Editor’s Note: As preparation for the 2025 high school football season begins, we take a look back at some of the previous football seasons and memories at historic Harmon Field. The following feature is from 2012 by the late Herman Brown.

This fall will be the 50th anniversary of the 1975 State Football Championship for the Okmulgee Bulldogs. Those memories will last a lifetime!

– Harmon Field sits quietly, baking in the summer sun. Like a sleeping giant, the historic football palace awaits the upcoming campaign.

Gridiron hibernation will soon give way to the boys of fall.

Harmon Field will awake to familiar sights, sounds and smells. Sweatdrenched Bulldogs will dot the practice field. Coaches’ whistles will echo off the sandstone walls of this magical venue. The smell of fresh-cut grass will blanket the air.

Coaches and players will look ahead to the approaching season. All focus will be directed on the games awaiting them. They’ll dream of the good times to come and the wins they’ll notch. They’ll soak up the sheer joy that is high school football.

For some of these young men, the Friday nights ahead will provide the best memories of their lives… It’s a new season … and time to look ahead to brighter days for the OHS squad. However, the latest Bulldogs should know something about those who came before them. The 2012 team should pause to reflect on the greatest seasons in school history. They should know about ‘the glory years’ of Okmulgee Bulldog football. To that end, here is a review of the most successful OHS campaigns, dating back to 1947 and stretching to 1992. The specific Bulldogs teams are identified for major accomplishments on the football field. Here are the OHS teams and the accomplishments of their respective seasons:

• 1947 – The Bulldogs won the first state championship in school history.

• 1967 – The Bulldogs broke a 20year playoff drought by finishing as the state runner-up for the first time in school history.

• 1969 – The Bulldogs returned to the title game and captured their second state championship in school history.

• 1971 – The Bulldogs were back in the state championship game and finished with their second-ever state runner-up title.

• 1972 – The Bulldogs made it back to the state finals for the second year in a row and the third time in four seasons. OHS came up short again, however, and took home the school’s third runner-up trophy.

• 1975 – The Bulldogs fought back to the state championship game and won the school’s third and final (so far) state championship in football.

• 1978 – The Bulldogs advanced to the state semi-finals.

• 1982 – The Bulldogs recorded a perfect 10-0 record season before falling in the opening round of the playoffs to finish the season at 10-1.

• 1991 – The Bulldogs advanced to the state semi-finals.

• 1992 – The Bulldogs cruised to a 12-0 record and returned to the state semi-finals before losing their first (and only) game of the season.

• 1994 – The Bulldogs made it back to the state semi-finals before being eliminated from the playoffs.

— 50 Years Ago:

1975 State Champions

The Okmulgee High School football program was among the best in Oklahoma between 1967 and 1975. Earlier OHS campaigns during the span had produced a state runner-up title in 1967, a state championship in 1969, a state runner-up in 1971 and another state runner-up finished in 1972.

The 1975 unit rose up and battled to the third state championship in school history. Coach Dan Sulivant led the Bulldogs to a 12-2 record and the conference championship. The title run also included district and regional wins before moving into the state finals. The incredible run ended with a 23-17 victory over the Ardmore Tigers at Norris Field on the East Central University campus in Ada.

Okmulgee had so many stars and key players that season. R.C. Morrow was the explosive running back in the productive ground attack. Morrow piled up more than 1,400 yards rushing during the 14-game season. Bobby Moore was also a vital weapon as the other running back at OHS. His contributions on the ground and in the passing attack were also major assets to the title run. Quarterback Steve Hunnicutt was an incredible passer who directed the offensive attack on the championship chase.

OHS also relied on stars like Mark Garner and Collis Jones and several others. In the end, Coach Sulivant pulled together his talented squad and guided them on a journey to the throne.

The Bulldogs’ December finish looked nothing like the 1-2 September start. OHS lost 27-13 to Muskogee and lost 12-10 to Tulsa Rogers. The Bulldogs managed a narrow 2827 win over Bartlesville College High School in between those two losses.

As Week 4 arrived, Okmulgee launched an 11-game winning streak that included the state championship win over Ardmore.

In the quarter-finals, the Bulldogs faced almost certain defeat and elimination. Cunningham threw what looked like a game-losing interception with a few minutes left in the fourth quarter. Okmulgee trailed Tulsa Mason 21-17 at the time. However, the OHS defense rose up and stuffed Mason’s offensive series. Mason was forced to punt, but botched the attempt with just over one minute to play. Hunnicutt was given a second chance. The quarterback delivered with a game-saving touchdown drive. Hunnicutt completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Moore as time expired, clinching a thrilling 23-21 victory.

