The 1955 Covington Buccaneers exceeded expectation in their first year in the Little Buckeye League thanks to increased numbers of 44 players.
The 1955 Buccaneers entered the season with forty-four players and a 50-50 chance of winning two games. But, the Buccs exceeded expectations by winning seven of their nine games and the Little Buckeye League Championship, their first year in the league.
Along the way the Buccs scored 80 points and surrendered just 6 against league opponents. They also placed 8 players on the all league team. Those players were headed by co-captains Larry Via and Jim Finfrock along with John Laughman, Lewis Deeter, Arlen Idle, Tom Robinson, Rodney Sampson, and Terry Longendelpher.
Covington opened the season with four straight wins against Tipp City 18-6, Jefferson 4-0, Brookville 25-0, and Germantown 26-6.
Versailles then gave Covington its first loss of the season 12-6, but Covington regrouped to record 3 more wins in a row. One of those wins was an 18-6 victory over rival Bradford, which won the Buccs the Traveling Trophy presented by the American Legion. Coach Wion was honored on the Tom Blackburn’s TV Show as Coach of the Week.
The season didn’t end as well as the Buccaneers had hoped as West Milton handed them a 15-13 loss.
For much of the season Covington’s defense was virtually impossible to score upon. The Buccaneers only surrendered 45 points all year and recorded four shutouts in the nine games.
Covington’s league record was 4-0 with wins over Jefferson, Brookville, Germantown, and Centerville.
(Images obtained from the 1956 Covington High School Yearbook.)