(Avoca, IA) — On Friday night, AHSTW celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1974 state championship football team. Many members of the team were on hand for the Homecoming parade and were honored at halftime as the Vikings went on to a 43-6 win over Missouri Valley.
Head Coach Jim Wharton was among those honored — his 73 team went undefeated but did not qualify for the playoffs which only had 4 teams at the time. But AvoHa would get into the playoffs in 1974 — they only had Avoca and Hancock in their school district at the time — and Wharton said they would beat L.D.F Le Grand 21-6 for the 1A state title
Wharton says there many standout players on the team
Bill Rock was a running back and linebacker for AvoHa in 1974 and he remembers a big run he got to beat Missouri Valley
Charlie Pattee was a tight end and defensive end and he remembers that the Homecoming game in 74 was a close one
Current AHSTW Head Coach GG Harris says he appreciates the generation who played football in the 70s and says he has stayed in contact with Coach Wharton who has taught him patience
Complete Interview with Jim Wharton
