Most Successful Decade

The winningest decade in school history only had two coaches and one losing season. The coaches were Gordy Clay and Walt Kroll who posted 19-13 and 39-15 marks, respectively, from 1960-69. The only losing season was 1960.

Winning the homecoming game tradition began in the ‘60s, with the Dons posting an 8-2 mark. The first field goal was kicked in 1961.

Two lop-sided losses to Superior Central and Kenosha St. Joseph occurred on consecutive weekends early in the 1966 season. But the most famous fumble recovery for a touchdown also occurred in 1966—a 68-yarder that helped defeat heavily favored Assumption.

The 1967 Columbus aggregate of teams went 22-0, with the varsity finishing 9-0 and ranked third best team in the entire state. The defense on that team was stifling.

Two of the most memorable games in Dons lore were played two weeks apart at the start of the 1965 campaign. In the first, the Dons stunned mighty St. Paul Cretin 59-14. In the second, Columbus failed to cope with muddy conditions at Beell Stadium and fell to a great Assumption team 19-7.

Four Dons were All-CWCC picks in two seasons: QB Chuck Koch, end Mike Dumas, halfback Bob Koch, and fullback Lloyd Hoffman. Bobby Koch’s play was so spectacular that he was named an All-State running back. In an even higher honor, he was selected as a Parade Magazine High School All-American. He averaged 11.6 yards per carry.

Jim Haselberger became the first Dons player to ever be named each way on the All-Conference team (in 1968).

Paul Mancl handed over his sophomore QB duties to Bill Draxler in his junior year. Draxler connected nine times with Mancl for scores. Mancl remained the only Don to have scored on both a kick-off and punt return until 1996. Draxler ended up having the second highest yards passing per game in Dons history.