Fred Heffner
Fred Heffner graduated from Saxton Liberty High School in 1950.
While in high school, he lettered four years in football and basketball as well as three in baseball.
Fred stood out on the gridiron with his outstanding speed and size. He played both offensive and defensive end, and he did all of the punting and kicking as well. The 1949-50 Saxton Liberty football team
went 8-1 with its only loss coming to Richland Township in a playoff game.
Heffner attracted a lot of attention from Division I scouts and was highly recruited He was offered four-year scholarships from Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Colgate, Arkansas, and Virginia. He picked Maryland.
He started three years at Maryland as a defensive end and
punter. In those days, freshmen were redshirted and did not play varsity.
The Terrapins played in the Sugar Bowl in 1952, where they beat Tennessee, 28-13.
In 1953, Maryland was named the National Champions by the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI).
Maryland played Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, where the Terripans lost a close 7-0 contest. In those days, the national champion was declared before the final bowl games were played. It was also the first year of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Terrapins captured the conference title as well, sharing it with Duke.
During this season, Maryland outscored its opponents 298–38, accumulated six shutout wins, and allowed only one team, Georgia , to score more than seven points. No ACC team scored more total points until 1967 and
none has ever allowed fewer points in the regular season (31). Maryland ranked first nationally in terms of rushing defense (83.9 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (3.1 points allowed per game).
Heffner received an invitation to try out for the Los Angeles
Rams, but Uncle Sam had different plans for his immediate future. He was part of the Air Force Reserves for four years when he was at Maryland, and he had orders to report to Lackland Air Force Base to begin his four-year service in the military, which spelled the end of his illustrious football career.
He was a pilot in the USAF Air Defense Command, serving on active duty and reserves from 1954 to 1965. He attained the rank of Captain.
Outside of the military, Heffner spent 58 years working in the ice cream/dairy industry.
Heffner passed away on March 14, 2017, at the age of 84. His wife Hazel predeceased him, and he is survived by four children and 11 grandchildren.
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Fred Heffner graduated from Saxton Liberty High School in 1950.
While in high school, he lettered four years in football and basketball as well as three in baseball.
Fred stood out on the gridiron with his outstanding speed and size. He played both offensive and defensive end, and he did all of the punting and kicking as well. The 1949-50 Saxton Liberty football team
went 8-1 with its only loss coming to Richland Township in a playoff game.
Heffner attracted a lot of attention from Division I scouts and was highly recruited He was offered four-year scholarships from Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Colgate, Arkansas, and Virginia. He picked Maryland.
He started three years at Maryland as a defensive end and
punter. In those days, freshmen were redshirted and did not play varsity.
The Terrapins played in the Sugar Bowl in 1952, where they beat Tennessee, 28-13.
In 1953, Maryland was named the National Champions by the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI).
Maryland played Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, where the Terripans lost a close 7-0 contest. In those days, the national champion was declared before the final bowl games were played. It was also the first year of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Terrapins captured the conference title as well, sharing it with Duke.
During this season, Maryland outscored its opponents 298–38, accumulated six shutout wins, and allowed only one team, Georgia , to score more than seven points. No ACC team scored more total points until 1967 and
none has ever allowed fewer points in the regular season (31). Maryland ranked first nationally in terms of rushing defense (83.9 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (3.1 points allowed per game).
Heffner received an invitation to try out for the Los Angeles
Rams, but Uncle Sam had different plans for his immediate future. He was part of the Air Force Reserves for four years when he was at Maryland, and he had orders to report to Lackland Air Force Base to begin his four-year service in the military, which spelled the end of his illustrious football career.
He was a pilot in the USAF Air Defense Command, serving on active duty and reserves from 1954 to 1965. He attained the rank of Captain.
Outside of the military, Heffner spent 58 years working in the ice cream/dairy industry.
Heffner passed away on March 14, 2017, at the age of 84. His wife Hazel predeceased him, and he is survived by four children and 11 grandchildren.
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Class of 2017
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Class of 2017
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania