This site is a history of Otis-Bison Athletics starting from the 1969-1970 athletic season.  Included will be team rosters, write-ups from newspapers, and anything else that I find pertinent.  Contact me at stan.ewy@gmail.com if you have any information that would of interest.

 

 

 

From Great Bend Tribune, September 21, 1969

Otis-Bison Cougars Claw Wilson

WILSON - The Otis-Bison Cougars opened the 1969-70 football season with a Quivera League win over the Wilson Dragason to the tune of 12-0.  The Cougars scored their first touchdown on a 72 yard pass from (Don)Dewald to (Irving)Erb.  The game stood at 6-0 throughout the first half.  Otis capped their scoring with a pass interception by Chuck Smith who rambled for 55 yards for the final touchdown.

 

From Salina Journal, September 28, 1969

Otis-Bison over Chase 44-0

OTIS - Scoring for Otis-Bison:  Erb 1 TD, Bahr 2 TDs, Smith 3 TDs.  PAT:  Maneth 2 runs, Smith kick and 1 run.

 

From Great Bend Tribune, October 12, 1969

Otis-Bison Bombs Geneseo 52-0

OTIS - The Otis-Bison Cougars bombed the Geneseo Dragons 52-0 Friday night here in Quivera League play, making this the fourth straight win for the home team.  Scoring touchdowns for the Cougars were Don DeWald, Chuck Smith, Irvin Erb and Tom Bahr.  The Cougars will meet Bushton at Bushton next Friday.

 

From Great Bend Tribune, October 19, 1969

Potent Otis-Bison Thrashes Bushton

BUSHTON - A rampaging band of Otis-Bison Cougars completely mangled the Bushton Trojans 50-6 in Quiveria League action here Friday evening.  The Otis-Bison thrashing brought their record to 5-0 for the season in league play while Bushton dropped to 3-2.  The Cougars scored at will against the hapless Trojans who had a large amount of boys hurt in the hard fought battle.  Otis-Bison had a total offensive show of 316 yards compared to to Bushton's 13 yards gained.  Bushton travels to Claflin for a Quiveria League encounter Friday night.  Scoring for Otis-Bison:  Smith, 3 TD's (3 yd, 4 yd, 4 yd,); Maneth, 1 yd run; Highfill, 20 yd. blocked punt return; Wissman, 1 yd run; Bahr, 4 yd run; safety.  PAT:  Dewald, 1 run; Bahr, 2 runs.  Scoring for Bushton:  Folk, fumble recovery of 97 yards.

 

From Hutchinson News, November 11, 1969

 

Quivera League

                               League      Non-League          Pts.        Opp.

Otis-Bison               7     0          8     0                     344          33

Little River               6     1          7    1                      264          61

Claflin                      5     2          6     2                     239          92

Bushton                   5     2          6     2                     148          92

Chase                     3     4           3     4                       69        147

Wilson                     3     4          3     5                        94        108

Holyrood                 2     5          2     5                        68         221

Geneseo                 1     7          1     7                        76         244

Marquette                0     7          0     7                        50         276

 

From Great Bend Tribune, December 7, 1969

Otis-Bison Merger Makes for Great Football Team

OTIS, Kan. - Little did anyone realize when Bison merged with Otis in a school district unification program last summer, the fall would bring one of the strongest 24 high school football teams in either prep's history.  One of the strongest?  Undoubtedly the strongest.  The only way a team could surpass Otis-Bison 9-0 record of the season just ended would be to play more games and win them all.  State governed rules permit the latter, however.  Coach Joel Bieber's Cougars literally waltzed through the Quivera League defeating with ease runnerup Little River Redskins, 30-15.  "Quite a different record than last season", said Bieber, reflecting over a 4-1-4 mark.  The four ties earmarked an oddity.  Actually the two schools had been unified for four years but each clamed a high school until this fall.  With the merger, Bison submitted Irvin Erb, a flanker, and Alan Kenyon, guard to the 1969 championship team.  "Those two were the main cogs from Bison but we were also given immeasureable assistance by defensive tackle, Terry Serpan, and offensive tackle Steve Pivonka", Bieber pointed out. The strength of the Cougars ground game is borne out by their production of 2,406 yards while limiting the nine opponents to a total of 614 yards, a decided advantage while comparing the aerial statistics.  In the air, with sophmore Don DeWald and Erb handling most of the passing, the Cougars picked up 957 yards while yielding 660.  Blending the rushing with the passing and the end result with 392 Cougar points as compared with the oppositions' mere 50 tallies.  Fullback Tom Bahr churned for 909 yards in 90 carries for a respectable 9.1 average to lead the Cougars.  His efforts resulted in 19 touchdowns and with 13 extra points, a stunning 140 point total.  DeWald engineered the backfield from his quarterback slot and was third in the quartet's scoring brigade with 58 points behind Chuck Smith's 94.  Erb, runnerup in individual rushing with an average of 7.1 yards per try contributed 42 points to the cause.  "DeWald did a tremendous job for a sophmore," said Bieber, a crest fallen opponent of the present state high school playoff system.  Personally, I don't have an alternative to the present method but I feel it should be changed to conform with the schools and districts".  The Cougar offensive line averaged about 170 pounds with Pivonka  the largest at 196 pounds.  Snapperback Lane Worthen was the lightest at 150.  The backfield averaged 160 pounds with Bahr and Erb each claiming 173.  High School Principal Bill Wilson said the "unification cambe about to improve the curriculum".  It didn't hurt the athletic program it seems.

