A PROUD TRADITION...is what current players like Sam Smallwood and the 2008 Vikings will uphold.

By Dwaine Maxson
2008 will be the 50th season of Miami East varsity football. As the Vikings prepare for this season and the celebrations surrounding it, we would like to take a look back into their history. The events that lead to football at Miami East along with the coaches, players, teams, and individuals that have shaped it have made for an interesting story as is true of any high school football program.

The beginning really starts with the consolidation of Brown Local and Miami Central in April 1956. It was later that fall the community passed a levy to build a high school for the new district. On December 31, 1956 the Miami East board of Education purchased approximately 34 acres from Margaret Allen for the location of the new high school and the eventual location of the current athletic fields (which includes the football field). It is unknown exactly as to when the school board approved football as a sport (the board clerk at the time only recorded contracts and financial issues in the minutes). On June 17, 1957 the school board voted to employ George Buriff as teacher and coach (for several sports, which did include football).

In the fall of 1958 the Viking was chosen as the school nickname/mascot, the new high school opened, and some football was first played. That year they only competed in a scrimmage season against mostly J.V. teams (O.H.S.A.A. did not allow them to keep score). They played teams like Greenon and Troy’s J.V. team. This last spring at Miami East’s Athletic Hall of Fall inductions Coach Buriff recalled that scrimmage against Troy as follows, “One team we played that year was Troy’s reserve team and we were beating them pretty good. Then Troy’s varsity coach at the time, Lou Juillerant finally decided it was enough and put in his varsity against us. It included players like Bob Ferguson who went on to play college ball at Ohio State and Tommy Meyers who played his college ball at Northwestern. They then started beating us very easily.

Finally in 1959 the Vikings would play their very first official season. Miami East opened that first season at home on Friday September 18 against Bradford. In a close hard fought game the Vikings lost to the Railroaders 28-20. Despite the loss they finished the season 3-6 with wins against Christiansburg-Jackson, Triad, and Ansonia.

In 1961, the Vikings saw a few more firsts. They joined the Tri-County League in football, which includes schools like Versailles, Piqua Catholic, Minster, etc. Miami East also recorded their first winning season in football (6-4 overall and 5-2 in the TCL). Miami East went to have five consecutive winning seasons from 1961 to 1965. During that period they had back-to-back 8-2 seasons in 1962 and 1963. Thanks in part to the highest scoring offenses in school history during those two seasons in which they averaged 36.6 and 33 points per game respectively. They were lead by players like quarterback Rich McKinney and running back Steve Leapley. Unfortunately, their offensive exploits were not enough as the finished in third place both seasons despite solid wins against teams like Graham and Piqua Catholic in 1963 (both were 7-3 that year). In 1964, the Vikings joined the Mad River Valley League (along with Covington). Sadly, they lost Rich McKinney to a broken leg for the season back in August. That season Steve Leapley became the school’s first 1,000 yard rusher by running for 1,208 yards in 10 games, but they only managed a 5-4-1 overall record and third place finish in the MRVL.

Finally in 1965 despite the graduation losses of McKinney and Leapley, Coach Buriff and the Vikings put together one of the most remembered seasons in school history. Unlike the previous Miami East teams that came before them this team was known for defense. Lead by the school’s first All-Ohio selection Tom Caven at linebacker and defensive linemen Butch Ward and Mike Wilt the team allowed only 6 and half points per game. During the season they claimed wins against highly touted Versailles and traditional MRVL power Springfield Shawnee. But the most memorable win for Viking fans that season was against Covington. As usual the Buccs fielded a very strong squad, which had a great defense of its own. In a defensive struggle at East the Vikings won 12-6 and were the only team in 1965 to score in double digits against the Buccs (in fact only two other teams managed to even score on them.). Unfortunately do to a loss earlier in the season to Northwestern they had to share the MRVL title with Covington. Despite the loss they finished with the best overall record in school history (9-1) which still stands and has only been equaled at three other times. George Buriff then left the school with a 42-26-1 record for a job down in Florida. During the next five seasons Miami East had three different head coaches and only one season where they finished at least .500. Although they did have two big wins during that time against Cedarville in 1967 when the Indians were ranked 12th in the state and against Versailles in 1968 which ended the Tigers 29 game win streak.

