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Amazing Seasons
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from 1972 Decatur Yearbook Our football team, having looked forward to a great 1971 season, not only achieved their goal, but also obtained the highest honor in the state. We had a 9-1 season and three wins in the playoffs. This outstanding record won our mighty Raiders the 4A State Championship and brought the season to a victorious end. This record would not have been possible without the ability of our excellent staff of coaches. Head Coach Earl Webb, coaches Paul Glover, Wally Burnham and Jimmy Holley proved themselves to be vital aspects of our team during each and every game. Our team, coaches, and cheerleaders supported by the continuous spirit of the whole student body, made our 1971 football season the best year ever!
The crowd was out full force to see their Raiders down Bradshaw 20-0 in the first game of the season. On the first play from the Bruin 8, Edwin Breland pulled the Bradshaw quarterback, Steve McAnally, down in the end zone for a safety. Then, with 4:38 left in the first quarter, Jerry Mizell carried seven consecutive times for a touchdown. To further boost Raider spirit, Preston Brogdon caused McAnally to fumble on the Bradshaw 23 and Jim Rankin recovered on the 16. Four plays later, the Big Red Machine had another touchdown under its belt to make the score 14-0. The last touchdown, covering 87 yards, was set up on a brilliant diving catch by Charlie Kennedy from quarterback Eddie Mitchell. Mizell took it in two plays later.
Booming with pride, the Mighty Raiders marched to Athens to defeat the Golden Eagles on their own battleground. Fullback Jerry Mizell, scoring both of the Decatur touchdowns, led the 14-6 victory. On the second TD, with 3:11 remaining on the clock, Eddie Mitchell passed to Charlie Kennedy for the two-point conversion to make the score 14-0. The only Eagle touchdown came in the third quarter when Dennis Collins scooped up a Paul Brogdon fumble and sprinted 42 yards for the score.
The Decatur defense and offense, awesome in the Red Raiders' first two victories of the season, were again at their lethal best against Austin. Scotty Wagner scored the first touchdown on a two-yard dash with :01 left in the first quarter, and from then on the bumbling Black Bears were in trouble. Our Mighty Raiders buried our cross-town rival with a score of 32-0.
Morgan County High Tigers gave Decatur it biggest scare of the season in our fourth game. The Red Raiders averted a dreadful 0-0 tie when Scott Wagner stole the ball from the pushing Tigers in the last quarter of the game. Four plays later, quarterback Eddie Mitchell maneuvered a perfect fourth down pass to Edwin Breland. Decatur Red Raiders left Tiger Stadium with a 6-0 victory.
The Big Red Defense did not look so outstanding against Scottsboro as the Wildcats clawed 72 yards for a touchdown on their opening drive of the game. No doubt, the fear of last year's two upsets by the Scotties still lingered in the hearts of the Raider team. After a halftime pep talk by coach Earl Webb, however, the fear was gone and only revenge remained. The determination of the Raiders, manifested by a 51-yard punt by Jim Rankin, was never lost in the second half as the Big Red Machine rolled to a 18-13 victory over Scottsboro.
The Percolator just would not work for Coffee against Decatur. Jerry Mizell led the Raiders in grinding Coffee with 144 yards rushing in 27 carries. Decatur would not be contented with a 6-0 lead they obtained during the third quarter. With a 1st and 10 at the Decatur 43, Paul Brogdon sprinted through a gaping hole at right tackle, kept his balance after being rushed by a Yellow Jacket defender, stumbled for several yards and then dashed 57 yards for a touchdown. The Big Red Machine never let up steam as they defeated Coffee 20-0.
Gloating over six previous wins and a beautiful Homecoming Court, the Decatur Red Raiders were grounded for the first time by a fired up Cullman ball club. With Decatur trailing 14-0 and eight seconds remaining in the first half, the Raiders made their only touchdown as fullback Jerry Mizell bullied his way over from the one. Mitchell passed to David Seymore for a two-point conversion, making it 14-8. A 35-yard field goal in the fourth period put the game on ice for the Cullman Bearcats with a 17-8 lead.
The Mighty Raiders, putting last week's upset behind them, defeated Deshler 32-0. Highlighting the game was the return of Preston Brogdon, injured in the first game of the season, and the superb performance of Jerry Mizell. Mizell, a staunch 5'10" 200 pound fullback, bombed his way for 210 yards rushing. Preston, having kept the bench warm for the past six weeks, played an excellent game. He recovered two Deshler fumbles, one of which thwarted a threatening Tiger touchdown. Fans also had the privilege of catching a glimpse of next year's team when Coach Webb called out the reserves early in the fourth quarter.