 

 

From Great Bend Tribune, September 20, 1970

Otis-Bison Blanks Wilson, 6-0

OTIS - The Otis-Bison Cougars blanked the Wilson Dragons in a Quivera League tilt her Friday night 6-0.  The only scoring was made in the second quarter when Don DeWald made an 11 yard pass to Alan Scheuerman for Otis.  Defensive standout for the game was Mike Schettler who made 10 tackles.  Otis meets Chase next Friday night in Quivera League play.  Otis-Bison made 8 first downs with 148 yards rushing.  They attempted 11 passes, completing 6 for 62 yeards.  Wilson made four first downs, 57 yards rushing, 11 passes completing two for 24 yards.

 

From Hays Daily News, October 4, 1970

Otis-Bison 43, Maquette 0

First quarter scoring:  (OB):  B. Newhall (1 yard run), D. DeWald (PAT Run).  Second quarter scoring:  (OB):  DeWald (9 yard run), T. Michael (PAT Kick); DeWald (50 Yard Interception Return), PAT Failed.  Third quarter scoring:  (OB):  DeWald (1 Yard Run), Michael (PAT Kick); DeWald (30 Yard Run), Michael (PAT Kick); Michael (70 Yard Run), DeWald (PAT Run).  The Cougars racked up 330 Total Offense while Marquette had 106 yards in Total Offense.

 

From Hays Daily News, October 11, 1970

Otis-Bison 14, Bushton 0

All of the scoring for the Cougars was done in the first quarter.  Don DeWald scored on a 24 yard run followed by the PAT kick by Tom Michael.  Later DeWald completed a 31 yard pass to Bill Roberts and again followed by the PAT kick by Michael.

 

(1972-1973)

From Great Bend Tribune, September 10, 1972

Otis-Bison Edges Claflin, 24-12

CLAFLIN - The Otis-Bison Cougars claimed a 24-12 victory from hostng Claflin Wildcats in Quivera League play here Friday night.  Gary Klima tallied twice for Claflin on two and three yard runs.  Cougar Urban scored two TDs on eight and 43 yard runs, with Welch nailing one on interception.  Otis-Bison gained 143 yards on the ground, 168 yards in the air.  Claflin rushed 152 yards in the air.  Claflin rushed 152 yards, gained 78 yards passing.  The Cougars had 14 first downs, the Wilcats eight.  Claflin travels to Sylvan Grove Friday evening for a Quivera League tilt.

 

From Great Bend Tribune, September 17, 1972

Wilson Rolls Over Cougars, 22-8

OTIS - Wilson Dragons rolled over the Otis-Bison Cougars 22-8 in a Quivera League game Friday Night.  Fred Soukup started it off for the Dragons by running 60 yards with an interception.  The kick failed for the extra point.  Tom Pivonka of Otis-Bison was then tackled in the end zone for a safety.  Soukup then took a handoff and rambled 50 yards for the score.  Mark Shaw ran over for the PAT.  Pat Stiles then broke through for 70 yards and a touchdown fnd the kick failed.  A 25 yard pass from Paul Brack to Dave Pivonka was the only dent in the score board for the Cougars.  Cousin Tom Pivonka ran over for the extra point.

