1961 Carthage Redmen football team

1961 Carthage Redmen football
ConferenceCollege Conference of Illinois
Record7–2 (4–2 CCI)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1960
1962 →
1961 College Conference of Illinois football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 14 Millikin $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 0
Carroll (WI) 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Carthage 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
North Central (IL) 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Augustana (IL) 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Illinois Wesleyan 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
Lake Forest 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1961 Carthage Redmen football team was an American football team that represented Carthage College of Carthage, Illinois, as a member of the College Conference of Illinois (CCI) during the 1961 college football season. In their seventh season under head coach Art Keller, the Redmen compiled a 7–2 record (4–3 in CCI games), finished in third place in the CCI, and outscored opponents by a total of 267 to 127.[1]

On October 7, 1961, Carthage commenced a 19-game winning streak, that continued through the entire 1962 season, became the longest winning streak in the country, and ended with a loss to Augustana on October 26, 1963.[2]

The 1961 team tallied 3,482 yards of total offense (386.4 yards per game), consisting of 2,506 rushing yards (278.5 yards per game) and 972 passing yards (108 yards per game). On defense, Carthage gave up 1,194 yards (215 yards per game) to its opponents, including 1,194 rushing yards and 738 passing yards.[3]

Quarterback Bob Halsey led the team in multiple categories, including passing yards (814), total offense (1,379 yards), and scoring (86 points on 10 touchdowns and 26 extra point kicks). Fullback Erv Olson was the leader with 807 rushing yards, and end Dave Werner led with 319 receiving yards.[3]

Six Carthage players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-CCI football team: Bob Halsey at quarterback; Erv Olson at fullback; Jim Nelson at center; Tom Finn at tackle (defense); Doug Donoho at linebacker; and Daver Werner at defensive halfbacks.[4]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16at Augustana (IL)
W 33–13[5][6]
September 23at Carroll (WI)
L 6–19[7]
September 30at Millikin
L 20–32[8]
October 7Illinois WesleyanCarthage, ILW 33–12[9]
October 14Kalamazoo*Carthage, ILW 33–62,300
October 21North Park*Carthage, ILW 38–19
October 28at Lake ForestLake Forest, ILW 42–13[10]
November 4Culver–Stockton*Carthage, ILW 21–0[11]
November 18North Central (IL)Carthage, ILW 41–13[12]
  • *Non-conference game

[3]

References

  1. ^ "CCIW Football History" (PDF). College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. p. 6. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "Augie Shocks Carthage, 34-7". The Pantagraph. October 27, 1963. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Millikin Puts 8 Players on CCI Stars". Moline Dispatch. November 23, 1961. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Vet Carthage Crew Teaches Green Augie 33-13 Lesson". Moline Dispatch. September 18, 1961. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Dave Krone (September 18, 1961). "Experience Decisive Factor as Carthage Wallops Augie, 33-13". The Rock Island Argus. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Budde, Hill Lead Carroll To Victory Over Carthage". The Waukesha County Freeman. September 25, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Millikin Football Team Opens CCI Play Against Carthage Here Today". Decatur Herald. September 30, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Carthage Rips Titans, 33-12, in CCI Contest". The Pantagraph. October 8, 1961. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Lake Forest Loses". Chicago Tribune. October 29, 1961. p. 3 (part 2) – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Halsey Sparks Carthage Win". The Pantagraph. November 5, 1961. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "No. Central Routed, 41-13, By Carthage". Chicago Tribune. November 19, 1961. p. 5 (Part 2) – via Newspapers.com.