1970 Football Squad

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 3, 2024
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SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT

As August approached during the summer of 1970, expectations were as high as they had ever been when discussing the prospects for the latest edition of the Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes. After all, they were coming off the 1969 season where they had gone 12-0 and won the Eastern Conference Championship in resounding fashion. Added to that was the fact that they had only lost tackle Bob Chuprinski and halfback Gary Diminick as starters. It was no wonder then that Tornado fans had the buses booked for December to go north for another Conference crown.

Led by co-captains, Tom Alexander and Phil Klaus, the Big Red flew out of the box, scoring over 40 points against each of their first 5 opponents, Panther Valley, Tamaqua, Mahanoy Area, Berwick and West Hazleton. They ran through Minersville, Pottsville, North Schuylkill and Shenandoah by an average score of 35-6. That brought the Tornadoes to their annual undefeated game with Shikellamy where the defense was able to shut down the Braves while Henry Hynoski scored on a 43 yard rumble and Tom Alexander on a one yard keeper to give Big Red a 14-0 win. A 30-0 rout of arch rival Shamokin on Thanksgiving day gave the Tornadoes their 3rd consecutive undefeated regular season.

All that was left was a rematch with Valley View at Cougar Stadium to complete a 24-0 run. However, the Cougars were able to win a defensive contest by a score of 14-8 and foil the Tornadoes chances of the repeat. The 70 team has left its mark on Tornado history. Its rushing total of 3,450 yards ranks 4th all time even though 2 of the teams ahead of them played in 15 games. Their 4,370 yards in total offense ranks 5th while their 395 points scored ranks 7th. Defensively the 82 points given up ranks as the 7th best in modern day history. At least 7 members of the 70 team were rewarded with Division One Scholarships, while Henry Hynoski went on to play professionally with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL.

The finale of the 70 season put a lid on the First Golden Era of Mount Carmel Area football where between 1967 and 1970, Tornado teams were 44-3. The team was led by coach Joe Jazz Diminick, and his assistants Ralph Evans, Joe Greco, Al Santos, and George Wrona and even though they didn’t fulfill at the prophecies made during the preseason, the 70 gang of Tornadoes will always be remembered as one of the best to ever play the game at Mount Carmel Area High School.