James Edward Montaine

Defiance Rugby ~~ June 14, 1986 - Atlantis Tournament, Virginia Beach Sevens ~~ September 6, 1973 - The Journal News from Hamilton, Ohio · Page 44 Page 14 Journal-News. Hamilton. Ohio Thursday. September 6.1973 By LARRY THOMAS Journal-News Writer Last season brought two important firsts as far as the Fairfield Indians football team was concerned. It was the first year for Head Coach Jan Knepshield, and the first year that a Fairfield football) team had ever defeated the Garfield Griffins. This year the Indians hope to improve on last year's 3-7 record. This is going to take Things looking up at Fairfield, but schedule is tough some doing, not because the team isn't capable, but because the schedule is tougher. The addition of Oak Hills, Forest Park and Colerain to the Indians already tough schedule of CMC opponents is not going to allow Fairfield rooters the luxury of an easy game. Knepshield believes that the Indians are going to be a very capable club. He feels that they are an improved team, due in part to a weight program that has been put into effect, and also due to the team's fine senior leadership. Some of these seniors are Captain Don Tegge, Paul Gray, Greg Johnson and Mike Smith. Tegge will go both ways for the Indians this year. On offense, he'll be at a running back spot and on defense he'll be a linebacker. Tegge stands 5-11 and weighs in at 195 pounds. Gray at 6-3, 230 is going to be an important factor in the offensive line. He'll start at an offensive tackle spot. Johnson, another factor in that offensive front line, is 6'0 185 pounds, and will be at guard position. Smith at 5-9 170 pounds won't be the biggest defensive end in the area, but the Fairfield staff thinks that he could be one of the best. Fairfield will be a multiple offense team with the emphasis on the running game. This of course is going to require the perfect execution that oftentimes is not present in a high school team. The other thing that will be required is a quarterback that can think and handle the ball. Knepshield feels that Kevin Bokeno can and will be able to run his team well. He is a 5-10, 160 pound These seniors will be looked to for team leadership: (top row) Bob Parrish, Bob Barkett, Bob Cappa. Paul Reid, Gary Carmack, Greg Johnson, Shawn Erb. (2nd row) Mark Ruroede, Faron Ashcraft, Phil Carr, Jim Roberts, BUI Roesch, Bob Jewell, Bob Dyer, Jim Schneider, Kevin Bowman. (Bottom row) Charlie Bearden, Jim Montaine, Ken Rhodus, Mike Smith, Don Tegge Dan Doyle, Jim Neal, Don Senger, Paul Gray. Joining Kevin in the backfield, besides Tegge, are juniors Rick Hyde, 5-11 180 pounds at running back, and Tim Oldfield, a 6-1 and 190 pound fullback. The only areas of weakness that the Indians seem to have are in depth and size. The inexperience of many key players is also going to be a factor especially at the beginning of the season. Fairfield will start the season away from home at Talawanda. When Coach Knepshield was asked about the Talawanda game he said that they would be tough. They have almost everyone back, and in fact, are looking forward to an undefeated season. Then with a smile, he added that Fairfield hopes to end those dreams right away. After Talawanda comes Oak Hills, Taft, and then arch-rival Badin. Middletown, Princeton, Forest Park, and Garfield come in that order with Colerain and Greenhills rounding out the schedule. Knepshield has a fine coaching staff in Joe Dente, Jim Kemen, Richard Pare, Frank Price, Bob Worrell and Charles Tiberghein. The freshman coaches are Tom Brown, John Cook, and Doug Rider. According to Knepshield the help of these men has been invaluable, and he particularly lauded the freshman coaches for their help. The whole season for Fairfield will depend on two major elements, execution and experience. The Indians have fair to good speed, but no really fast backs. They do not have an extra large man on the field, and they are not big. They do not have a large amount of bench strength, so they will have to hope for an injury-free year What they do have is a coach with very high hopes for his team, and a coaching staff that is excellent. The team has the potential to be a good one, if they execute what they have been taught. The possibility of a great season exists, but they'll have to earn it. Like everyone else, Knepshield feels that Princeton and Middletown will be the teams to beat in the CMC. But then Fairfield will probably not be the league's doormat. The Indians should be an exciting team to watch and could be one of the biggest success stories of the year. Fairfield is going to rely heavily on the are Don Tegge, captain Coach KBMV running game and these men are going to have to shoulder a lot of the responsibility for the success of the team.