Northern Bedford Football 1975
ROW 1: Brian Walter, John Beach, Rock Crawford, Ken Foor, Dale Crawford, Tom O’Neal, Joel Amick, Jay Clark, Barry Brown, and Myron Hoover. ROW 2: Coach Michael McCahan, Kevin Sheeder, Tim Garlick, Jeff Batzel, Steve Steele, Mark Sollenberger, Wally Douglas, Brent Bowser, Sam Steele, Todd Ferry, and Head Coach Charles Gironda. ROW 3: Coach Joe Nastasi, Don Perrin, Mike Harclerode, Tom Cottle, Scott Steele, Russell Grubb, Bill Reighard, Wayne Lamborn, Greg Batzel, Brian Pressel, Don Lasher, and Coach Lew Ewart. ROW 4: Trainer Harry Guyer, Mark Gibble, Craig Teeters, Barry Houp, Victor Hart, Steve Eshelman, Jody Imler, Brian Detwiler, Dan Riehl, Mike Baker, and Coach William Reed. ROW 5: Manager Paul Furry, Lance Barkman, Greg Crawford, Mike Johnson, Jeff Perrin, Jeff Koontz, Norman Sollenberger, Todd Housel, and manager Marlyn Graffius.
The 1975 football season proved to be a memorable one for the Northern Bedford football team, coaches, and fans. Much practice and planning paid off in the first undefeated and untied football season in the school's history.
Head Coach Charles “Chuck” Gironda was named Coach of the Year for the Inter-County Conference, while tailback Mike Johnson was the leading scorer in Pennsylvania with 181 points.
The team won the Inter-County Conference Championship, the Mountain League Conference Championship, and Mid-Penn Conference Championship.
The seniors were an especially strong group having amassed a record of 26 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie in their careers, including 17 straight wins.
The following players were named Bedford County All-Stars: Greg Batzel, Brent Bowser, Barry Brown, Brian Detwiler, Mike Johnson, Jeff Koontz, and Norman Sollenberger.
Perrin, Johnson, Batzel, Koontz, and Sollenberger were ICC All-Stars, and Brown and Detwiler were honorable mention selections.
Here is a game-by-game look at the 1975 season:
Northern Bedford 22, Southern Huntingdon 8
The Northern Bedford Panthers opened the 1975 season by downing the Rockets of Southern Huntingdon,
22-8, on Sept. 5 at Orbisonia. The victory was sparked by Panther running back Mike Johnson, who racked up 140 yards and scored two touchdowns. Jeff Perrin tossed a 20-yard scoring pass to Todd Ferry. In the statistics column, Northern Bedford outclassed Southern Huntingdon in net rushing, 236-90.
Northern Bedford 26, Juniata Valley 12
Northern Bedford ripped Juniata Valley, 26-12, on Sept. 13 at Roaring Spring Athletic Field. With the win, the Northern Bedford Panthers were riding a 10-game winning streak dating from the previous year. Quarterback Jeff Perrin tossed two touchdowns, and Mike Johnson ran for two touchdowns. The Panthers outgained Valley,
276-114, including 186-113 on the ground.
Northern Bedford 24, Tussey Mountain 6
The Northern Bedford Panthers scored a decisive victory on Sept. 19 at Saxton by downing the Tussey Mountain Titans, 24-6, to give the Titans their first loss. Although Tussey Mountain racked up 131 yards rushing and 108 yards passing, the Panthers’ heads-up defense allowed only one score while snagging two interceptions, pouncing on a fumble, and blocking a punt. Rushing was the key to the Panther offense as Northern Bedford drove for 252 yards. Panther Mike Johnson was responsible for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Jeff Koontz and Brent Bowser racked up 82 and 56 yards, respectively.
Northern Bedford 22, Chestnut Ridge 7
Northern Bedford stretched its winning record for the season to four straight on Sept. 27 by clouting Chestnut Ridge, 22-7, on the Ridge turf. Coach Chuck Gironda's Panthers haven't lost a game since the 1974 opener. Again big Panther fullback Mike Johnson led the infantry with 184 yards on 29 carries. Quarterback Jeff Perrin added with aerial bombardments that hit the target on eight of 11 tries for 86 yards. Total net yards showed Northern the leader, 368-146. The winners led in first downs, 18-5.
