The 1954 Hastings Broncos football team was an American football team that represented Hastings College as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1954 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Tom McLaughlin, the Broncos compiled a perfect 9–0 record (7–0 in conference games), won the NCC championship, defeated College of Emporia in the Mineral Water Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 230 to 97.[1][2][3]
| 1954 Hastings Broncos football | |
|---|---|
NCC champion | |
Mineral Water Bowl, W 20–14 vs. College of Emporia | |
| Conference | Nebraska College Conference |
| Record | 9–0 (7–0 NCC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | A. H. Jones Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hastings $ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peru State | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kearney State | 4 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midland | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wayne State (NE) | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doane | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska Wesleyan | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chadron State | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Five Hastings players were selected as first-team players on the 1954 NCC all-conference team: Lavon Eisenhauer at end; Veryl Borden at guard; Gene Fleharty at tackle; Chuck Stickels at quarterback; and Bruce Edwards at halfback. Two others were named to the second team: Hilly Beck at the end and Ladd Cochrane at the back. Guard Jim Sterp received an honorable mention.[4]
The team played home games at A. H. Jones Stadium in Hastings, Nebraska.
Schedule
edit| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 18 | Colorado State–Greeley* |
| W 26–19 | ||||
| September 24 | Kearney State | W 21–14 | |||||
| October 2 | Doane |
| W 33–12 | ||||
| October 9 | at Wayne State (NE) |
| W 19–7 | ||||
| October 16 | Midland |
| W 40–0 | ||||
| October 23 | Peru State |
| W 15–13 | 3,800 | [5] | ||
| October 29 | at Nebraska Wesleyan | Lincoln, NE | W 21–6 | ||||
| November 6 | at Chadron State | Chadron, NE | W 35–12 | ||||
| November 25 | vs. College of Emporia* | Excelsior Springs, MO | W 20–14 | ||||
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Roster
edit- Hilly Beck, end, junior, 6', 185 pounds, Minden
- Veryl Borden, guard, junior, 6'2", 210 pounds, Hastings
- Ladd Cochrane, back, junior, 6'1", 180 pounds, Oshkosh
- Bruce Edwards, back, sophomore, 5'10-1/2", 160 pounds, Pawnee City (set NCC scoring record)
- Lavon Eisenhauer, end, junior, 6', 176 pounds, Naponee
- Gene Fleherty, tackle, 6'2", 195 pounds, Hastings
- Tom Garrett, halfback, freshman
- Rex Steinkruger, back, senior
- Jim Sterup, guard, junior
- Chuck Stickels, quarterback, senior, 6'1", 170 pounds, Hastings (strong passer and ball handler, led the team's split-T)
- Gaylen Taylor, center, junior
- Virgil Taylor, tackle, frosh
- Larry Van Boening, tackle, freshman
References
edit- ^ a b "Hastings Broncos Will Be At Full Strength For Mineral Bowl Game". The Lincoln Star. November 22, 1954. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1954 Football Team". Hastings College. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Final NCC Standings". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. November 8, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved December 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Forrest Miller and Glenn Speidel (November 14, 1954). "All NCC: Hastings Heads NCC Eleven; League Champs Earn Five All-Star Berths". The Lincoln Star. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bill Madden (October 25, 1954). "Broncos Nose Peru, 15-13; Stay Unbeaten". Hastings Daily Tribune. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.