A new era in Miami East football began in 1971 with the hiring of Head Coach Jim Martin and assistant Bob Riley. From 1971 to 1988 under Coaches Martin and Riley the Vikings would again become known for hard running and hard hitting. Although they didn’t win many championships they did win a lot games, particularly against well respected schools (the Vikings were 98-75-7 from 1971 to 1988). Under these coaches Miami East fielded several great defenses and they only allowed an average about 13 points per game during this time period. In fact in 1972 they had five shutouts and did not allow a touchdown on their home field en route to a 6-3-1 record overall and 4-2-1 record in the MRVL. It also included the best 10 year period in Viking history from 1975 to 1984 (during which they had nine winning seasons, four runner-up finishes, and one league championship.). Big wins like against Coldwater in 1975 (MAC Co-Champions that year) and Milton Union in 1979 (SWBL Co-Champions that year and ended the Bulldogs 22 game win streak) along players like running back Tim Roddy, defensive lineman Barney Taylor, and many others came to define the program.

In 1980, East fielded their greatest defense ever, nicknamed the “Blue Wave.” This defense still holds most of the school’s defensive team records including most shutouts (7), fewest points allowed (20), and fewest total yards allowed in season (851 in 10 games). It was lead by two time All-Ohio selection defensive lineman Max Current and along with teammates Charles Mumford, Mark Bondurant and Jon Laughman. Despite solid wins against teams like East Clinton (7-3 and runner-up in the Kenton Trace Conference that season) they only managed a runner-up finish behind Covington in the Three Rivers Conference because a 7-0 loss to Versailles and a 7-7 tie to Covington. Interesting to note that there was only one offensive drive that covered at least half the field that season against the Vikings (by Covington in the final 2 minutes of the regular season). Miami East did finish with an 8-1-1 record and number 6 ranking in the U.P.I.’s Class AA poll (the smallest school in Class AA to be ranked).

Bob Riley then became the school’s head coach in 1981. From 1982 to 1984, under his coaching, they had three straight 9-1 seasons. These teams included offensive stars like running back Tracey Swackhammer, quarterback Keven Stager, and offensive lineman Dan Wiford. Again they also fielded great defensives with players like linebackers Richard Beard and Jack Dunivan, and defensive lineman like Scott Donaldson. During these three seasons they managed to record three straight wins against Versailles including the memorable 1983 season finale at Versailles’s Hole Field. Both teams came into that game with identical records of 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the Southwestern Rivers Conference. In a hard fought defensive struggle the Vikings came back in the second half to win 9-8 and claim the 1983 SRC Championship.

After the 1988 season Bob Riley left for a job in Sidney. From 1989 to 1998 the Vikings were lead by four different head coaches. Despite impressive wins against teams like Graham in 1990 (the Falcons were 9-3 and Regional runner-up in Division III that season) and Saint Henry in 1991 (the Redskins were 7-3 that year) along with great players like running back David Overholser and wide receiver Scott Dickman the program gradually went down hill before suffering a more than 30 game losing streak in the late 1990’s.

In 1999, Max Current (a Miami East graduate of 1981) took over as head coach and went about to restore pride and success in the program starting with a win in his first season. In 2001, he led them to their first winning season since 1989 with a 6-4 record and a runner-up finish in the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division. Despite that early success under Current the Vikings then suffered through five more losing seasons. Finally, in 2007 Miami East enjoyed its best season since 1984. Led by players like linebacker David Jackson and record-setting running back Sam Smallwood they finished 8-3, runner-up in the CCC, and became the first team in school history to make the playoffs. It included wins against good teams like Bethel, Twin Valley South, and Ansonia. Unfortunately, their season came to an end in the Regional Quarterfinals to eventual Division V State Champion Marion Local.

Going into their 50th varsity season in 2008 the Vikings look to add to their history. Thanks in part to 17 returning letterman and the return of 10 of 11 starters on offense. Miami East football has had its highs and lows, but continues to endure.