1951 COVINGTON BUCCANEERS

In just their fifth season in the modern, the Covington Buccaneers finished the 1951 season without a loss.

1951 Buccaneers: 1st Row: Gib Forsythe, Leonard Wood, Ronnie Rhoades, Tony Brinkman, Kenny Shefbuch. 2nd Row: Doug Alexander, Don Martin, Herb Wackler, Bill Frey, Bob Johnson, Dick Via, Ronnie Finfrock. 3rd Row: Head Coach, Mr. Devine, Doug Diltz, Eldon Baker, Bill Boyer, Howard Anderson, Kent Hitchcock, Kenny Wackler, Jim Rench, Lloyd Holsapple, Assistant Coach, Mr. Deeter. 4th Row: Ralph Mutzner, Bud Feeser, Jim Minnich, Tom Baker, Bill Knick, Bill Young, Charles Mutzner, Kenneth Dowty. Top Row: Managers: Richard Bergman, Maynard Cissner

In this, the fifth season of the modern era of Covington football, the 1951 Buccaneers are the first to go through an entire season without a loss.

Coach Paul Devine’s talented group of 29 players, 28 able to participate due to an injury, survived a rigorous schedule consisting of many larger schools. In the end, the size of the school didn’t matter, only the heart of the Buccaneers mattered.

On their march toward history the Buccaneers began the season with a 13-6 win over St. Johns in a Tri-County League contest.

Covington followed that up with a 14-13 victory over Eaton in a game too close for comfort.

One of only two blemishes on Covington’s record occurred the following week as the Buccaneers and Minster wagged a 13-13 tie. The result of the contest left the Buccaneer’s quest for an outright Tri-County League title in limbo until later in the year.

Covington recorded two straight Tri-County League victories over the next two weeks with wins over Ansonia, 21-6, and Versailles, 26-6.

West Milton, a team Covington has failed to defeat in its previous four tries, added the second and final blemish on the Buccaneers’ record by holding Covington to a 0-0 tie. Fortunately for the Buccaneers the game was not a league contest.

Covington rebounded to win its final three contests of the season to capture sole possession of the league championship.

First, Bradford fell victim to Devine’s determined unit, 31-12. Piqua Catholic and West Carrollton were the final two victims, falling 13-6 and 12-0.

On the season the Buccaneers tallied 142 offensive points and only surrendered 62 to opposing teams.

Needless to say, it was a memorable season for the Buccaneers of Covington.

(Images obtained from the 1952 Covington High School Yearbook.)

1951 BUCCS - 7-0-2

OPPONENT

SCORE

St. John

13-6

Eaton

14-13

Minster

13-13

Ansonia

21-6

Versailles

25-6

West Milton

0-0

Bradford

31-12

Piqua Catholic

13-6

West Carrollton

12-0

Kenny Shefbuch runs away from the defense for a score.
Leonard Woods and Tony Brinkman force a fumble.