Hunnicutt also came up big in the state semifinals. Okmulgee and the Stillwater Pioneers were deadlocked in a scoreless game through four quarters. In overtime, Okmulgee went on offense first and had four chances to score from the Stillwater 10-yard line. Facing a fourth down, Coach Sulivant sent Hunnicutt out to attempt a 21yard field goal. The quarterback-kicker split the uprights to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. Okmulgee’s defense then stuffed Stillwater on three plays. The Pioneers were forced to attempt their own field goal to send the game to a second overtime session. However, the Stillwater field goal was wide of the uprights, ending the game with a 3-0 Okmulgee victory.

Hunnicutt’s field goal was the difference in Okmulgee moving on into the state finals. The Bulldogs led early, trailed late, and won on an R.C. Morrow touchdown run.

The Ardmore Tigers opened the first possession by fumbling the kickoff. Collis Jones pounced on the football to give the Bulldogs excellent field position. R.C. Morrow made the turnover pay for OHS as he quickly scored on a 3-yard run.

Steve Hunnicutt followed with a booming 35-yard field goal later in the first quarter. The kick extended Okmulgee’s advantage to 10-0.

Ardmore fought back with 10 points in the second quarter to send the teams to halftime tied at 10-10.

The Tigers added another TD in the third quarter to move ahead 17-10.

Okmulgee was still down by seven when the fourth quarter opened. However, Steve Hunnicutt tied the game at 17-17 on a 62-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Moore. The running back had slipped out of the backfield and found an open area. Hunnicutt rifled him a pass and Moore took it all the way to the end zone.

With the game on the line, Okmulgee looked to the defensive unit for help. After stopping the Tigers on offense, the Bulldogs got the ball back. Hunnicutt then led another game-winning touchdown drive. This time it was all-state running back R.C. Morrow who knifed into the end zone on a 1-yard plunge. Hunnicutt then added the PAT to put OHS on top 2317.

The Okmulgee defense stepped up late to kill off any chance Ardmore had. Donald Lang intercepted a pass to seal the deal. Bobby Moore had already picked off two other Ardmore throws. Two other turnovers forced by the defense included a fumble recovery by Larry Wyatt and (as mentioned earlier) the fumble recovery by Collis Jones.

— 1947 – State Champions

In the 1947 campaign, Bulldog running back John Mueller provided the rushing attack to power Okmulgee to the first state football championship in school history. Guard Ike McGrew was another outstanding player on the Bulldog squad.

The title run was described as bumpy – but very exciting. Okmulgee. The Bulldogs opened the playoffs with a tight victory over Wewoka Tigers. The score was even, but Okmulgee earned the win due to having more offensive penetrations inside the WHS 20-yard line.

In the state semi-finals, Okmulgee was tied with Ponca City on the scoreboard … and also in penetrations. The second tiebreaker, in those days, was the number of first downs earned by a team. Okmulgee owned that edge and was declared the winner.

Awaiting Okmulgee in the state championship game was one of the most dangerous and most feared teams in the state – the Frederick Bombers. The Bulldogs were a big underdog against a manly squad of Bombers, including most players sporting beards. The game was played on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. The action was broadcast across Oklahoma by legendary Walter Cronkite. The game was even transmitted to radio stations in several neighboring states.

John Mueller stunned the football world by scoring two touchdowns against Frederick, including the game-winner to secure a 14-6 victory over the Bombers.

Okmulgee celebrated the first-ever football championship in school history.

— 1967 – State Runner-Up

In 1967, Okmulgee broke a 20-year playoff drought with an impressive journey all the way to the state championship game. All-State halfback Terry Ballard was the driving force for the Bulldogs. Ballard rushed for 1,199 yards and 19 touchdowns. His cut-back style and sprinter speed made the senior a threat to score each time he touched the football. He was also an excellent receiver on pass routes out of the backfield.

Okmulgee’s other All-State selection in 1967 was defensive standout Pat Bell. Foes feared Bell’s bone-crushing tackles.

Quarterback Tom Smith was also an excellent player for Coach Melvin Skelton’s squad. Smith figured heavily in all the wins, and his absence figured in the loss in the state championship game.

Okmulgee started the season with a 7-7 tie. Ballard provided the only touchdown by OHS. He caught a 40yard TD toss from Smith with only 3:25 left in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs added shutout wins over Bixby (42-0) and Henryetta (260) in the second and third games. The wins were followed by a 28-28 tie with powerhouse Broken Arrow. Ironically, most experts were far more impressed with the tie than the earlier wins.

The Bulldogs were now 2-0-2 heading into the fifth game. From there, Okmulgee strung together six consecutive wins. OHS finished the regular season ‘undefeated and twice tied’ at 8-0-2. Of the last six wins, the Bulldogs added five more shutouts. The only team to score on them during the span was Tahlequah in a 41-6 Okmulgee win.

