Newcomerstown celebrating 100 years of football Friday night
NEWCOMERSTOWN (WJER) (August 26, 2022) – Newcomerstown High School is celebrating 100 consecutive years of football by inviting past players and coaches to be recognized at halftime of Friday’s home football game against Beallsville.
Athletic Director Chad Elliott says they’re excited to celebrate the Trojans’ storied history with members of teams from several decades, including 2001’s playoff squad.
“We have several IVC championships, several IVC runners up. We’ve produced 44 All-Ohio football players since 1922. We’ve have three undefeated football seasons.”
Elliott says former coach Ward Holdsworth is flying in from Florida. He led the undefeated 1972 team.
“We have several of those players that are still in town that will be here for that. I know, my senior year of football here was the 25th anniversary of the 1972 undefeated football team. Coach Holdsworth was here for that game and the pregame speech and got us all fired up for that game.”
Current players and coaches will mingle with past generations at Newcomerstown’s new field house prior to the game, starting at about 6 p.m.
“Maybe some of the coaches that are back here, like Coach Holdsworth, Coach [Jeff] Cook, will be able to give those guys a rousing pre-game speech.”
And what would a discussion of Newcomerstown football history be without a mention of Woody Hayes, a local graduate who went on to become a legendary coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
“He is our most famous alumni football player. Woody graduated from Newcomerstown High School in 1931. He played center here. His dad was the superintendent here. Our school is located on 1 Woody Hayes Drive. We’re proud of having Woody being from Newcomerstown and playing football here.”
Elliott has been asking any past football alumni who want to participate to sign up on Facebook or contact the school so they can accommodate everybody.