There’s a full moon on the horizon and a chill in the air. The team warms up on the pristine green turf in their gold, white and navy-blue uniforms while the sideline-walkers jockey for position. The atmosphere is electric. The band is playing “Hail to the Varsity” as the cheerleaders whip the packed house into a frenzy, anticipating another Wildcats victory.

After a three-year hiatus, the River Falls High School Alumni Association is back in action. Our next event will be a homecoming pregame gathering to celebrate with the players, coaches, managers, cheerleaders, band members and everyone associated with the football seasons of 1969-1974. The event will begin around 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, near the south end of Ramer Field near the old ticket booth and concession stand.

This season marks the 50th anniversary of the undefeated 1972 Wildcat squad that won the Middle Border Conference with a 7-0 re – cord (9-0 overall), scoring 302 points while allowing only 47 points. In total, 16 members of that ’72 squad were named all-conference, and the team was ranked 11th in the state at a time when there was only one division and no tournament playoffs.

One memory that stands out for me was in the second game of the season when RFHS played at St. Anthony High School in Minneapolis. Prior to kick-off, their students chant – ed “Hicks from the sticks!” But they became very quiet when their team was trailing 32-0 at halftime.

The 1969 team had only one loss on its record going into the final game of the sea – son at Durand. The Panthers were undefeated and had won 35 straight games. River Falls brought several busloads of students and the standing-room only crowd got their money’s worth that night as the mighty Wildcats pulled off the upset to earn a share of the Middle Border Conference championship. That team had 14 members earn all-conference honors.

The 1970 Wildcat squad with a 7-2 record that finished second to Baldwin-Woodville in the Middle Border Conference had 12 players named to the all-conference teams. That explosive team racked up 298 points and al – lowed only 72.

The 1973 team had a chance to tie for the conference championship going into the final game of the season against undefeated Hud- son, but the upset bid fell short leaving the Wildcats in second place with a 5-2 record (7-2 overall).

The Tom “TL” Linehan-led Wildcat foot – ball teams from those five seasons compiled an overall record of 39-6, won three conference championships and finished second twice. They outscored their opponents 1,256378 (an average final score of 28-8) and produced 70 all-conference players.

The RFHS Alumni Association invites everyone to join us on Sept. 23 to help celebrate the accomplishments and share memories of those glorious football seasons and stick around to cheer the current Wildcat team on to a homecoming victory over the Superior Spartans.

The 1972 River Falls High School football team, as seen here, proved to be one of the most prolific in school history. The Wildcats finished that season with a 7-0 record in the Middle Border Conference, 9-0 overall, and outscored opponents 302-47. Submitted photo

The River Falls High School football team celebrates with Hail to Victories after a victory during the undefeated 1972 season. Submitted photo