With seven shutouts in the eight wins, Okmulgee’s defense was surely one of the finest in school history.

In the 1967 playoffs, Okmulgee was thrown into a rematch with the McAlester Buffaloes. The two teams met at Harmon Field to determine which would advance to the state championship game. It was a Thanksgiving Night game and the stadium was packed to the brim.

“Every seat in the place was filled,” recalls Ballard. “People were lined up around the field to watching the game. It was really something!”

Okmulgee made the most of the opportunity by downing the visitors 237. Ballard recovered a McAlester fumble to set up the go-ahead score for the Bulldogs. Bob Patterson rocketed 21 yards for a touchdown on Okmulgee’s first offensive snap.

Ballard later flashed his incredible break-away speed. He romped 88 yards on a highlight-reel kickoff return for a touchdown. Roger Ballenger then toed the PAT kick to make it a 13-0 lead.

Ballard also burned the Buffs on a 36-yard touchdown run to provide a big cushion for the Bulldogs.

Okmulgee’s defense provided the final points on a safety. The play put the finishing touches on the 23-7 victory.

The No. 1 ranked Bulldogs stormed on into the state championship game with a 9-0-2 record. Their opponent would be the Stillwater Pioneers in a game staged at Lafortune Park in Tulsa.

Okmulgee scored first touchdown of the night. The 40-yard scamper came from Ballard on the first offensive series of the game. Things were suddenly looking very good for a state crown for the Bulldogs. However, OHS was derailed offensively when standout quarterback Tom Smith went down to an injury. The Pioneers quickly benefitted from an Okmulgee fumble to tie the game at 7-7. From there, Stillwater managed the only other touchdown of the night. The effort and the conversion secured a 15-7 Pioneer win and the state championship. The gifted Bulldogs were awarded the runner-up trophy and left with thoughts of what could have been, maybe should have been. Even so, 1967 was a great season for Okmulgee High School.

Ballard and Bell and their teammates revived Okmulgee football and helped to launch a period where OHS would play in five state championship games in nine years.

“I’m proud of what we accomplished,” Ballard said. “I guess we got the whole thing (winning) started that season.”

— 1969 – State Champions

The Okmulgee Bulldogs soared to the pinnacle of high school football in Oklahoma in 1969. The magical season featured the school’s only unbeaten campaign in school history. Coach Charles Cruce was the head coach of the first Bulldog team that was integrated with Okmulgee Dunbar Tigers and Okmulgee Bulldogs. Coach Elmer House has led Dunbar to gridiron glory and was a wonderful addition to the new staff. Coach Dan Sulivant was also an excellent coach on the staff.

Okmulgee swept wins over Bixby, Tulsa Kelly, Henryetta, Broken Arrow, Tahlequah, McAlester, Sapulpa, Seminole, Ada and Sand Springs.

In the Class AA state playoffs, the Bulldogs knocked off Pryor to advance to the state championship game. OHS concluded the title run with a season-ending victory over Altus on a rain-soaked field in Edmond. While the scoreboard showed a 7-7 tie, the Bulldogs were declared the state champions because of having more offensive penetrations inside Altus’ 20-yard line.

The three senior captains of the 1969 OHS squad included Randy Flood, Steve Ornelas, and Jerry Johnson.

The talent-rich squad included six players who would earn all-state status before their 3-year careers ended at Okmulgee High School. Three of the stars were seniors Randy Flood, Jerry Johnson and Robert Love. Two juniors on the title squad would make all-state the next year, including Clyde Crutchmer and Mike Heath. Sophomore Dewey McLain would follow in 1971 with selection as an all-state player.

All three coaches (Cruce, House and Sulivant) on the 1969 squad would later be elected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association Football Hall of Fame.

It was, by all accounts, an incredible run to the title. The team still owns the honor of being the only unbeaten team in OHS history. That is quite a legacy.

— 1982 – Perfect 10-0 Regular Season In other notable seasons, the 1982 Bulldogs finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0. Mike Colpitt quarterbacked that squad and finished with 1,083 yards of offense. He passed for 717 yards and rushed for 366. The explosive offense also included the rushing trio of All-State Robert Reagan, Kevin Burgess and Charles Walker.

Reagan carried the football 158 times for 1,170 yards. His biggest night was a 388-yard performance against Sallisaw.

Burgess was second on the squad with 907 yards on 158 carries. His 72 points led the team in scoring.

The top receivers were Vic Mariano, Steve Mangum, Mike Simmons, and Rodney James.

In the playoffs, Okmulgee suffered a 20-7 season-ending loss to Miami.