Northern Bedford 28, Williamsburg 0
A crushing offensive effort coupled with a stingy defense led the Northern Bedford Panthers to their fifth victory of the season on Oct. 4 at Roaring Spring — a 28-0 romp over the Williamsburg Blue Pirates. Mike Johnson finished the game with 234 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Northern's defense allowed only 100 yards rushing and 22 yards passing.
Northern Bedford 52, Claysburg-Kimmel 16
The Northern Bedford Panthers upped their record to 6-0 by downing the Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs on Oct. 11 at Claysburg. The star of the game for the Panthers was running back Mike Johnson, who racked up 239 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Also scoring for the Panthers were quarterback Jeff Perrin, fullback Brent Bowser and rookie slot back Dale Crawford. Perrin attempted only one pass, while Northern's running game was responsible for 391 yards. Claysburg managed 190 yards, including 135 in the air.
Northern Bedford 47, Berlin 6
Northern Bedford's football machine, Mike Johnson, shoved the Panthers to a 47-6 victory over visiting Berlin on Oct. 18 at Roaring Spring. Johnson, Northern's all-state candidate, rambled for five touchdowns and 282 yards on 27 carries. During the current season, Johnson has covered 1,226 yards with 205 carries and 20 touchdowns. Northern's defense left Berlin only 105 yards on the ground and 51 in the air. Northern's halftime margin was a heavy 35-6. By 6:10 of the third quarter, coach Chuck Gironda decided to pull out his regulars and let the reserves finish the game.
Northern Bedford 26, Everett 0
Northern Bedford High School was just one game away from its first undefeated and untied football season in history after a 26-0 whitewash of Everett on Oct. 24 put the Panthers in position to close out a perfect season. In the victory over Everett, Mike Johnson was again the mainstay of the Panther offense, scoring three of the four touchdowns. In the rushing column, Northern outdistanced Everett, 277-81. Everett had a 124-39 advantage through the air.
Northern Bedford 20, Kishacoquillas 6
The Northern Bedford Panthers completed a perfect 9-0 season on Nov. 1 by downing a tough team from Kishacoquillas with a 20-6 score. This was the first undefeated, untied team in the history of Northern Bedford. The squad was unbeaten in 1973 but finished with a 9-0-1 record, tying Tussey Mountain. Mike Johnson,
Northern Bedford's star running back, scored all 20 of the Panthers' points and gained 109 yards on 29 carries. Johnson finished the season with 179 points and 1,518 yards rushing. Going into the game, Johnson needed 28 points to overtake the school record of 188 points, held by Fred Glasgow.
Head Coach Charles “Chuck” Gironda was named Coach of the Year for the Inter-County Conference, while tailback Mike Johnson was the leading scorer in Pennsylvania with 181 points.
The team won the Inter-County Conference Championship, the Mountain League Conference Championship, and Mid-Penn Conference Championship.
The seniors were an especially strong group having amassed a record of 26 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie in their careers, including 17 straight wins.
The following players were named Bedford County All-Stars: Greg Batzel, Brent Bowser, Barry Brown, Brian Detwiler, Mike Johnson, Jeff Koontz, and Norman Sollenberger.
Perrin, Johnson, Batzel, Koontz, and Sollenberger were ICC All-Stars, and Brown and Detwiler were honorable mention selections.
Here is a game-by-game look at the 1975 season:
Northern Bedford 22, Southern Huntingdon 8
The Northern Bedford Panthers opened the 1975 season by downing the Rockets of Southern Huntingdon,
22-8, on Sept. 5 at Orbisonia. The victory was sparked by Panther running back Mike Johnson, who racked up 140 yards and scored two touchdowns. Jeff Perrin tossed a 20-yard scoring pass to Todd Ferry. In the statistics column, Northern Bedford outclassed Southern Huntingdon in net rushing, 236-90.
