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Mark Schremmer
Mark Schremmer is a major contributor to KPREPS.com, a website dedicated to covering Kansas high school football. A Pittsburg native and Pittsburg State University graduate, he is assistant news editor at The Topeka Capital-Journal and has covered sports in Kansas since 2000.
Sports
2012-11-19 10:58:30
History of football in southeast Kansas, Part 3 - did you know?
In my third and final segment of looking back on the history of football in southeast Kansas, I’m going to provide a variety of quick tidbits and trivia regarding the sport in this corner of the state. Some of this may be new and some of this you may already know. Either way, it’s never a bad time to highlight the great players, teams and games from this tradition-rich area. For instance, did you know? * St. Mary’s-Colgan is tied with Smith Center for the most undefeated seasons in state history with 7. * The Panthers own the little known record of most fumbles recovered in a season with 35 in 1999. Colgan finished as Class 2-1A runner-up to Claflin that season. * Chanute boasted 493 interception return yards in 2005, which still stands as a state record. * Riverton kicker David Bond has the record for most extra points in a game with 11 against Cherryvale in 1989. * St. Paul’s Corey Grosdidier ran back six punt returns for touchdowns in 1994, which remains an 8-Man state record. * Pittsburg High School has had 51 players selected to compete in the Kansas Shrine Bowl in the game’s history from 1974-2012. They include Rudy Polchlopek, Jeff Goble, Randy Rodich, Rod Cox, Chris Toburen, Steve Vanzant, John Martel, Doug Medford, Aaron Waltrip, Mark Pitzer, Mark Bolinger, Mark Wisner, Steve Simoncic, Fred Francis, Kevin Verdugo, Scott Pullan, Brian Pinamonti, Matt McLane, Brian Hutchins, Kent Shorten, Ryan Keith, Jared Smith, Mike John, Andrew Wilson, Jeff Rahm, Keith Newbery, Matt Pinamonti, Ryan Close, Jason Slaughter, Shad Meier, Shane Collins, Kyle Broyles, Josh Lawson, Mark Broyles, Adam Meier, Tim Adam, Casey Warlop, Romon Barber, Daniel Peterson, Tim Carris, Dylan Meier, Jim Holland, Jason Clark, Kerry Meier, Kunle Kola, Kiara Jones, Jacob Wilson, Fred Sellars, Keenan Soles, Jordan Elliott and Broc Bennett. * Colgan has had 28 players selected to be in the Shrine Bowl. They are Tom Dayton, Brad Bradshaw, Tim James, Rick Gallagher, Rob Murphy, Putzer Dayton, Jeff Sullivan, Pat McNally, Luke Huerter, Joe Taylor, Nick Smith, Pat Schiefelbein, Troy Sayler, Eric Clawson, Scot Schiefelbein, Nick Dellasega, Mark Smith, Caleb Farabi, Kenny Blancho, Kenny Maus, Dan Dellasega, Jeff Smith, Tino King, Jeremiah Fleming, Chas Smith, Regan Kays, Daniel Humble and Christian Smith. * Girard’s Dave Wutke, Mike McLeod, Brian Humble, Terry Adamson, Rob Townsend, Mike Bean, Dan Shireman, Nathan Cowan, Dale Shireman, Ben Niggemann, Brad Clutter, B.J. Harris, Clint Callanan, Dustin Mengarelli, Zach Lehman, T.J. Franklin, Josh Paoni, Seth Newton and Tyler Bennett have been picked for the game over the years. * Frontenac’s David Bruenjes, Bryan Simoncic, Todd Hafner, Jason Hipfl, Petie Marrone, Darrin Bridwell, Tildon Burns, Zeb Mingori, Travis Stephens, Brett Kunshek, Kyle Martin, Brad Hribar and Isaac Cook have represented the Raiders over the years. * Ron Yartz represented Arma in the inaugural 1974 Shrine Bowl. * Colgan’s Putzer Dayton owned the rushing record in the Shrine Bowl with 139 yards in the 1985 game. Dayton earned MVP honors, however a guy by the name of Barry Sanders broke his record the following year. The record now belongs to Wichita Southeast’s Rashad Washington with 243 yards in 1999. * Chet Kuplen, a Frontenac graduate who runs Kansas-sports.com, has helped me remember many other great area athletes from recent history. Who else remembers Independence’s Jay Alexander, Riverton’s Andy Ball, St. Paul’s Jarrett Grosdidier, Riverton’s Zach Martin, Coffeyville’s Mondriel Fulcher, Fort Scott’s Bob Goltra, Pittsburg’s Poncho Sales, Fort Scott’s Travis Stepps, Southeast’s Jerry Ross, Derrick Rider and Clint Rider, Northeast’s Ryan Clark and Iola’s Ryan Lonergan. * One of the most memorable seasons for football in southeast Kansas was in 2000. That season, the area was represented in state championship games in every classification from 8-Man Division I to Class 5A with St. Paul, Colgan, Frontenac, Fort Scott and Pittsburg all playing in title games. St. Paul, Colgan and Fort Scott all brought home titles. * Pittsburg State’s Carnie Smith Stadium also has had several great players from other teams take the field over the years. Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton led Blinn Community College to a national championship win over Fort Scott Community College in the 2009 Citizens Bank Bowl. Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker Lavonte David played for the Greyhounds in that same game. Former Denver Broncos and Missouri Southern standout Rod Smith is another great player who has had his cleats on Brandenburg Field. I know there are plenty more great athletes and moments that I left out. But that’s what makes southeast Kansas football so remarkable. We could go on and on listing all of the great athletes and accomplishments. I hope you enjoyed taking a trip back as much as I did.
 
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