1950-1999: Hudson's top football players recalled

By Bill Mullaly

The last 50 years have been a period of much greatness for the Hudson High football program. From 1950-1999 there have been many outstanding Tiger gridiron greats take to the field on Friday nights. Some were greater than others, at least in my opinion anyways. I’ve researched and have spent a considerable amount of time looking at the players and teams that have given Hudson football such a storied history. There is nothing I love more than to talk about greats from the past that put on the orange and black. This is a look back over the last 50 years at the truly magnificent players and teams that have made Hudson football synonymous with excellence. I’ve done my best to put together a “best of the last 50 years.” I hope you agree, but if you don’t you won’t be alone. Feel free to disagree and argue. But this is my team of Tigers that I would take to battle in a must win situation.

Best Offensive Players

Quarterback: Rick Rodehaver: He could do it all. Run, pass, punt and kick. He was all-state in 1968. He was a three-year star performer from 1966-68. and won numerous other all-LCAA and all-area honors.

Halfback: Jim Rickner: Three-time all-LCAA selection. Played from 1960-62. Once ran a touchdown 95 yards against Addison. Fast and an excellent athlete. Outstanding runner.

Fullback: Dan Bellfy: Three-year player from 1972-74. Nobody ran harder or blocked better from that position. Always made big plays in key games. Got the tough yards in the tight spots. Opposing defensive backs were scared to hit him, if he had a burst of speed coming at them.

Halfback: Bill Knapp: He’s a legend. Led team to state championship in 1956. An all-state choice as a junior. Had he not been injured and missed most of his senior year who knows how good he would have been.

Runningback: Mark Luma: Three-year standout from 1973-75. Tough runner with good speed. Suffered key injury in 1975 but still led team to national record winning streak. His streak-saving  touchdown at the buzzer against Grass Lake in 1974 is legendary.

Center: Todd Driskill: This is no sentimental choice because he no longer is with us. This guy was the best at snapping the ball. Over 1000 snaps without a fumble. He may be gone but the legacy of number 56 firing off the ball remains alive. A top performer in 1967-68.

Guard: Bill Deo: Played four years on the varsity from 1971-74. All-state selection in 1974. Tough, hard-nosed lineman who could block anybody. Fearless hitter, scared of nothing. His block along with Brad Hart got Luma into end zone at Grass Lake in 74’.

Tackle: Sheldon Peltier: Fans know of the great runs by Knapp and Bob Darr but it was Peltier who opened the holes. Played on '56 state title team. All-state honoree in 1956. One of the best of his era.

Guard: Mike Hepker: Outstanding blocker. Played three-years from 1969-71. Was such a superb blocker that coach Saylor moved him from guard to fullback his senior year to block from the backfield. Was even a harder hitter from a running start. His play saved the streak and kept it alive.

Tackle: Dan Kugler: This kid had it all in size and weight. Big and strong, plus he was well-skilled being the son of a coach. Played on 1982 team that had the best defense in school history. All-state choice for state playoff team in '82.

Tight end: Perry Cisco: Three-year performer from 1970-72. Great run blocker. Good hands and could make the tough catch. All-state end in 1972 when Tigers tied the state record for most wins at 44. Just as tough as defensive end on the other side of the ball.

Wide Receiver: Chris Hill: Played a key role connecting with Rodehaver for several scores in 1966-67. Two-time all-LCAA choice. Fast and had sure hands. His touchdown catch against Catholic Central in '67 sealed the win in one of the school’s biggest wins ever.

Flanker: Terry Barnhart: Top receiver in 1985-86. Scored several touchdowns on long runs after catches. Great speed and superb ability to go the distance after the catch. All-county and all-LCAA standout for 9-0 team in '85.

Punt Returner: Brad Terrill: Tiger fans will never forget the 97-yard punt return that he pulled off during the stunning upset of Onsted in 1993. Blazing speed and a threat to score each time the ball was in his hands.

Kickoff Returner: Brad Darr: Very good speed and he took one all the way back in 1986 for a score. Averaged over 21 yards a return in 86. Played key roles on the 1985-86 teams.

 Offensive MVP and captain: Chuck Redding: Best offensive player ever at Hudson. Four-year starter at quarterback 1954-57. Received numerous all-LCAA and all-county honors and was all-state honorable mention. Leader of '56 state championship squad. Outstanding three-sport star. He could do it all, especially on the gridiron.

