A century at the Fort

A century of Fort Gibson football

By Eric Shannon Phoenix Correspondent

A team that was once known as the Spuders has seen highs and lows throughout the history of Fort Gibson football, which this year reaches the century mark in Oklahoma’s oldest town. In 1922 a former University of Oklahoma football player and law school graduate, Q.B. Boydstun, proposed to the Fort Gibson Schools Superintendent to begin a football program.

The school with no funding for such a project left Boydstun to find local funding for the team and he had to become the coach. Boydstun solicited those funds and purchased jerseys, pants and socks. Shoulder pads and helmets were a few years off.

Thirty-five young men that knew nothing about football suited up for the first official season at the Fort Gibson baseball park and the game was afoot.

The inaugural team played 10 games, winning just three, and lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Porum Panthers. It didn’t have an official mascot, and they were red and white just because that is what Boydstun happened to pick out. Some of the unofficial names for the team were the Cherokees and the Soldiers.

In 1923 the nickname became the Spuders courtesy of the Muskogee Phoenix Sports Editor, William Huff. This name was given because at the time Fort Gibson was a major potato growing community.

How the Tigers came about is still a mystery. Most theorize that it was voted on by students.

While there’s never been a strong tradition of success, but rather a mix of highs and lows, the Tigers have produced 25 All-State football selections, 15 D-1 players and one NFL player in Teddy Lehman, who at Oklahoma won the Butkus and Bednarik Awards and All-American honors.

Boydstun coached for two years with a 9-12-0 record, then came Jim Hendren for seven seasons (27-44-5), but made the postseason going 6-5 in 1964. Fast forward to 1969, John Bowden took over then posted the Tigers’ first district title in 1970 and first career winning record with 217-3 over three years.

Into the 1980s David West coached for six years but couldn’t muster much success. Then Jerry Kerr took over in 1985 for five years, trading the red and white for crimson and cream, imitating the University of Oklahoma in the process — triple option and all. Kerr did take the Tigers to the playoffs once, in 1985, losing to Muldrow 21-20 but failed to produce another winner.

Greg Gorman was going to be the savior in 1990 with two winning records and making the playoffs in his second year. However, 21 straight losses led to a 16-35-0 record over five years and sent him packing.

Then came the old man and the son in 1995 — legendary Texas high school coach Paul Wilson and defensive coordinator Lonnie Reed. The two each stayed four years at the helm, eight years total together, making the playoffs every year but one and making a championship run that fell short in the title game. The two combined for a 57-32-0 record, the best coaching span to date.

Jeff Taylor stepped in after Reed left in 2003 and kept the ship afloat with three consecutive playoff appearances, but things began to drop off and he ended with a 28-35-0 record after six years.

After D.J. Howell came and went, it was former Muskogee assistant James Singleton that seemed to come to the rescue in 2011. Singleton had a 33-140 record in four years, making the playoffs every year — his last to the semifinals, the best season since 1999.

Singleton’s offensive coordinator, Greg Whiteley, took over after he left and kept the Tigers in the playoffs five of his seven years but finished with a 34-41-0 record.

That brings us to the 16th head coach in school history. In his first head-coaching job, Ryan Nolan takes over a program that has a 46 percent career winning percentage but is excited to be the Tiger’s 16th head football coach.

“It’s my greatest honor to coach this football program that turns 100 years old this year,” said Nolan. “I am humbled and blessed to be a part of this great program.”

Shannon ranks the best 10 games

NO. 1: FORT GIBSON 24, CLINTON 23 (1999) — Down 14-0 early in a battle of 1-2, No. 2 Fort Gibson rallied behind Teddy Lehman’s three touchdown carries, the last with 1:18 to go, putting FGHS in its only-ever championship game.

NO. 2: FORT GIBSON 21, HILLDALE 20 (1992) — Michael Gugello took an option pitch from FGHS quarterback Chad Kirkhart and scored on a conversion with 5 seconds left, just after scoring from the 1. The TD was set up by Kirkhart’s pass to Bryce Minor. The Tigers lost both starters at offensive tackle, tight end, center and two linebackers and their kicker was playing with a broken big toe.

NO. 3: FORT GIBSON 42, SALLISAW 41, OT (1997) — No. 3 Sallisaw and the legendary coach Ron Lancaster led 35-14 before the Paul Wilson-led Tigers erupted for three touchdowns to force overtime. Lance Vann’s toss to a wide-open Eric Holuby was the game-winner. Lehman, then a sophomore, scored twice. It earned the Tigers their first district championship in 26 years.

NO. 4: FORT GIBSON 36, WAGONER 35 (2014) — Wagoner had rallied from a 14-0 deficit to lead 28-14 and again at 35-21 when Chris Walker scored for the fourth time on a run with 2:58 to get within a touchdown. Jordan London hit Will Rumbley from 16 yards out, then on the conversion with 34 seconds left. Wagoner quarterback Malcolm Rodriguez was intercepted by Colton Oliveras to secure the win.

NO. 5: FORT GIBSON 7, JAY 0 (1989) — The Tigers had lost 14 consecutive games, five to open the 1989 season. Jay entered the game No. 2 in the class. Coach Jerry Kerr changed from the wishbone to the i-formation and inserted Kirkhart at quarterback and Gugello at running back. Gugello finished with 171 yards rushing on 18 carries and Kirkhart had 134 yards passing, unheard of at the time for the FGHS run-oriented offense. Defensively, Bryan Holder intercepted three passes.

NO. 6: FORT GIBSON 20, STILWELL 13 (1997) — Fort Gibson’s first playoff win in 75 years of football. Nathan Marklow had two carries for 109 yards, one a 76-yard td.

NO. 7: FORT GIBSON 59, POTEAU 56 (2011) — Jon Cook batted down a Poteau pass as time expired after the Tigers and quarterback J.R. Singleton rolled up 526 yards of offense with running back Jake Gandara rushing for 228, 325 all-purpose yards.

NO. 8: FORT GIBSON 59, SALLISAW 42 (2012) — Gandara set a school rushing mark with 411 yards and six touchdowns. Fort Gibson finished with 529 rushing and 678 total yards.

NO. 9: FORT GIBSON 24, LOCUST GROVE 7 (1990) — Gugello rushed for 222 yards, senior defensive tackle Mike Reese recorded four sacks, and the Tigers dispatched fourth-ranked and 5-0 Locust Grove.

NO. 10: FORT GIBSON 28, COWETA 27 (2 OT) — In the 15th and last meeting between the two, the Tigers knocked off the No. 3 Tigers of a different color.