1969

Team Picture:
Back Row: Coach Light, Thomas Gyddsen, Fred Davis, Mark Raymond, Bruce Lucas, Michael Johnson, Jerry Nyland, Coach Hurley
Middle Row: Bill Logan, Alfred Carson, James Johnson, Dennis Ruppert, Bruce Nix, Eric Jennings, Gale Wanstead, Douglas Peterson
Front Row: Nels Johnson, Dale Holmes, Mike Williams, Melvin Choponis, Fred Moore, Pat Wilson, Dennis Flynn, Dave Houle.

The lights came on in 1969, literally. The season opener vs. Roscommon was the first to be played on a traditional Friday night due to the installation of lighting at Pine River’s stadium. The Bucks could only muster a 1-7 record in ’69. However, the Bucks did manage to notch a win for the first time against the mighty Beal City Aggies. The Bucks rushed for 304 yards and shut out the Aggies by the score of 22-0. It would take 17 more years before the Bucks would defeat the Aggies again, and no Pine River team since then has been able to shut them out. Dave Houle, Pat Wilson, and Gale Wanstead scored touchdowns for the Bucks that day. The offense in 1969 was led by QB Nels Johnson who scored touchdowns on the ground and through the air, including passing from the shotgun formation. End Joe Johnson was a regular target and hauled in a 55 yard TD pass against Lake City and a 17 yard TD pass vs. Baldwin. Nels Johnson was named the team’s most valuable offensive player while Melvin Choponis was named the team’s most valuable defensive player. The 1969 squad was also the first Pine River team to go a whole season without letting a team score 40 or more points on them. The ’69 squad was also the first Bucks team to go the entire season without being shutout.