1976

Team Picture:
Back Row: Coach Mike Bulger, Jeff Hartley, Dick Ward, Dirk Hyde, Mark Wilkins, Richard Davis, Roye Meis, Randy Leutz, Martin Torrey, Coach Terry Anderson
Front Row: Mike Cherette, Jack Haun, Don Helsel, Don Parker, Sam Draper, Kelly Gugle, Doug Nelson, Mike Demory, Missing: Dwayne Strandell

The 1976 football team played a 9 game season for the first time in school history. Terry Anderson, who played quarterback on Pine River’s first football team back in 1966, began a stint as an assistant to head coach Mike Bulger. The Bucks only managed one win in ’76. They had their share of heartbreaking losses including a two point loss in the first game to Suttons Bay, a three point loss to Lake City, and a two point loss to Manton. That one win was a big one though as it came against Highland Conference rival McBain. The Bucks beat the Ramblers 18-6. Coach Mike Bulger called the homecoming win a “great team effort.” The game featured a touchdown run and pass by QB Kelly Gugle and an 80 yard interception return by Rich Davis. In week 8, the Bucks lost a shootout with Baldwin. Kelly Gugle passed 228 yards, 147 of which went to Rich Davis. The Bucks rolled up 840 yards of offense, but they gave up 1,150 yards. The Bucks lost to Kalkaska on the final night of the season. Coach Bulger summed up the season by saying “There were a lot of good efforts. The kids had the pride but we didn’t have the manpower.”