Timelines from the Sidelines: SHS 75 years ago

Class of 1948

Baseball

The 1948 baseball team welcome new leadership, as coach Joe Jurkanin took over the program. Jurkanin stayed in the lead position for five years, eventually experiencing considerable success with the Bulldogs.

Basketball (Boys)

In his first year directing the basketball program, coach Joe Jurkanin welcomed back just three lettermen from the previous season in the form of Don furtkamp, Harry Wriede, and Ed Yakos. Predictably, the 1947-48 campaign was a long one, as the team faltered to a 4-19 record, including a winless 0-8 in the South Central Conference (SCC). The lone wins were over Worden (twice), Bunker Hill, and Hettick.

Football

The 1948 football season marked the first time in many years that Staunton and Mt. Olive did not face off in the annual opener. It also makred the first year of Socah Joe Jurkanin’s tenure leading the progrma. Unfortunately, his intitial season at the helm was a rocky one, as the Bulldogs finished with a record of 1-5-2 overall, including 0-3-1 in the SCC. East Alton-Wood River represented Staunton’s new Week One opponenent, and the Dogs went toe-to-toe with the Oilers before dropping a 7-0 decision for Staunton’s first loss in five meetings between the teams. The lone win came in a Week Two squeaker over Edwardsville, as Staunton nosed out the Tigers by a score of 7-6. Though the Bulldogs did not win another game, they did compete very well throughout the year. For instance, in Week Three the Dogs earned a 6-6 tie with a traditionally tough Alton Marquette team in the first-ever matchup between the two schools. A Week Four loss to Pana (13-0) followed, but SHS responded by opening the conference slate by tying an undefeated squad from Gillespie (7-7). Unfortunately, the season ended with three straight defeats, as Benld (24-13), Carlinville (8-7), and eventual SCC champion Mt. Olive (17-0) all got the best of the Bulldogs.

Class of 1949

Baseball

Coach Joe Jurnkanin began his season with the baseball program in 1949, though no team results were found.

Basketball (Boys)

After a rough rookie season with the basketball program, Joe jurkanin welcomed back some experience for the 1948-49 campaign, including returning letterman Bob Coatney, Paul Eller, John Kotzman, and Dale Schmutzler. The experience helped early on as Staunton worn seven of eight games after dropping the season opener to Worden. The hot start ended with an overtime loss to eventual champion Anna-Jonesboro in the first round of the Dupo Holiday Tournament. Unfortunately, the team cooled off down the stretch and eventually finished with a record of 11-15, including 5-3 in the SCC.

Football

Joe Jurkanin’s 1948 football team finished the season with just one victory for the second successive year, as the Bulldogs ended with an overall record of 1-7-1 and 0-4 in the SCC. SHS returned just three lettermen from the previous season, as John Kotzman, Ken Wall, and Ed Yakos did their best to lead an inexperienced team into battle. The season began with a 25-14 loss in Week One to East Alton-Wood River. However, a Week Two matchup with Edwardsville saw the Bulldgos continue to play the Tigers tough, something coming away with a 19-19 tie. Unfortunately, five straight losses ensued, including shutouts to Alton Marquette (14-0) and Pana (21-0). Week Five saw undefeated and eventual SCC champion Gillespie soundly defeat the Dogs by a score of 51-14. Losses to Benld (19-7) and Carlinville (20-7) followed. SHS attained its lone victory in a Week Eight shutout of Nokomis (18-0) before the season ended with a tight loss to Mt. Olive (7-0).