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SLAYTON — On Friday, Oct. 3, members of the 1975 Ruthton High School 9-player football state championship team gathered for a reunion.
The reunion took place at Key Largo overlooking the waters of Lake Shetek in Murray County.
The moment served as a time of celebration and reflection.
Here’s the 1975 Ruthton Vikings’ 9-player state championship team. First row (from left), student manager Doug Lingen, Jeff Houselog, Craig Haraldson, Richard Stepanek, Rick Boomgaarden, Bob Andresen, Jim Petersen, Jim Beyers, Dan Stensgaard, Jeff Madsen, Jeff Tutt and student manager Dennis Van Eck. Second row, head coach Pat Burke, Glenn Kruse, Steve Houselog, Dennis Petersen, Mark Rood, Dale Rood, Mike Wabeke, Roger Dreckman, Randy VanderPoel, Dean Davis, Brian Houselog and assistant coach Leon Moreland. Third row, Todd Sanderson, Doug Sanderson, Kerri Ronning, Gary Wabeke, Robert Stepanek, Cap Webeke, Curt Vogt, Bob Jasper and Keith Kuhlman. (Contributed photo)
“We wanted to avoid potentially adverse November travel conditions,” Jeff Houselog said in an email to the Pipestone County Star.
“We had a great turnout,” Houselog continued. “Both coaches, one manager, three cheerleaders and 23 players were in attendance along with wives and classmates. It swelled our party to more than 50 people.”
Houselog said three players passed away since they hoisted the championship trophy those decades ago.
“We had a great time catching up with teammates, some we hadn’t seen since graduation,” Houselog continued. “We shared old newspaper clippings and photographs. It was a special night.”
Most of the group reunited at Key Largo off Lake Shetek in rural Slayton Oct. 3. (Contributed photo)
For most state championship teams, there is a perfect storm moment when everything comes together. And that was certainly the case for these Vikings.
Robert Andresen, who was Homecoming King that year, addressed how the magic started.
“We had two great coaches in Pat Burke, head coach, and Leon Mortland, assistant,” Andresen said. “Pat brought the offense to a different level introducing the wishbone/triple option running attack to us our junior year.”
Houselog and Andresen served as what was referred to in the 1970s as the deep halfbacks. Rick Boomgaarden served as the fullback. Mike Wabeke made “the offense click” at quarterback.
Head coach Pat Burke is carried off the field after Ruthton dispatched Audubon, 42-20, in the 1975 9-player championship. (Contributed image from the Buffalo Ridge Gazette)
Although wishbone teams traditionally didn’t pass the ball much, Jim Petersen and Jim Beyers made clutch receptions when they needed.
Richard Stepanek was an all-state offensive and defensive lineman, anchoring both fronts. Bob Jasper and Roger Dreckman also played vital roles for the Vikings. The squad also featured Glen Kruse, Craig Haraldson, Jeff Tutt, Jeff Madsen and Dan Stensgaard.
Defensively, Ruthton ran a five-front alignment with two safeties (Houselog was one of them).
Houselog said both Burke and Mortland spoke during the reunion, an added touch to the occasion.
Ruthton was a dominant football team in 1975, outscoring opponents 521-106 with regular-season victories over Elkton (35-20) and Russell (42-12).
The playoff chase opened with Balaton, a 35-12 conquest.
Then Balaton head coach Ron Borchert was complimentary of the Vikings in an old edition of the Buffalo Ridge Gazette newspaper.
“The Vikes are a fine ball club,” Borchert said. “Coach Burke is one coach who has done a lot for the boys. He’s a fine coach. How can you get ready for a team like that?”
The Balaton-Ruthton game was such a big deal, multiple radio stations in Marshall aired it.
Then came the Vikings’ most challenging game of the year versus Welcome, which Ruthton escaped with a 29-20 victory.
“Our semifinal game versus Welcome was our toughest of the year,” Houselog said. “They were also undefeated and had about the same averages per game as we did. They were big, physical guys, and had twice the roster we did.”
Randy VanderPoel recorded a key safety, and the Vikings outgained Welcome 361-231. Andresen finished with more than 100 yards on the ground.
Ruthton was the beneficiary of reduced travel for the state championship game, which was played at Lakeview High School in Cottonwood — long before such grand events transpired at then Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
The Vikings’ travel distance was about 40 miles, which could be covered in about 45 minutes back then. Meanwhile, Audubon is 179 miles from Cottonwood.
Here’s the story that appeared in an edition of The Pipestone County Star. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Tickets for the game cost $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for students (like those prices?). Pennant flags were for sale, and there was a pep rally before the championship.
Ruthton controlled Audubon right from the start, rolling to a 42-20 conquest. Houselog and Andresen both scored a TD in the opening quarter.
Audubon raced in for its first score early in the second quarter, cutting the Ruthton lead to 14-6. However, Andresen caught a TD pass from Wabeke on the Vikings’ next possession and they added another score before halftime for a three-possession lead.
Houselog finished with 168 yards rushing, amassing more than 130 of them in the opening half — which set the tone for who would win.
To borrow a phrase from tennis. It was game, set and match. The celebration was on. Beyers remembered fire trucks escorting the squad back to Ruthton.
The men used lessons learned from football they applied to their future careers in the insurance industry, health professions or in education.
For example, Beyers became a staking engineer, working for Sioux Valley Energy in Pipestone for roughly 30 years. A staking engineer is a professional who works on the layout and design of construction projects, especially electric and utility systems.
Petersen was asked what it means to him to be known as a state champion.
“It brings a lot of pride to me personally,” he said. “However, more so for our community. This was a team effort, all the coaches and all the players, with great support from the community.”
Added Houselog: “As that season progressed, it seemed like the crowds surrounding the field grew larger. People had to stand as there was little bleacher space, or they parked their cars in the end zones and watched from there. Local businesses soaped their windows, celebrating the team. The majority of our team was farm kids, and our parents sacrificed much so that we could play football. It still amazes me our community supported us with great turnouts every Friday night during the busy harvest season.”
In the 1970s, Ruthton was vibrant.
The 1976 Yearbook was dedicated to the state champion football team. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
It was home of Gordy’s Barber and Boot, Kleenette laundry, Jensen’s Food Market and bowling at Lindy Lanes. Jensen’s sold flour in 50-pound sacks, and an eight-ounce bag of potato chips went for 49 cents.
In 1975, the Minnesota State High School League fielded five football classes.
Other championship game scores that year were as follows: Stillwater defeated Richfield, 20-17, in the largest classification. St. Thomas Academy downed St. Peter, 21-14. Gaylord squeezed past Onamia, 14-13. Esko blasted Karlstad, 62-0. That’s not a misprint.
The 1976 RHS yearbook, known as “The Viking,” was dedicated to the state champions.
The Star sports editor would like to thank the Pipestone County Historical Society for their assistance in writing this column — staff members Susan Hoskins, Trava Olivier and Noah Burris. Joyce Gilliland donated the yearbook to the museum, so I’m thanking her, too.
The 1975 9-player football championship was on display at the Pipestone County Historical Society. (Contributed image)
Editor’s Note: This column does not necessarily reflect the views of Pipestone Publishing Co., Inc., or the Pipestone County Star, and are solely that of the author. Look for photos at www.pipestonestar.com.