Gridders Make History By Getting To The Top
There is an old saying in football: offense wins games but defense wins championships. The saying almost held true for the 1986 Aggie football team. Led by a rock-solid defense that, at times, carried the team and an oppurtunisitc offense, the Aggies enjoyed the best season in Cameron football history and advanced to the NAIA Division l National Championship.
The defense, led by six seniors, ended the regular season as the top-ranked defense in the country, yielding only 185 yards per game.
Carson-Newman stalled Cameron's dream for the title. The Eagle defeted the Aggies 17-0 in the Champion Bowl held on their campus in Jefferson City, Tennesee. Many CU fans made the 2,000-mile round trip to the small, northeastern Tennesee town only to witness the Aggies' crushing loss.
In a season that featured several team records, including 11 wins, a seven-game win streak and 10 weeks in the Top 20 poll, the Aggies brought the University, its supporters and Lawton together. Following a 31-10 win over Mesa, Colorado, the Aggies earned two consecutive home playoff berths and netted the NAIA more than $60,000 with gate and concession revenue. Near-capacity crowds at
Cameron Stadium saw the Aggies defeat Central Arkansas and Pittsburgh State, Kansas.
The UCA game was a four overtime, 35-34, thriller that came down to a missed extra point.
Defensive tackle Thomas O,Kelley and defensive back Ken Whetstone took the highest personal honors. O'Kelley, a junior from Burkburnett, Texas, was named to the NAIA All-American first team. Whetstone, a Lawton native who transferred to CU from Central State, was a second team All-American selection in his final year. The CU coaching staff sees him as the Aggie's most likely draft choice.
Whetstone is one of the seven seniors ending their careers at CU. John Brandes of Arlington, Texas, the only senior on offense, swithched to tight end for his final year and caught the attention of several pro scouts. He was an honorable mention district selection and was named offensive MVP in the 35-34 quarterfinal victory over Central Arkansas.
Defensive tackle Darin Jones, who transferred to CU after Southern Colorado dropped football, closed out his career with an outstanding season. The Casper, Wyoming, native was a second team all-district selection.
Johnny Hollarn led the Aggie defense in tackles for the third straight year. The scrappy 5-10, 200-pound linebacker from Cyril was a 1985 Academic All-American selection.
Hard-hitting Ron Castlebury was an honorable mention selection in District 9. The Cache defensive back came to CU after a year at Panhandle State. He will be missed in the defensive backfield that will return only one full-time starter.
Frank Pritchett of San Antonio, Texas, is another departing defensive back. The second team All District selection is another pro prospect.
Placekicker Bret Wulfkuhle was an honorable mention selection in his final year. The Overbrook, Kansas, transfer's five PAT's against Central Arkansas proved to be the difference in the Aggie's win.
In his third year at CU, Head Coach Brian Naber was named the District 9 Coach of the Year after rebounding from a 3-7 campaign in '85 and leading the Aggies to a 9-1-1 regular season and their first playoff appearance since the 1981 season.
Other CU All-District first team selections were: Wes Cox, offensive lineman from Kaufman, Texas; Mike Lorenzen, offensive lineman from Dodge City, Kansas, and Thomas O'Kelley.
1987 Final Results (11-2), Brian Naber; Head Coach
Game 1 - Cameron 13, Southeastern 0
Game 2 - Cameron 32, Henderson State 13
Game 3 - Cameron 37, Fort Hayes State 12
Game 4 - Cameron 18, Abilene Christian 3
Game 5 - Cameron 31, Central State 13
Game 6 - Cameron 20, Elon College 21
Game 7 - Cameron 69, Langston 0
Game 8 - Cameron 20, Texas A & I 39
Game 9 - Cameron 28, Texas Lutheran 10
Game 10 - Cameron 17, Emporia State 12
Game 11 - Cameron 14, Central Arkansas 7#
Game 12 - Cameron 20, Pittsburg State 10#
Game 13 - Cameron 30, Carson-Newman 2*
#- NAIA Playoffs
*- NAIA National Championship at Lawton, Oklahoma
