BIG 7 FOOTBALL 1928

The Sabetha Herald and other papers refer to the LITTLE 6 League in 1926 and in 1927 several papers refer to the league as the BIG 7. Prior to 1926 there is no reference to a league that I could find. Before 1926 there were teams that were noted as champions of "Northeast Kansas" simply because they were undefeated and the local paper designated them as "champions".

Original members of the league in 1926 were Sabetha, Horton, Hiawatha, Seneca, Holton & Effingham. In 1927 Troy joined the league. In 1933 Troy and Seneca withdrew from the BIG 7. The teams played on as the BIG 5 until 1938 when Valley Falls came on board. Troy rejoined the group in 1942, but then Valley Falls dropped out in 1943 to join the Jefferson County League. The league carried on as the BIG 6 until 1951 when Holton joined the old JAYHAWK League (Hayden, Seaman, etc.) .

In 1958 Wathena joined the group, but left with Troy in 1959 to enter play in the K-36 League. League membership was down to four and Onaga was recruited in 1961. Holton returned to the fold in 1962 due to the collapse of the JAYHAWK League after the 1961-62 school year. Wamego was without a league for the same reason and came along at the same time to return the league name to BIG 7 .

Onaga joined the MID-EAST league in 1964 and Tonganoxie replaced them in the conference - they were not eligible in the 1964 standings. After 1967 Wamego left for the NCKL (North Central Kansas League) and Horton joined the K-36. Then Tonganoxie left for the PIONEER League after the 1968-69 school year. Membership was reduced to 4 until Nemaha Valley joined in 1970. Nemaha Valley could almost be considered as the return of Seneca with some added enrollment through consolidation. In 1975 Nemaha Valley gained more enrollment due to the closing of Sts Peter & Paul Catholic High School in Seneca.

Shawnee Heights came over from the CENTENNIAL League in 1971. When they rejoined the CENTENNIAL in 1976, Maur Hill (Atchison) joined the group. In 1978 Immaculata (Leavenworth) entered the picture to expand the league to 7 members. Immaculata left the league in 1983 to join the KAW VALLEY, but the organization had new recruits Jefferson West and Royal Valley ready for participation. Jefferson West was the consolidated school for the Meriden & Ozawkie area, while Royal Valley consolidated the Hoyt & Mayetta schools. The membership of the league now totaled 8 but has retained the name BIG 7 to the present day. Membership has remained the same since 1983.

Changes in the league membership are coming. Perry-Lecompton & Carbondale-Santa Fe Trail will be joining the league next season. Atchison-Maur Hill and Effingham-ACCHS will leave the BIG 7 for the Delaware Valley League. It is assumed that the name of the league will remain the BIG 7.

Current Membership: Carbondale-Santa Fe Trail, Hiawatha, Holton, Meriden-Jefferson West, Perry-Lecompton, Seneca-Nemaha Valley, Hoyt-Royal Valley & Sabetha.

