Members of Central High’s 1958 football team front row from left: Bert Szabo (20), Mike Cardenas (80), Jim Mellow (33), Dick Kucharski (10), Myron Shelton (63), Larry Dreasky (31 ), Sam Phillips (67), Leonard Teitelbaum (64), Lewellyn Campbell (54), Howard Teitelbaum (62). Second row: Kent Blaver (86), Mel Thomas (84), Baldemar Cardenas (66), Ken Hardin (77), Nonn Walworth (60), Mike Auer (52), John Burtrum (61), Doug McDonald (85), Dan Stachowik (70), Ed Parker (78). Third row: Sander Simon (71), Dave Roberts (82), Tom Grablick (73), Jerry Jellis (11), Art Thrash (42), Gerry Cole (65), Dick Bolton (68), Ron Watkins (22), Ken Baxter (34), Don Stephenson (32), Jim Copeland (23), Bud Budzinski (75). Fourth row: Paul Walton (24), Henry Young (40), Bert Olah (88), Bob Hudson (50), Keith Richardson (81), Joe Haralson (83), John Peterson (76), Fred Knapp (41), Tom Dancey (21), Carl Jackson (12), John Marshall (51), Ben Kendell (4). The coaches at left Jim Whitker (front), (standing from left) Ken Green, Tim Bograkos, Don Coleman. The coaches at right are (front to back) Bill Doolittle, Bob Leach, Marv Shebel. Players not pictured are Ed Bernie, Don Jones, Ron Szabo, Art Kelly, Lanny Valentine. It was the Year of the Indian in 1958-59.
Central High not only ruled the state in football, but also three other sports. From the spring of ’58 to the spring of ’59, the Indians won Class A championships in golf, cross country and track, and reached the quarterfinals in basketball.
I think we had the debate team and cheerleading titles, too,” said quarterback Jerry Jellis.
But it was Central football that drew the big crowds and big headlines in the fall of ’58.
Central went 8-0-1, outscoring its opponents 354-59, including a 51-0 rout of arch rival Northern in the annual Thanksgiving Day game. Crowds in the 9,000-10,000 range filled Atwood Stadium, with a high of 16,433 for the Turkey Day classic.
The only blemish was a 13-13 tie with Bay City Central that divided the mythical state title. Flint Central was recognized by United Press international and the Detroit Free Press, while Bay City was crowned by The Associated Press. The Detroit Times declared the teams co-champions.
Halfback Ron Watkins earned All-State honors after a 1,021-yard season, and Jellis (439) and Carl Jackson combined for a school-record 1,042 yards passing. At least five Indians went on to Division I colleges.
Most of this came as a surprise to coach Bill Doolittle, who was coming off a 3-5-1 season in 1957.
We never knew we were going to be that good,” confessed Doolittle, who later coached Western Michigan University for 11 years. I knew we had some talent, but I didn’t know how good they’d be. There weren’t a lot of superstars, but there were a lot of good kids. And they were quick.”
Watkins had 9.9 speed in the 100-yard dash, which he used to win the state 100 and 220 the following spring. Right halfback Art Thrash was a hurdler, and defensive back Henry Young was another sprinter.
The offensive line of center Mike Auer, guards John Bertrum and Baldy Cardenas, tackles Bob Budzinski and Ken Hardin and ends Mel Thomas and Doug McDonald were average-sized, but quick on their feet. Jim Mellow was at fullback.
Most of them played both ways, but a deep roster meant Doolittle was never short-handed.
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