1968 Brewer Football Team
“The Witches exploded…Witches Razzle, Dazzle, Confuse…Explosive and Tricky…A Club That Couldn’t be Denied.” These headlines greeted sport’s fans throughout the state heralding the 1968 Brewer High School Football Team. It turned in the greatest season in the school’s history at that time by posting an unbeaten, untied record of 11-0 and up to 1968 was the only Brewer team to ever win a Class A championship title.
It was a season of records beginning with a team of 100 players that was comprised of 30 seniors and 70 underclassmen. The team held the top offensive record in the state scoring 335 points and the top defensive record in the state allowing only 68 points. First Team, Class A All-State players included Mark McEwen (Guard), Dana Folsom (Guard), Steve Sprague (Halfback) and Dana Corey (Defensive Back). Center Ric Franks was named Second Team All-State along with Tackle Dan Gass, Linebacker Dan Dawe, and Fullback Roman Maxsimic. Individuals who set Class A records included the following: Steve Sprague, leading scorer with 114 points; Dana Corey, leading extra point kicker with 29 points and leading pass defender with 9 interceptions; and Mark McEwen, leading tackler with 137 tackles. Is there any wonder this team was ranked Number 5 in New England!
The championship season was masterminded by Head Coach Ken Perrone with very capable assistants, Ralph Brier, Mike Connolly, Tim Marcoulier, Harold Pressey and Ron Treat. Perrone would be the first to say “it takes a lot of people working behind the scenes, who never get the headlines, to make a successful program.” Sports columnists wrote, “The opposing team had thoroughly scouted the Brewer Witches prior to Saturday’s encounter but the Witches did almost nothing the same as they did in the 5 straight previous victories.” As Coach Perrone often noted, “the kids bent here and there but they never broke.” This football team represented the perfect blend of extraordinary coaching and the remarkable skill of the players.
Along with their dedicated cheerleaders, over 3,000 fans would consistently watch this team, sometimes in extremely adverse weather conditions but they were warmed by such feats as the Timothy Geaghan trophy being returned to Brewer after defeating arch rival Bangor 19-12 or by watching the team’s 11-game winning streak. Included in that winning streak was an upset over annual powerhouse Biddeford who had a 28-game winning streak snapped by the Witches.
The Class A State Championship game turned out to be a battle between two tenacious, defensive teams. South Portland scored a touchdown in the third period but did not convert on the extra point. Trailing 6-0 late in the fourth quarter, Brewer Senior Steve Landry intercepted a pass. Eventually with a fourth down and six yards to go, halfback Steve Sprague took a pitchout and fought his way into the end zone. The game was tied 6-6 until Dana Corey kicked the extra point. Brewer 7- South Portland 6 and the championship Class A football trophy came to Brewer for the first time. Coach Perrone noted that to date this was the biggest win of his career. He had brought the Brewer football team to a Class A state title in only two years.
A season of upsets, this masterful performance of the Class A championship game culminated in a season of a well-coached, well-disciplined, well-oiled football machine that dominated the state and brought pride to the City of Brewer and all the communities that sent their sons and daughters to Brewer High School.
1968 Brewer Football Team Roster
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INDUCTION OF THE 1968 FOOTBALL TEAM