*League Champions*		*League*	*ALL*	*Coach*

*1926*	*Sabetha*	*(4-0-0)*	*(10-1-0)*	*Archie Butcher*
*1927*	*Troy*	*(3-0-1)*	*(6-0-2)*	*Charley Oliver*
*1928*	*Sabetha*	*(6-0-0)*	*(10-0-0)*	*Chet Havley*
*1929*	*Sabetha*	*(5-0-1)*	*(9-0-1)*	*Chet Havley*
*1930*	*Sabetha*	*(6-0-0)*	*(10-0-0)*	*Chet Havley*
*1931*	*Hiawatha*	*(6-0-0)*	*(6-1-1)*	*Leo Denny*
*1932*	*Holton*	*(6-0-0)*	*(7-1-0)*	*Art Lawrence*
*1933*	*Holton*	*(4-0-0)*	*(8-1-1)*	*Art Lawrence*
*1934*	*Sabetha*	*(4-0-0)*	*(6-1-1)*	*Wally Forsberg*
1935 *	*Horton*	*(4-0-1)*	*(7-0-2)*	*Allen Crow*
*1936*	*Sabetha*	*(4-0-0)*	*(7-1-0)*	*Wally Forsberg*
*1937*	*Hiawatha*	*(5-0-0)*	*(6-2-1)*	*Arvil Dixon*
*1938*	*Holton*	*(3-1-1)*	*(5-3-1)*	*Gene Niewalds*
	*Sabetha*	*(3-1-1)*	*(5-3-1)*	*Leo Ayers*
*1939*	*Holton*	*(5-0-0)*	*(8-1-0)*	*Paul Sloan*
*1940*	*Hiawatha*	*(3-1-1)*	*(5-3-1)*	*Charles Socolofsky*
	*Horton*	*(2-0-3)*	*(3-2-3)*	*Leo Colton*
*1941*	*Horton*	*(4-1-0)*	*(5-4-0)*	*Walter Pauls*
*1942*	*Troy*	*(6-0-0)*	*(9-0-0)*	*John Schartz*
*1943*	*Holton*	*(4-0-1)*	*(8-0-1)*	*Bud Selves*
*1944*	*Hiawatha*	*(5-0-0)*	*(7-0-0)*	*Les Huber*
*1945*	*Hiawatha*	*(5-0-0)*	*(6-2-0)*	*Les Huber*
*1946*	*Hiawatha*	*(5-0-0)*	*(6-2-0)*	*Les Huber*
*1947*	*Sabetha*	*(5-0-0)*	*(9-0-0)*	*Tom Bulkley*
*1948*	*Holton*	*(4-1-0)*	*(6-2-1)*	*Ed Dissinger*
	*Sabetha*	*(4-1-0)*	*(6-1-1)*	*Bill Frears*
*1949*	*Holton*	*(5-0-0)*	*(9-0-0)*	*Ed Dissinger*
*1950*	*Holton*	*(5-0-0)*	*(7-1-1)*	*Ed Dissinger*
*1951*	*Sabetha*	*(4-0-0)*	*(9-0-0)*	*Bill Frears*
*1952*	*Effingham*	*(4-0-0)*	*(9-0-0)*	*Lee Cashman*
*1953*	*Effingham*	*(4-0-0)*	*(8-0-1)*	*Lee Cashman*
*1954*	*Effingham*	*(3-1-0)*	*(7-2-0)*	*Lee Cashman*
	*Sabetha*	*(3-1-0)*	*(6-3-0)*	*Lee Norris*
*1955*	*Effingham*	*(4-0-0)*	*(8-1-0)*	*Lee Cashman*
*1956*	*Effingham*	*(4-0-0)*	*(9-0-0)*	*Lee Cashman*
*1957*	*Hiawatha*	*(3-1-0)*	*(6-3-0)*	*Les Huber*
	*Sabetha*	*(3-1-0)*	*(5-2-1)*	*Lee Norris*
*1958*	*Effingham*	*(5-0-0)*	*(7-2-0)*	*Lee Cashman*
*1959*	*Sabetha*	*(3-0-0)*	*(8-1-0)*	*Lee Norris*
*1960*	*Effingham*	*(4-0-0)*	*(6-3-0)*	*Ken Broadfoot*
*1961*	*Effingham*	*(4-0-0)*	*(8-1-0)*	*Ken Broadfoot*
*1962*	*Effingham*	*(5-1-0)*	*(5-3-0)*	*Ken Broadfoot*
*1963*	*Sabetha*	*(5-1-0)*	*(6-3-0)*	*Jim Applebee*
*1964*	*Sabetha*	*(4-1-0)*	*(8-1-0)*	*Jim Baldridge*
	*Holton*	*(4-1-0)*	*(7-2-0)*	*Mike Rogers*
*1965*	*Sabetha*	*(6-0-0)*	*(9-0-0)*	*Jim Baldridge*
*1966*	*Wamego*	*(6-0-0)*	*(7-2-0)*	*Jim Lee*
*1967*	*Effingham*	*(5-0-1)*	*(8-0-1)*	*George Worley*
*1968*	*Sabetha*	*(4-0-0)*	*(8-1-0)*	*Mark Fahring*
*1969*	*ACCHS-Effingham*	*(3-0-0)*	*(8-2-0)*	*Larry Tilton*
*1970*	*ACCHS-Effingham*	*(4-0-0)*	*(7-2-1)*	*Larry Tilton*
*1971*	*ACCHS-Effingham*	*(4-1)*	*(8-1)*	*Larry Tilton*
	*Nemaha Valley*	*(4-1)*	*(9-2)*	*Kent Rogers*
*1972*	*Holton*	*(4-1)*	*(6-3)*	*Carl Reuter*
	*Shawnee Heights*	*(4-1)*	*(7-2)*	*Roger Toelkes*
*1973*	*Nemaha Valley*	*(5-0)*	*(11-1)*	*Kent Rogers*
*1974*	*ACCHS-Effingham*	*(3-2)*	*(7-2)*	*Larry Tilton*
	*Hiawatha*	*(3-2)*	*(6-3)*	*Keith Ostrander*
	*Nemaha Valley*	*(3-2)*	*(4-5)*	*Kent Rogers*
	*Shawnee Heights*	*(3-2)*	*(4-5)*	*Roger Toelkes*
*1975*	*Nemaha Valley*	*(4-1)*	*(10-2)*	*Dennis Murphy*
*1976*	*Holton*	*(5-0)*	*(9-2)*	*Steve Lukert*
