numerous key players having graduated from the 66 conference championship team, it fell to the legs of RB Preston Smith and the arm of QB Ron Eaton to provide the sparks for the 1967 team.  In a season opening 29-0 shutout of Central, it appeared that the Huskies war chest might have been stocked with more talent than previously suspected.  On a humid, sweltering 91 degree evening, North roared out of the blocks and scored three touchdowns in the first 15 minutes of play.  With Eaton running one score in himself from 8 yards out and hitting End Dan Franklin with a 12 yard scoring toss, the Huskies offense was in full gear.  When Preston Smith capped off a long drive with a 3 yard score, the rout was on.

Jr. End Dan Franklin became a favorite target of QB Eaton, catching TD passes in each of the season's first three games.  Flanker Gary Witham found pay dirt with two more scores and it appeared that the Huskies would have the best passing game in town.  When injuries on both sides of the ball began to take their toll during the middle portion of the season, both the offense and the defense began to falter.  After an opening drive versus Bosse that measured 81 yards in 9 plays, the Huskies would have a difficult time finding the end zone again until the second half of the Mater Dei game.

With the early season luster having faded from a tough series of games, the Green and White trailed Mater Dei 13-0 at half time.  Having lost QB Eaton to a fractured ring finger earlier in the week, the Huskies had difficulty moving the ball.  With North's home coming festivities having lengthened half time, the Huskies must have determined to step up their game.  On the first play from scrimmage, the Husky defense forced a fumble and recovered on the Wildcat 46 yard line.  When Jr. QB Len Carr handed the ball to RB Preston Smith he found a monstrous hole waiting for him, broke through, and out ran Mater Dei to the goal line. 

The defense, which had been surrendering yardage routinely the prior three games, held Mater Dei to a scant 25 yards of total offense in the second half.  When Smith scored again from the one yard line with 10:28 to go in the game, Gary Witham's extra point gave the Huskies a 14-13 lead.  When the Wildcats returned a punt into North territory late in the game, it was Dan Franklin who came up big with an interception on the Huskies five yard line to preserve the victory.

With Preston Smith providing a lot of the highlights, the Huskies evened their season record with a 19-7 victory over the Bedford Stonecutters. While scoring 2 TD's on short runs in the game, it was Smith's 49 yard punt return and his dramatic 29 yard run on a critical 4th and 7 that set up scoring opportunities.  The fourth down conversion just before halftime allowed QB Len Carr a chance to hit Dan Franklin with a 26 yard TD pass on the last play of the half.  Franklin came down with the ball despite having two men hanging on him as he went up for the catch.

The season's final victory came on a rainy night at Enlow Field versus Harrison.  With QB Ron Eaton returning to the lineup but still hampered by his broken finger, the Huskies only passed once the entire game due to the wet conditions.  The 8 play 60 yard scoring drive featured Eaton handing the ball routinely to Preston Smith who gained 48 of the 60 yards.  When Eaton faked a handoff at the five yard line, he spun into the end zone untouched as the defenders all followed Smith.  It proved to be the only score of the game as the Huskies won 7-0.

Smith's final highlight reel run game in a season ending loss to Rex Mundi 14-19.  With Rodney Owens having recovered a blocked punt for a TD earlier, Preston ran 77 yards for the last Husky offensive score of the season.  North led until giving up a Monarch score with only 1:30 remaining in the game and the season.

RUSHING 

RECEIVING

DEFENSE--2 pts each for solo, cause or recover fumble, sack, int, blk kick; 1 pt each for assist and tackle for loss

No Defensive Statistics are available at this time.

Back