The 1968 Football Team will be honored prior to the football game with Lima Central Catholic on Saturday, August 23.  Anyone associated with the team is invited to attend.  Those attending should meet by the home sidelines at 6:50 and they will be introduced at 7:00pm.  For more information please contact Todd Schulte, 419-692-5371, ext. 1145 

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1968 Tri County League Champions

 The 1968 team recently had a 40th anniversary reunion in Delphos.  Everyone associated with the team was invited to attend and celebrate St. John's first football championship. 

  Row one (left to right): Dan Jones, Bob Elwer, Duane Oberg, Mike Gallmeier, Mike Patton and John Nomina

  Row two: Asst. Coach John Gunder, Joe Martz, Dan Hoehn, Charlie Lehmkuhle, Jim Wreeden,         Coach George Rafferty, Jim Briggs, Gary Miller, Roger Morris, Jack Brinkman and Rod Moorman

Julie (Miller) McCormick, Rene (Haunhorst) Hoehn and Diane (Harpster) Martz reminisce on the '68 season with an old scrapbook.

John Nomina (right) shows Gary Miller (left) and Bob Elwer the moves he used on the offensive line. 

1968 Tri County League Football Champions

The 1968 team, under the direction of head coach George Rafferty, finished 7-0 in the Tri County League.  It was St. John’s first ever football championship.

     at Van Wert                      L          0-30    

     Middletown Fenwick         L          6-44

     Marion Local*                  W        30-0     Mike Powell, 238 yards rushing

     at Versailles*                   W        24-0     Versailles 1^st league loss in 4 years, ranked # 8

     Minster*                          W        48-6     Rod Moorman 140 yards rushing           

     Piqua Catholic*                W        30-0     Powell 184 yards, Moorman 126 yards

     at Ansonia*                     W        36-14   1^st league loss for Ansonia

     at Bradford*                    W        42-0     DSJ 555 yards offense

     at Parkway*                    W        34-0

*Tri County League members

The Blue Jays were led by team captains Jim Briggs, Neal Lause and Gary Miller. 

Team Roster: Mark Bohnlein, Michael Bonifas, James Briggs, Jack Brinkman, James Brown, Daniel Bryant, Robert Elwer, Michael Gallmeier, Dan Hoehn, Gary Kill, Neil Lause, Charles Lehmkuhle, John Lehmkuhle, Joe Martz, Gary Miller, Rodney Moorman, Roger Morris, Leo Mueller, Gary Neumeier, Tom Neumeier, John Nomina, Duane Oberg, Mark Odenweller, Mike Patton, Gerald Pohlman, Mike Powell, Wayne Suever, Lee Ulm, David Warnecke, Ned Weber, Jim Weeden, Ronald Wegesin, Darrell Alt and Richard Schlereth.

Managers: Tim Brickner, Jeff Steinbrenner, Frank Lehmkuhle, Dennis Pohlman, Sid Weber, Don Neumeier

Cheerleaders:    Nanette Nomina, Julie Miller, Diane Harpster, Diann Spieles, Jane Bertling and Jeanne Arnoldi

The Blue Jays finished their nine game schedule with 2,329 yards rushing and 764 yards passing.  They were led by Mike Powell with 1,016 rushing yards, 460 pass reception yards and 17 TDs.  Rod Moorman piled up 912 yards with 10 TDs.  Joe Martz led in pass receptions with 21 for 154 yards and two TDs.

Tri County League All League selections included Gary Miller, Jim Briggs, Neal Lause, Mike Powell, Len Mueller, Rog Morris, John Nomina, Jack Brinkman and Rod Moorman.  Coach George Rafferty was Coach of the Year.