*1977*	*Nemaha Valley*	*(4-1)*	*(6-3)*	*Dennis Murphy*
*1978*	*Maur Hill*	*(6-0)*	*(9-2)*	*John Flynn*
*1979*	*Maur Hill*	*(6-0)*	*(13-0)*	*John Flynn*
*1980*	*Hiawatha*	*(5-1)*	*(12-1)*	*Rick Clark*
	*Sabetha*	*(5-1)*	*(7-3)*	*John Garber*
*1981*	*Hiawatha*	*(6-0)*	*(7-4)*	*Rick Clark*
*1982*	*Hiawatha*	*(6-0)*	*(9-2)*	*Rob Stinson*
*1983*	*Maur Hill*	*(7-0)*	*(9-1)*	*John Flynn*
*1984*	*Maur Hill*	*(7-0)*	*(12-1)*	*John Flynn*
*1985*	*Holton*	*(6-1)*	*(6-3)*	*Joe Wilson*
	*Nemaha Valley*	*(6-1)*	*(9-2)*	*Garon Gardner*
	*Sabetha*	*(6-1)*	*(8-1)*	*John Garber*
*1986*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(10-1)*	*John Garber*
*1987*	*Nemaha Valley*	*(7-0)*	*(9-2)*	*Steve Lizzol*
*1988*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(11-1)*	*John Garber*
*1989*	*Hiawatha*	*(6-1)*	*(6-3)*	*Gary Johnson*
	*Nemaha Valley*	*(6-1)*	*(9-2)*	*Steve Lizzol*
	*Sabetha*	*(6-1)*	*(7-2)*	*John Garber*
*1990*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(8-1)*	*John Garber*
*1991*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(10-2)*	*John Garber*
*1992*	*Maur Hill*	*(6-1)*	*(11-2)*	*John Flynn*
	*Nemaha Valley*	*(6-1)*	*(9-2)*	*Steve Lizzol*
	*Sabetha*	*(6-1)*	*(8-2)*	*John Garber*
*1993*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(13-0)*	*John Garber*
*1994*	*Hiawatha*	*(7-0)*	*(11-1)*	*Todd Halvorsen*
*1995*	*Hiawatha*	*(7-0)*	*(12-1)*	*Todd Halvorsen*
*1996*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(8-1)*	*John Garber*
*1997*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(10-1)*	*John Garber*
*1998*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(12-1)*	*Brooks Barta*
*1999*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(12-1)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2000*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(9-1)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2001*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(11-1)*	*John Garber*
*2002*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(10-2)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2003*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(13-1)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2004*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(12-1)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2005*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(14-0)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2006*	*Holton*	*(7-0)*	*(11-1)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2007*	*Sabetha*	*(7-0)*	*(8-1)*	*Matt Garber*
*2008*	*Holton*	*(6-0)*	*(11-2)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2009*	*Holton*	*(6-0)*	*(10-1)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2010*	*Holton*	*(6-0)*	*(11-3)*	*Brooks Barta*
*2011*	*Holton*	*(6-0)*	*(8-2)*	*Brooks Barta*

YEAR	School		COACH

1979	Maur Hill-Atchison	(13-0)	John Flynn
1980	Hiawatha	(12-1)	Rick Clark
1992	Maur Hill-Atchison	(11-2)	John Flynn
1993	Sabetha	(13-0)	John Garber
1997	Sabetha	(12-1)	John Garber
2003	Holton	(13-1)	Brooks Barta
2005	Holton	(14-0)	Brooks Barta

31	Sabetha	21	9	84
23	Holton	18	5	73
15	ACCHS-Effingham	11	3	83
15	Hiawatha	9	5	83
10	Nemaha Valley	4	5	40