 

From Great Bend Tribune, November 14, 1972

Chase Chases Otis, 41-13

OTIS - Chase went to Otis to close out the Quivera League season and closed it with a 41-13 win over the host team.  Chase scored in every quarter, opening with Smith going over from 10 yards out and Garman scoring from the 12.  Garman kicked both extra points to give the Kats a 14-0 lead.  Smith passed to Link for a touchdown in the second quarter, the play covering 25 yards.  Garman again kicked the point.  Neal scored twice in the third quarter on runs of 40 and 12 yards with Garman kicking the points.  Smith wound up the scoring with a 70 yard run in the final quarter.  Otis scored twice in the final quarter with Haning getting both on runs of 50 and 3 yards.  Bahr ran one extra point.  Statistically, Chase had 13 first downs, 246 yards rushing and 101 passing; Otis had 7 first downs, 151 rushing and 45 passing.

 

From Great Bend Tribune, October 7, 1973

Cougars scarred by 39-12 loss

MARQUETTE - The Marquette Wolverines outlasted the Otis-Bison Cougars 39-12 in Quivera league play Friday night.  Gary Frownleiter led the Wolverines to victory scoring three touchdowns, 2 receiving touchdowns from Mike Hulse and ne on a 45 yard punt return.  Schultz recovered a fumble in the endzone to add two points and Kurtis Sjogren scored on a 34 yard pass interception.. Gregg Torres also scored on a pass from Hulse while Deryl Nelson kicked three points after touchdowns for Marquette.  The Cougars only points came in the fourth quarter when Jay Schneider blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone for six points.  Later in the same quarter, Mark Thompson scored on a 52 yard pass from Paul Freidenberger. 

 

From Hays Daily News 15 November, 1971 (As Printed)

QUIVIRA LEAGUE Offense Center—Kim Hodgson (Little River). Guards—Royce Jansen (Little River) and Mike Jansen (Geneseo). Tackles—Mike Foram (Wilson) and Perry Viers (Little River). » Ends—Maynard Urban (Otis- Bison) and Dan Vendra (Geneseo). Quarterback—Dale Doll (Little River). Backs—Mike Thompson (Little River), Rick Peverley (Geneseo) and Larry Ptacek (Wil son). Defense Linemen—Shane Cordell (Little River), Mike Janzen (Gene seo), Steve Thompson (Geneseo), Gary Axman (Otis-Bixon), and Mike Foran (Wilson). Linebackers — Perry Viers (Little River), Ron Hickel Bushton) and Steve Nuss (Otis- Bison). Halfbacks — Mike Thompson (Little River), Dennis Phelan (Holyrood) and David Crandall (Little River). Second Team Offense Dave Corn Bushton), Randy Huff (Otis-Bison), Prince Trent (Wilson), Gene Loder (Marquette), Shane Cordell (Little River), Steve Thornton (Chase), Vlark Buttenhoff (Sylvan rove), Randy McAtes (Clafin), Dennis Phelan (Holyrood), Dan Bergin (Holyrood), Steve Thompson (Geneseo) and Don DeWald (Otis-Bison). Second Team Defense Steve Thornton (Chase), Barry Nelson (Marquette). Vernon Pflugheaft (Claflin), , Francis Soukup (Chase), Dick Schemmer (Chase), Mark Buttenhoff (Sylvan Grove), Ed Dehl (Sylvan Grove) Shannon Buchanan (Little River), Dale Davis (Geneseo), Jim Growl (Chase), Maynard Urban (Otis-Bison), Terry Hopp (Marquette) and Anthony Prusa (Claflin).

 

(1978-1979)

Final Standings      League     Overall

Sylvan Unified          5-0              9-1

Quivera Heights       4-1              6-3

Otis-Bison                3-2              6-3

Pawnee Heights      2-3              4-5

Wilson                     1-4               2-6

Chase                      0-5              0-9

 

(1979-1980)

Exercept taken from The Great Bend Tribune, September 2, 1979

"Otis-Bison lacks depth but if the Cougars remain injury-free, they could be tough, first-year Coach Greg Dutt said.  "We have a lot of questions," Dutt said.  "But if we can stay away from injuries, we can compete".  Dutt said the key to his club's success may be its first two games against a pair of non-league foes - Claflin and LaCrosse.  "If we can get by those two and still be healthy, it'll put us on good feeling the rest of the year," Dutt said.  The Cougars' strength will most likel be in the backfield where seniors Tim Frieb, Lynn Lichter and John Maneth return.  Junior John Linn and freshman Darrin Renz will battle for the starting quarterback job in preseason workouts, Dutt said.  Senior center Steve Bahr is expected to anchor the Cougars' line and "provide leadership for Otis-Bison"."