Wilhelm: Ross' football win against Sandusky may have saved Fremont schools in '69

When a combined tax package of renewal and additional totaling 9.6 mills was approved for the Fremont Schools in 1969, many people thought that the Ross High School football team helped the cause.

Last week, this column talked about the passage of the tax package and the follow up campaign that prevented the anticipated temporary closing of local schools.

Community support was something special in both the passage of the tax package and the success of the campaign to collect taxes early and keep schools open.

Well, many think that the Little Giants football team should have taken a bow for inspiring a positive attitude among taxpayers.

Defeating rival Sandusky may have saved Fremont schools in 1969

You see, the Giants rose up and slayed longtime rival and state powerhouse Sandusky less than two weeks before the lopsided election victory for the schools.

At the time, Ross and Sandusky were members of the Buckeye Conference. I’m no high school sports expert, but at the time, I was a young sports editor at The News-Messenger, a job I held for just one year between other assignments. I came to firmly believe that the Buckeye Conference was one of the very best football conferences in the state.

In 1969, Sandusky was one of the best of that conference, featuring an all-Ohio running back Elmer Lippert and was heavily favored over the Little Giants, who had not had a stellar season.

As it turned out, Lippert played his usual part, rushing for more than 200 yards and scoring four touchdowns. The Little Giants, however, featuring some outstanding sophomores to help the upper classmen, refused to accept their forecasted role.

In a tight contest from the beginning, Ross won 28 to 27, scoring the winning points in the final minute of the game.

Two-point conversion saved the game

Sophomore halfback Tom Liggins caught a pass from senior quarterback Jim Werling for a touchdown that brought the Giants to within one point of the Blue Streaks with 42 seconds remaining in the game. Senior fullback Robin Young then bulled his way into the end zone for his second two-point conversion of the game and the winning points. The victory became reality when the Blue Streaks missed a field goal attempt as time ran out.

The winning touchdown drive had been started when Rusty Zimmerman fell on a fumble by the Sandusky punt receiver. There were plenty of heroes. Sophomore Chuck Lindsey intercepted two passes including one which he returned for a touchdown. And the defense, which included its share of sophomores, won praise from Coach Chuck Shuff for making big plays when needed.

Thanks to the football players on top of countless volunteers, it was a good few weeks for the community.

And, it was one of many special times for me in my 40 years at the paper. I was sports editor for only that one year, becoming assistant to editor Glen Geib the next year. My claim to fame as sports editor rested with the creation of the paper’s first football tab, which longtime sports editor Bob Marker’s hard work turned into an annual — and growing — product, with the help of Rob Boukissen and others.

Contact Rene Dix at 419-307-0914 or via email at rene.dix@email.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wilhelm: Ross football team helped get school tax passed in 1969