Purple Flyers Ended 40-Game Losing Streak

As talk of consolidation had been finalized and the new schools — Southmont and North Montgomery — were under construction, there was one final football season for the three county schools, which fielded teams.

Coal Creek, Ladoga and New Market, along with Crawfordsville, entered a new football season in the fall of 1970. For the first three of the schools listed it was bittersweet as it was their last season.

For one team — New Market — it meant they had just one season left to try to snap a long losing streak. Although it can’t be confirmed officially, it was believed to be one of the longest losing streaks in the state at that time. As the 1970 season began, the streak had stretched to 37 games according to the Journal Review over nearly four full years.

The Purple Flyers had its chances in the first few games of the 1970 seas9on to break the losing streak, but could never seem to get the big play at the right time.

In the season opener, it fell to North Putnam 14-12 as the Cougars stopped New Market with a great late-game defensive effort. Tom Lauy recovered a Cougar fumble with just 2:14 to play in the game on the Cougars’ 36. A pass interference call moved the ball to the 23 and then New Market running back John Roberts scampered into the end zone for what was thought to be the go-ahead score. However, it was called back because of a penalty. Following a couple of penalties against North Putnam, the Purple Flyers had the ball first-and-goal on the 9-yard line. Four straight running played failed to get the ball into the end zone as Robert was stopped about a yard short with 22 seconds and the streak continued.

The next week, New Market was shut out by North Vermillion 20-0 and then it had a game against Rockville and once again lost a close one 20-18 as the Purple Flyers missed on all three of its tries for 2-point conversions.

The streak had hit 40 and fans wondered if the Purple Flyers would ever taste victory before closing its doors forever. According to the current Indiana Football Coaches Association website, the 40 loses in a row would be the sixth-longest streak in the state for all-time although it does not list them in that position.

However, on Sept. 25, 1970, the streak ended against county rival Ladoga. New Market posted a 12-6 win to set off the celebration in the town of New Market. When New Market Coach Dave Scott was asked what he was going to do to celebrate he replied “I’m not sure, it’s been a long time.”

The Purple Flyers enjoyed winning that game so much that it pulled off its second win in a row the following week by defeating Coal Creek 8-6. In that game, the only New Market touchdown came on a 20-yard pass from Jerry Gilliand to Marvin Walters. In fact, the play worked so well the team used it again to score the conversion and took an 8-0 lead in the second quarter.

Coal Creek cut the lead to 8-6 in the fourth quarter when fullback Steve Padgett plunged in for the Bearcats’ score. New Market’s defense then sacked Coal Creek’s quarterback Bill Coon on the conversion attempt and that was the final score of the game.

The wins over Ladoga and Coal Creek gave the Purple Flyers the unofficial “county title.”

New Market did not win another game in the final five games, but did manage to tie Fountain Central 14-14 to end the final season with a 2-7-1 record and 2-5-1 in the Wabash River Conference.

In the other county showdown that final season, Ladoga handed Coal Creek an 8-0 loss on Oct. 16 for its only win of the season. Jeff Davidson scored the lone touchdown as he scored from two yards out in the first quarter and the Canners made that stand. The Ladoga defense did manage to record a safety in the first quarter and all the scoring took place in the opening period.

On the season, the Canners went on to finish the season with a 1-9 overall and 1-7 in the WRC. Coal Creek closed out the final season with a 2-6-1 record overall and 2-5-1 in the WRC.

Of course the following season, New Market and Ladoga teamed up with players from athletes from Waveland and New Ross to form the undefeated 10-0 Southmont football team.