Offensive coach: Roy Kramer: Led team to 1956 state championship in only season at Hudson. 

Best Defensive Players

End: John Barrett: Big hitter with great pass rush. Played from 1974-76. All-state selection in '76 season. Nobody got around his end.

Tackle: Sam Stucky: Three-year player from 1967-69. Tough against the run. Plugged the middle with the help of other tackle Steve Kingsley. Stucky was second team all-state in '69 season.

Tackle: Bill Johnston: Known as “Buck”. Three-year player from 1969-71. Never lost a game as a Hudson Tiger. Nearly impossible to block. All-county and all-LCAA.

End: Ric Goodrich: Played at same time as Johnston. Selected all-state in 1971 season. Quick, agile and tough. Keyed defense in '71 season. Great athlete. Put team above self by switching from quarterback to end in '71. Great receiver. His catch won the 8-0 Harper Woods game in '71.

Linebacker: John Marry: Superb tackler. Set school record for tackles in 1961 season. Loved to hit and tough against the run in the middle. Honorable mention All-State in 1961

Middle linebacker: Chris “Digger” Monahan: Played from 1973-75. Vicious hitter. Top tackler in 74-75 seasons. Afraid of nobody. Loved to stick people. Vociferous leader of some of Hudson’s best defenses.

Middle Linebacker: Rick Sherman: Played in 1971-73. Second leading tackler as sophomore and top tackler next two years. He was unbelievably tough. Legend has it he tackled trees without pads in the summer to get ready for the season.

Linebacker: Dan Toole: Great player. Hard to keep off the offensive team but had to have a spot. MVP in '67 season. Leading tackler in '67 and top rusher in 66-67 seasons. One of the all-time greats.

Halfback: Pat Luma: Three-year standout from 1971-73. He could come up and lay the hurt on runners. Vrey quick with a nose for the ball. All-state selection in 1973 season. Good cover man and nobody got by him.

Halfback: Dan Salamin: Two-year performer from 1974-75. Leader in interceptions both seasons. Outstanding athlete. Quarterback in '74-'75. Top receiver in '75, also. He could do it all. Had he not moved to Hudson in time for '74 season the streak might have ended. No longer with us but his memory still survives.

Safety: Jeff Sherman: Two-years in a row all-LCAA and all-county. Great coverage man and led team in interceptions as sophomore and junior. Played from 1968-70.

Punter: Dan Mullaly: Two-year punter from 1972-73. His kicks played a key role in keeping teams pinned in their own territory. His long, high, hanging punts against Addison and Manchester in 7'3 played big part in hard-fought 12-3 and 6-0 wins. Also, all-LCAA safety on defense.

Kicker: Craig Saylor: One of many fine kickers for Hudson teams. Played from 1985-86. Strong leg who could kick it deep. Also, an all-LCAA tackle on offense. Set school record with a 43-yard field goal

Defensive MVP and captain: Phil Lawrence: Played four years on the varsity from 1963-66. Lettered as a freshman in '63. It was the first time in over 10 years that had been done. Hard-hitting linebacker. MVP in '66 season. Tough runner. Helped turn the program around as captain in '66 season when Saylor took over. Would later become an outstanding head coach.

Defensive coach: Jack Finn: 1953-55. A 24-3 record and two LCAA titles. Would no doubt have led team to '56 state championship had he stayed.

Head coach: Tom Saylor: In 11 years he put together a record of 94-5-1. Numbers to this day that are still are hard to fathom. Ten LCAA crowns from 1967-76. Three state championships from 1972-74. He put together the greatest success story in Michigan prep football history by building a 72-game winning streak from 1968-75. That record lasted for almost 22 years. Considered a coaching icon to this day around Hudson.

“Best Player in the last 50 years” John Wollett:  He played and starred from 1968-70 as a linebacker and halfback. All-LCAA and all-county linebacker as a sophomore. As a junior he was all-LCAA, all-county and all-state as a halfback. Then in 1970 as a senior Wollett was all-everything. All-LCAA, all-county, two-time all-state first team. Finally, in the fall of 1970 he won an honor that clinched his selection as best Tiger in the last 50  years when he was named Sunkist Prep All-American. Hudson’s first and only All-American in football. There will probably never be another Tiger as great as number 36.