Wikipedia

1958 Wheaton Crusaders football team

The 1958 Wheaton Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented Wheaton College as a member of the College Conference of Illinois (CCI) during the 1958 NAIA football season. In their 15th year under head coach Harvey Chrouser, the Crusaders compiled a perfect 8–0 record (7–0 in conference games), won the CCI championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 357 to 70.[1][2] It was Wheaton's seventh consecutive CCI championship.[3]

1958 Wheaton Crusaders football
CCI champion
ConferenceCollege Conference of Illinois
Record8–0 (7–0 CCI)
Head coach
CaptainBob Bakke, Bill Hoppel
Home stadiumMcCully Field
Seasons
← 1957
1959 →
1958 College Conference of Illinois football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Wheaton (IL) $ 7 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 0
Carroll (WI) 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
North Central (IL) 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Lake Forest 4 – 3 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
Illinois Wesleyan 4 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Millikin 2 – 5 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Augustana (IL) 2 – 6 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
Elmhurst 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team led the country's small colleges in total offense with an average of 466 yards per game.[4] It also set a single-game CCI record by scoring 90 points on 12 touchdowns against Elmhurst. The prior record was 81 points by both teams.[5]

Senior quarterback Bruce Anderson was selected as Wheaton's most valuable player. He set a new Wheaton record by completing 33 of 58 passes for 638 yards and nine touchowns.[6][7] Senior tackle Bob Bakke was selected as a first-team player on the 1958 Little All-America college football team.[8]

Wheaton players were selected by the conference coaches to fill ten spots on the first team of the 1958 All-CCI football team: Don Branda (halfback on offense, defense at back); fullback Steve Murray; end (offense) Dick Foushee; guard (offense) Al Seeland; tackle (offense) Dick Plaep; end (defense) Bill Hoppel; tackle (defense) Bob Bakke; linebacker Skippy Meier; and back Bruce Whipple (defense).[9]

Bob Bakke and Bill Hoppel were Wheaton's co-captains.[10]

The team played its home games at McCully Field in Wheaton, Illinois.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 19Northern Illinois*
W 40–20[11]
September 27Lake Forest
  • McCully Field
  • Wheaton, IL
W 48–0[12]
October 4at Augustana (IL)Rock Island, ILW 67–12[13][14]
October 11Elmhurst
  • McCully Field
  • Wheaton, IL
W 90–6[15]
October 18at Millikin
W 26–0[16]
October 25at Carroll (WI)Waukesha, WIW 16–12[17]
November 1North Central (IL) 
  • McCully Field
  • Wheaton, IL
W 33–66,500[18]
November 8at Illinois WesleyanBloomington, ILW 37–14[19]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming

References edit

  1. ^ "1958 Football Schedule". Wheaton College. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "1958 Football team". Wheaton College. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "Eastern Wins Over Normal In IIAC Action". The Daily Journal-Gazette and Commercial-Star. November 10, 1958. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Young's Yarns". The Pantagraph. November 9, 1958. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Wheaton Sets Three CCI Marks in 90-6 Romp Over Elmhurst". The Decatur Daily Review. October 13, 1958. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bruce Anderson Named MVP At Wheaton". The Paxton Record. November 27, 1958. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Anderson Is Honored at Wheaton". Chicago Tribune. November 25, 1958. p. F3 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Palvino Wins 2d Team Spot On AP's Little All-America". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. December 3, 1958. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Ten Wheaton Players Make C.C.I. Team". Chicago Tribune. November 20, 1958. p. 5G – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "See Wheaton as Power Again". Chicago Tribune. September 16, 1958. p. F3 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Jerry Bretag (September 22, 1958). "Wheaton Powers Its Way to 40-20 Win Over Huskies". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Wheaton Rips Foresters In 1st CCI Loop Game". Moline Dispatch. September 29, 1958. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Ron Janecke (October 6, 1958). "Wheaton Power Grinds Augie, 67-12: Worst Loss In 31 Years For Vikings". The Rock Island Argus. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Augustana Routed". Chicago Tribune. October 5, 1958. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Wheaton Rips Elmhurst, 90-6, Shares CCI Lead". Moline Dispatch. October 13, 1958. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Forrest R. Kyle (October 19, 1958). "Wheaton Beats Millikin, 26-0: Crusaders Pull Away in Second Half". Decatur Herald and Review. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Wheaton Rallies to Beat Carroll, 16-12". Chicago Tribune. October 26, 1958. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Wheaton Rolls Past North Central, 33-6". The Pantagraph. November 2, 1958. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Undefeated Wheaton Smothers Wesleyan To Bag CCI Crown". The Pantagraph. November 9, 1958. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
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