THE VIKING BACKFIELD WILL BE ABOUT TWO DEEP this year with a player or two to spare. The number more than doubles that of last year with considerable more experience. The four kneeling took the brunt of last year's backfield duties. They are, from left, Jim Davis, fullback; Melburn Brown and Don Price, halfbacks, and Chuck Hauber, quarterback. Upper row, from left: Don Jenkins, fullback on last years's strong soph team; Allen Herman, a transfer from Salina who has been shifted to end since this picture was taken; Buddy Akin, halfback, and David Norris, quarterback, both from the soph team of a year ago.(Paul Davis, Jim's Dad wrote a note that photographer McCuistion of the Courier had told him at the Courier office that he predicted that Winfield would win 5, loose 4!)
The Vikings went through their first scrimmage under the lights at Sonner stadium last night, working primarily on defensive and offensive plays off the split T.
Head Coach Joe Vann and Line Coach Kenny Everhart used 23 players starting with sled work at 6:30 p.m. leveling into rugged scrimmage by 8 p.m. also on the agenda later in the evening were kickoffs, punt returns, and wind sprints. The Vikes headed for the showers at 9 p.m.
Coach Vann split his backfield using David Norris and Sonny Cobble as opposing quarterbacks, Melburn Brown, Don Price, Larry Cooley, and Chuck Hauber as opposing halfbacks, and Phil Hower and Larry Brown, standout sophomores, and Jim Davis as opposing fullbacks. Norris and Larry Brown concentrated on punts.
Facing each other as ends were Joe Wells, Leon Ahlerich, Jim Bottorff, and Jim Watson. In tackle positions were Lewis Wallace, Robert Barron, Jack Myers, and Joe Crumpton. At guards were Bill Bottorff, Gerald McGee, Jim Huff, and Leonard McNutt. Don Jenkins and Wayne Garber were opposing centers.
Scrimmage was ragged at points but smoothed out as the evening progressed. Fancy ball carrying came from Melburn Brown and several 40- to 50-yard punts were toed by Norris.
the Vikings will beet Valley Center, a Class AA school, at Sonner Stadium Friday at 8 p.m. in the opening tussle they will face a school which has mushroomed in the past five years until it has almost equaled Winfield high school's enrollment.
Such is the case at Winfield, where Joe Vann is regrouping his vikings for another Ark Valley season. The Vikings were dealt a discouraging 0-9 record in 1956, but give indication of being on the rise this year.
Vann started last season with only two lettermen, tackle Sonny Cobble and end Marv Bland. Both are gone now, but 14 letterman answered Vann's call earlier this month.
He will be able to start an all-lettermen line with Joe Wells and Leon Ahelrich at ends, Jack Myers and Joe Crumpton at tackles, Bill Bottorff and Gerald McGee at guards and either Jim Huff or Leonard Landis at center.
Returning backs who won monograms in 1956 are quarterback Dave Norris, halfbacks Don Price, Chuck Hauber and Mel Brown, and fullbacks Jim Davis and Don Jenkins, the later of whom may see see considerable action in the line. Jenkins and Norris are the only juniors amoung the 14 lettermen.
Two other backfield candidates are Larry Cooley, who missed the entire '56 campaign with a broken collar bone suffered shortly before the first game, and junior halfback Buddy Akin. The latter bids fair to become the Vikings' only non-letterman on the first eleven
On a team that seldon gained yardage last year, Davis nevertheless picked up 242 yards rushing and Brown 114. Norris completed four of 14 passes for 36 yards.
Sept. 20 -- Valley Center. Sept. 27 -- At Newton. Oct. 4 --- Wellington. Oct. 11 --- Hutchinson. Oct. 18 --- At Derby. Oct. 25 --- At El Dorado. Nov. 2 --- Agusta Nov. 6 --- Caldwell. Nov. 16 --- At Ark City.
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