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Show 983 team 'persistant' By JACK HILL- Persistent! If the 1983 Viking football team, especially the seniors, had to be described in one word, "persistent" would have to be it. Four years ago, when they were in the ninth grade, this year's seniors suffered through a winless season. A factor in that nightmare was (he disappearance of the head coach. One of the players brothers stepped in and tried to salvage what could be salvaged of the dismal year. Two games into their sophomore year, the seniors were still without a win. The leaders didn't quit. They were persistent and went on to win five of their last six games. The loss in that stretch was in a heartbreaking overtime game to American Fork. During their junior year, along with the seniors, they compiled a perfect 6-0 junior varsity record. Phil Cook earned a starting berth as nose guard on the varsity team that finished second in the state. Cook and Shaun Story were voted team captains for the 1983 season and most people expected that the team might make the playofffs as a third or fourth place team. When the Vikes finished second in Region 8, most Viking fans believed the team had achieved more than could really be expected. "When the season started, our goal was to make the playoffs," said Coach Doug Bluth. After a pause Bluth added, "anything beyond that was the extra mile and these kids went three extra miles." Bluth described this year's seniors as "overachievers." "This is one of the most satisfying coaching experiences I've had," said Bluth. "As the ( season progressed, the seniors and juniors came together and this team was just a pleasure to coach." 1 How did this team stack up physically with the other teams you ( played?" was a question we put to the head coach. "Most of these seniors were too skinny to play football," Bluth said with a smile and then added, "they had 2-A bodies but 10-A hearts." "Some critics of education would cut out the so-called "frills" like football," said Bluth. "But when these seniors get together 10 years from now in a class reunion, they'll talk more about the game at Rice Stadium than anything else they did in school," Bluth said. -The team compiled a 7-4 won-loss record with wins over West Jordan (a 4-A school) 21-16, Carbon 43-24, Lehi 35-7, Spanish Fork 33-14, Payson 48-8, West 21-20 and Mountain View 28-8. Losses were to West 6-7, Orem 14-17, Springville 8-17, 8-17, and Judge Memorial 7-9. A team that wasn't expected to 1 do much was in every game they played and had a chance to win. Thayne Eyre, Matt Norman, Shaun Story, Phil Cook, Shane , Phillips, Neil Peterson, Jerry 1 Adamson, Justin Keetch, Corby ! Morris, Mike Clark, Craig Mills and Mike Adamson were "persistent." It paid off! " rT ?p; 2 L -5 s. M " -toS&t " "tJ", IkA X'i, I 1983 PGHS SENIORS-Front, Thayne Eyre, Vance Sorensen, Graig Mills, Matt Norman, Shaun Story, Mike Adamson. Back, Mike Clark, Corby Morris, Phil Cook, Shane Phillips, Neil Peterson, Jerry Adamson and Justin Keetch. These seniors led a team that shouldn't have been there to the "final four" in 3-A football. |