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8-1 Regular Season Records |
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1968 • (8-1-1 Record)
Coach: Bob Scates
Conference: No affiliation
Team Captains: N/A
Summary:
In only the second season of Panther football, OTHS ended its season 8-1-1. This team was led by coach Bob Scates, and
All-Stater Jerry Reiman (Arkansas State), who was just inducted to the OTHS Wall of Fame in 2008. Other notable standouts were
Greg Gordan, Rick Ott, and Bob Stanley. |
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1982 • (8-1-1 Record)
Coach: Gary Bridell
Conference: Mississippi Valley
Team Captains: N/A
Summary:
Panthers go 8-1 for the first time in 14 years. Probably the best OTHS team not
to make the playoffs. In 1982, the playoff format only included conference
champions. Although OTHS were co-champs, Roxana beat O'Fallon head to head
and got the playoff bid. Mark Warrack (Air Force Academy) led OTHS in many categories
and set several records along the way. James Berry was another standout player
for the 82 Panthers.
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1989 • (10-2 Record, 5-1 Conference Record)
Coach: Gary Bridell
Conference: Mississippi Valley
Team Captains: Antione Esters, Chris Weakley, Jeff Ross
Summary:
The best overall
record in OTHS history (to this point) was not the best team in
the conference as Highland (#2 in the state) and IHSA career TD leader Billy Greenwald
beat OTHS 10-0 at Highland in Week 3. The MVC had 2 of the top 5 teams in
Illinois this season. Antoine Esters (SEMO) was among the top running backs in the metro
east area and shattered all OTHS rushing and TD records...still holds some not broken by Duane Bennett. Junior Loren Buckner
led the area in tackles with 58 solos and made numerous postseason first team honors. This team produced
1 Big Ten player (sophomore Rodney Byrd), and 3 Division I-AA players (Joby Hopkins, Chad Parker, and Esters). Other notable players were junior DB Walter "Smiley"
Owens who had a 90 yard INT return for a TD. He played college baseball at
the University Of Miami (FL) and with the Cleveland Indians organization. |
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1991 • (8-2 Record, 5-1 Conference Record)
Coach: Gary Bridell
Conference: Mississippi Valley
Team Captains: Rodney Byrd, Chris McCollum
Summary:
This team was ranked in the top 6 in the IHSA polls and featured 2 of the top running
backs in the metro-east in Rodney Byrd (Illinois/Tennessee Titans scout team) and Paul Tolden (SEMO), as well
as DE/TE Jay Carmack who played at Western Illinois and Arena football. Byrd is a member of the OTHS
Wall of Fame after holding the
career rushing record, making several All-State teams and becoming team captain of the Fighting Illini. Chris McCollum led the metro-east with 6 interceptions
and is 2nd at OTHS in season and career INTs and tied for 1st with 3 picks in a
game. Tolden still holds the yards per carry for a career (10.0) and longest
run from scrimmage (97 yards) and also led the St. Louis area in yards per carry
his senior year...he graduated 2nd all-time in rushing yards for a season . |
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1994 • (8-2 Record)
Coach: Gary Bridell
Conference: South Seven
Team Captains: Cory Alexander, Kareem Vaughn
After 2 sub .500 seasons, the Panthers bounced back with an 8-1 conference championship in their 2nd season as a member of the
South Seven Conference. Cory Alexander led the offense at QB and set several records (since broken) and also set most kicking records (also since broken).
Kareem Vaughn was a huge force on both lines and continued his play at Southern Illinois. Senior Jerome Bussy led the team in rushing.
Other notable players that led to the success were Eddie Feeley (Western), Kurt
Eversgerd, and a junior class that became the first group of seniors to post an
undefeated regular season. |
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