Northern Bedford 26, Juniata Valley 12
Northern Bedford ripped Juniata Valley, 26-12, on Sept. 13 at Roaring Spring Athletic Field. With the win, the Northern Bedford Panthers were riding a 10-game winning streak dating from the previous year. Quarterback Jeff Perrin tossed two touchdowns, and Mike Johnson ran for two touchdowns. The Panthers outgained Valley,
276-114, including 186-113 on the ground.
Northern Bedford 24, Tussey Mountain 6
The Northern Bedford Panthers scored a decisive victory on Sept. 19 at Saxton by downing the Tussey Mountain Titans, 24-6, to give the Titans their first loss. Although Tussey Mountain racked up 131 yards rushing and 108 yards passing, the Panthers’ heads-up defense allowed only one score while snagging two interceptions, pouncing on a fumble, and blocking a punt. Rushing was the key to the Panther offense as Northern Bedford drove for 252 yards. Panther Mike Johnson was responsible for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Jeff Koontz and Brent Bowser racked up 82 and 56 yards, respectively.
Northern Bedford 22, Chestnut Ridge 7
Northern Bedford stretched its winning record for the season to four straight on Sept. 27 by clouting Chestnut Ridge, 22-7, on the Ridge turf. Coach Chuck Gironda's Panthers haven't lost a game since the 1974 opener. Again big Panther fullback Mike Johnson led the infantry with 184 yards on 29 carries. Quarterback Jeff Perrin added with aerial bombardments that hit the target on eight of 11 tries for 86 yards. Total net yards showed Northern the leader, 368-146. The winners led in first downs, 18-5.
Northern Bedford 28, Williamsburg 0
A crushing offensive effort coupled with a stingy defense led the Northern Bedford Panthers to their fifth victory of the season on Oct. 4 at Roaring Spring — a 28-0 romp over the Williamsburg Blue Pirates. Mike Johnson finished the game with 234 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Northern's defense allowed only 100 yards rushing and 22 yards passing.
Northern Bedford 52, Claysburg-Kimmel 16
The Northern Bedford Panthers upped their record to 6-0 by downing the Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs on Oct. 11 at Claysburg. The star of the game for the Panthers was running back Mike Johnson, who racked up 239 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Also scoring for the Panthers were quarterback Jeff Perrin, fullback Brent Bowser and rookie slot back Dale Crawford. Perrin attempted only one pass, while Northern's running game was responsible for 391 yards. Claysburg managed 190 yards, including 135 in the air.
Northern Bedford 47, Berlin 6
Northern Bedford's football machine, Mike Johnson, shoved the Panthers to a 47-6 victory over visiting Berlin on Oct. 18 at Roaring Spring. Johnson, Northern's all-state candidate, rambled for five touchdowns and 282 yards on 27 carries. During the current season, Johnson has covered 1,226 yards with 205 carries and 20 touchdowns. Northern's defense left Berlin only 105 yards on the ground and 51 in the air. Northern's halftime margin was a heavy 35-6. By 6:10 of the third quarter, coach Chuck Gironda decided to pull out his regulars and let the reserves finish the game.
Northern Bedford 26, Everett 0
Northern Bedford High School was just one game away from its first undefeated and untied football season in history after a 26-0 whitewash of Everett on Oct. 24 put the Panthers in position to close out a perfect season. In the victory over Everett, Mike Johnson was again the mainstay of the Panther offense, scoring three of the four touchdowns. In the rushing column, Northern outdistanced Everett, 277-81. Everett had a 124-39 advantage through the air.
Northern Bedford 20, Kishacoquillas 6
The Northern Bedford Panthers completed a perfect 9-0 season on Nov. 1 by downing a tough team from Kishacoquillas with a 20-6 score. This was the first undefeated, untied team in the history of Northern Bedford. The squad was unbeaten in 1973 but finished with a 9-0-1 record, tying Tussey Mountain. Mike Johnson,
Northern Bedford's star running back, scored all 20 of the Panthers' points and gained 109 yards on 29 carries. Johnson finished the season with 179 points and 1,518 yards rushing. Going into the game, Johnson needed 28 points to overtake the school record of 188 points, held by Fred Glasgow.
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Class of 2015
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Class of 2015