Even though set back in the state ranking by Cullman, Decatur still had its eye on the playoffs as they defeated Walker County 39-0. "The boys came out as if they really wanted to play football." remarked Coach Webb at the conclusion of the game. And play they did! Decatur drove 55 yards in seven plays for its first touchdown against Walker, and then turned a Viking fumble into a 26-yard touchdown drive to post its second six-pointer within three minutes. The rest of the game was downhill all the way for the Raiders.
We're in the playoffs! This exclamation was ringing in the hearts of every Raider team member and fan as The Machine ran over favored Huntsville High in the last game of Decatur's regular season. At the beginning of the third quarter, 190 pond tailback Paul Brogdon took a pitchout, headed around the right end, reversed his field, eluded a defender downfield with some ghostly moves, and sailed 72 yards for a touchdown. Eddie Mitchell, with the aid of offensive lineman Rick Chenault, Mark Anderson, Randy Bradford, David Matthews and Barry Brown, then threw to Paul for the two-point conversion, and the Raiders had a 22-0 lead with 11:24 remaining in the third quarter. This was just a sample of the fantastic skill Decatur displayed in this game which ended with a 30-0 Panther defeat.
West End was highly favored as Decatur traveled to Legion Field to play the number two team in the state - West End High School. In what was truly the best game of Decatur's season, the Red Raiders virtually vanquished the Lions 24-7. Decatur, which had just over 70 yards rushing in the opening half, amassed 227 yards in the final two quarters. The Red Raiders drove 85 yards for the go ahead six pointer, 39 for their second of the second half; and reserve tailback Scott Wagner added the final finishing touch with an astounding 33 yard scoring run. Paul Brogdon and Jerry Mizell led the Raiders with 129 and 86 yards respectively. Even though Brogdon and Mizell made outstanding performances, one cannot credit the game to these two alone. The whole Decatur ball squad played with such unbelievable skill and teamwork that they cannot be called just a group of players, but a team united.
Underdog Decatur went into Milton Frank Stadium with uncertainty as they faced the number one defensive team and a cloudburst which failed to drive away loyal Decatur fans. The Mighty Red Raiders made the state semi-finals look like a farce as they fouled the Grissom Tigers 38-0. No team this season had scored over a touchdown on the Tiger defense. Though the games was filled with offensive stars, the Raiders defense deserves the medal of the game. Led by linebackers Frankie Williams and Preston Brogdon; ends Edwin Breland and Stan Evans; and interior linemen Mike Burnthall, Curtis Rooker and Rick Chenault; the Raiders held Grissom to only one first down in the second half. The Raider secondary, led by Paul Brogdon, Scott Wagner and Charlie Kennedy, yielded only one completion in seven attempts by the Tigers.
The Decatur Red Raiders -- underdogs in the state semi-finals -- were picked as losers as they proudly marched into Ogle Stadium to meet the Butler Rebels. Since the rain had not stopped, Coach Webb was forced to change from a pass to a run game plan against Butler's bullish ball team. Decatur's defense, which relies on quickness rather than strength, could not be sure of its chances against Butler's large linemen. All told, the Raiders were beaten everywhere but on the scoreboard as they defeated the Rebels 8-0. After a failing field goal attempt by Butler's Brad Gilbert, the Raiders took over at their own 20, mover 80 yards in 14 plays, and climaxed their drive with a Mitchell pass to Rankin for a touchdown. Mitchell passed to Edwin Breland for the two point conversion and the winning margin was in the scoreboard light. The Rebels, however, never ceased to fight. With three minutes remaining in the game, they took the ball on their own 23 and marched to the Decatur 33. Butler had seemingly come alive, but Paul Brogdon sealed the Rebel's fate with an interception at the one-yard line. With :57 seconds showing, the 1971-72 Decatur High Red Raiders had reached their goal -- the State 4A Championship in football.
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Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Thomasville scored 54 points against Gulf Shores in the first quarter of a game in 2003. They managed to hang on for an 81-14 win.
Thomasville scored 54 points against Gulf Shores in the first quarter of a game in 2003. They managed to hang on for an 81-14 win.
