BELLAIRE – It wasn’t always like this. Far from it.

St. John Central has closed the doors on its football program – for at least one year. A lack of prospective players forced school officials to go that route last week.

The cessation brings to an end 90 successive seasons on the gridiron for St. John’s. The program started in 1925. Paddy Durant was the first head coach. That team went 1-3-1.

Not many schools in the Ohio Valley can lay claim to 90 years of football. While the turn of the century hasn’t seen the best of times for St. John’s football, the Fighting Irish archives are stocked with gridiron glory.

The decades of the 1950s and 60s encompass the golden years. Coaches such as Bill Dorsey, John Pollock, Hen Healy, Dan McGrew and Denny Bowman piloted some of the best teams in the Ohio Valley at that time.

Pollock’s 1951 squad went 8-0-1. The lone blemish came against Canton South in the opener, deadlocking at 12-all. The Irish rolled off eight straight wins, ending the season downing Wheeling Central, 32-0, and Steubenville Central, 37-12, earning the OVAC AA championship.

That team featured Ed Frohnapfel and Don McHenry. Frohnapfel went on to star at Iowa while McHenry led the valley in scoring that fall before playing at the University of Dayton.

Healy’s 1956 juggernaut is considered by many as the best in school history. It went 9-0 with such stars as Paul Rose, Joe Maroon, Roger Mancini and Frank Glowatz. Rose went on to play at Purdue, Maroon at Indiana, Mancini at Kansas while Glowatz, a center, became the school’s initial first-team all-Ohioan. He played at Kent State.

The Irish gave up just three TDs all season. It also marked the first time Bellaire and SJC met in football. The Irish defeated the Big Reds, 19-6. The Reds featured such greats as Mike Ingram (FB at Ohio State), Frances Gibson (QB and captain at West Point) and Clyde Thomas (RB at Ohio U.).

In the season finale, St. John’s trounced state-ranked Steubenville Central, 20-0. The Crusaders boasted all-state QB Joe Prest.

A year later, Maroon’s senior season, the Irish lost just once. They fell to 7-6 to Columbus Aquinas (now Watterson).

McGrew coached several powerful teams in the 60s. The former Buffalo Bill guided the 1963 squad to a 9-1 mark, bowing only to Wheeling Central, 6-0, in a titanic showdown at Nelson Field. His 1967 team was 7-2, beating Bellaire (26-18) while losing to Wheeling Central (0-8) and Madonna (12-16).

Even though it suffered a loss, Bowman’s OVAC AA champion 9-1 team in 1968 has its Irish supporters as the best team in school history. The lone blemish was a controversial loss at East Liverpool. SJC was going in for the game-winning TD in the waning moments when the officials made a hotly disputed fumble call in favor of the Potters.

That Irish team featured legendary Allan Hornyak at QB and Martin Lucki at slotback. Lucki went on to play for Ohio State. The Johnnies defeated Linsly, Bellaire, Shadyside, St. Clairsville, John Marshall, Wheeling Central, Madonna, Ferry and Bridgeport. They outscored their opponents by an average margin of 30-8.

The 1987 squad of Bob Eaton also recorded a 9-1 mark. The lone setback came at the hands of Linsly at Nelson Field.

The 1978 season was a landmark one for SJC. It marked the last time the Irish defeated Guernsey Street rival Bellaire, turning the trick by an 18-16 count, the winning points coming when Greg Seevers recorded a safety on the game’s final play. Ty Fleming, in his lone season at the Irish grid helm, guided his charges to a 7-3 finish.

St. John’s has captured six OVAC football championships, the last coming in 2001. The lone playoff berth came in 1999 when Mike Rose directed the Green to a 9-1 report card, losing only to Nate Walker-led Toronto.

St. John’s has produced one Parade football All-American, that being Rick Boron after the 1964 season. He went on to play for Bo Schembechler at Miami of Ohio.

The future of St. John Central football remains uncertain. But there is no doubting the Fighting Irish grid past has had it share of success.

MUSKIE BOUND

MARLIN “D.J.” MILLIGAN is headed to Muskingum University to continue his academic and bowling careers.

Milligan was a four-year letterman at St. Clairsville High School, earning MVP honors both his junior and senior campaigns. He was also the team’s captain in his final season.

Milligan enjoyed much success with the Red Devil keglers, both team-wise and individually. He played a key role in St. C. making the state tournament as a team during his sophomore campaign. He followed that by advancing to state competition individually his last two seasons for Coach Mike Heath.

He established the school two-game series record via his sizzling 504.

Milligan also excelled academically. He was a member of the St. Clairsville D.I. Team which advanced to the global competition in Tennessee.

The Muskies are coached by Doug Smith.

BUBBA’S BITS

PREP FOOTBALL 2016 officially kicks off this week with the annual Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Football Game. I am anxious to see how a switch to Saturday night impacts attendance. As always, the weather will be major factory.

THE PAST few days have been television viewing at its best. Nothing better than turning the tube on at 5 a.m. and watching the British Open.

IT IS time to put the Tom Brady suspension drama to bed. The New England QB finally tossed in the towel on the appeals process. The Patriots have a good chance to start 3-1 without him as three of the games are in Foxboro.

THE ANNUAL Betty Zane Days 5K run and walk, which will benefit Martins Ferry High School athletics and the National Honor Society, is set for Aug. 3. The race will start at 6 p.m. Entry fee is $15 prior to July 23. After that date, the registration fee is $20. Entrants will receive a t-shirt. Registrations can be mailed to Martins Ferry High School or dropped off at the Martins Ferry Chamber of Commerce, Total Sports Connection, the high school or the police department.