Stories

December 4, 1970

The 1970 Nowata Ironmen were no strangers to comebacks. After starting the season 0-2-1, the Ironmen ripped off ten straight victories, the last coming after trailing 12-0 to top-ranked Lindsay in the Class 2A state championship game in Edmond.

Lindsay (12-0) was led by all-state halfback Mike Terry, who scored on runs of 3 and 20 yards in the opening quarter. But Leopards kicker Bud McGuire, typically a cinch to make the point after, missed on both tries, leaving Lindsay ahead just 12-0.

The Leopards held the same lead at halftime, but that's when the Ironmen came alive. After Justin Pugh recovered a fumble to stop a Lindsay drive, Nowata drove inside the ten yard line. On third and goal from the nine, Dee Paige found Bruce Campbell for the score and Ivan Walker booted the extra point, cutting the lead to 12-7.

After the Ironmen defense held again, Nowata returned to the scoring column five plays later when Paige found a streaking Rick Reid with a 40-yard touchdown pass. Walker's PAT padded Nowata's first lead, 14-12 with 4:46 remaining in the third period.

The Ironmen defense stood tall again in the fourth quarter. After Lindsay drove inside the ten yard line, Nowata stopped Terry short on third-and-5, bringing up a fourth-and-2 from the six yard line.

The Leopards decided against giving McGuire a chance to win it and instead went to Terry again, but that was a mistake. Nowata's defensive line held Terry to a single yard and the Ironmen took over at the 5-yard line with 1:23 to play.

Lindsay used its time outs to try to stay in the game and Nowata tried to run out the clock, but Paige was stopped on fourth down with just one second remaining. Lindsay tried to run its field goal unit onto the field, but couldn't get the snap off in time.

Despite being outgained in total yards 249 to 173 and turning the ball over four times, Nowata's second-half defense was the difference in the Ironmen capturing its first football championship.