1978 Portville Football Season Summary
I was the head captain of the 1978 PCS Football team under Head Coach Bob "The Bear" Connell, assisted by
Rick Wilson and Bill Thomas. Boomer Connell, Moke Jaekle, and John Depp were the assistant captains.
We were predicted by the Olean Times Herald to go 9-0, but we blew a few plays and ended up 5-2-2.
Our two best players, Jon Depp and Gary Swetland, suffered pre-season injuries that caused major disruptions in our chemistry.
Incredibly, Coach Connell suffered a heart attack during the BCC game, but the whole squad experienced adversities
throughout the season, especially a divide between the backs and linemen.
Some say that we had too many horses on the field at once, but the inner turmoil thwarted our potentail
dominance in the Border Conference. We still kicked butt in those five wins.
Those horses included all of the above, as well as seniors Jon Giberson, Shane Stone, Mark Childs, Joe Caya,
Mike Milne, Mike Warner, Joe Snyder, John Sprague, Doug Torrey, Mark Miller, Randy Bretzin and juniors Rob Pockalny, Tom Sprague,
Terry Burrows, Dan Sherwin, Joel Warner, Duane Shrauger, Don Lowe, and Mike Hayes.
Sophomores included John Dubots, Mike Bird, Harry Rasey, Ron North, Bob Bretzin, George Blurton, Tom Klimczyck,
Frank Aloi, Rock Giberson, others, and many Freshman.
Trying to get these guys on the same page wa a big task, but we have remained friends ever since.
