Here is Ron Montri’s story in The Monroe Evening News on Flat Rock’s 30-8 victory over Onaway in the Class C state football championship game in 1976.
PONTIAC – It was 7:40 p.m., more than an hour after Flat Rock had destroyed Onaway 30-8 for the Class C state football championship.
The players, fully dressed now, were milling around the dressing room, anxious for the victory reception in Flat Rock.
Everyone was waiting for coach Larry Dugan to finish dressing, and he didn’t seem to be in any hurry.
Watch the 1976 title game: Flat Rock wins state football championship
“Just another minute,” he ordered before shifting through a pile of clothes for the green T-shirt he had brought to the game. He found it, pulled it over his head and proudly displayed the lettering across the front: “FLAT ROCK, CLASS C STATE CHAMPIONS.”
“I got this from Adolph White,” Dugan announced. “He runs a gas station in Flat Rock and is one of our biggest athletic backers.”
Adolph and all the other Flat Rock people were certain the Rams were going to corner the school’s first state trophy. The had their signs and slogans all made up ahead of time.”
But did any of you figure it was going to be so easy?
Flat Rock, playing yet another nearly flawless game, controlled things from almost the word go.
It cracked over the goal line twice withing 90 seconds in the first quarter, stacked the lead up to 21-0 early in the second stanza and took more starch out of Onaway by holding at its own 6-yard line with 53 seconds to go in the half. A fumble recovery at the Flat Rock 38 – the Rams’ only turnover of the contest – set up the bid.
Al Summers joined O.J. Simpson in making it a big week for No. 32 in the Pontiac Silverdome by gaining 177 yards and Dave Steffen twice had kickoffs that reached the end zone. Pat McEnhill, thankful to be alive, let alone playing football (following carbon monoxide poisoning in the family home days early that claimed the life of his older sister) even scored a TD.
A stick-it-to-‘em defense held Colin (Super Stud) Freel to a mere 40 yards and Flat Rock ran so well behind a line that featured Mike Gamble, Jeff Brehmer, McEnhill, Bob Metty, Ron Gaynier, Phil Moss, Bob Teackens, Steffen and Doug Fater that it attempted only 3 passes.
Flat Rock easily could of done more damage in the air, but still finished with a 226-112 margin in total offense.
“We were ready to play football,” Dugan said simply. “When these guys fire out, nobody can stop us. I don’t care how many people you put on the line.”
Is there a Class C team in Michigan that could handle you, Larry?
“I think Marysville (which Flat Rock beat out for the right to represent the region) probably is the second-best team.
“We probably play the toughest Class C schedule in the state,” Dugan continued. “Playing in the Huron League really helps. It gives us that extra sharpness.”
He didn’t say it, but Flat Rock’s playoff games were among its easiest tilts. The Rams outclassed Galesburg-Augusta, 27-8, in the semifinals and were even more dominant against the 10-0 Cardinals.
“We didn’t play a very good game, but they’re the best we’ve faced,” acknowledged Onaway’s John Connell.
He was especially impressed with Summers and Steffen, Summers gaining 100 stripes in the first 15 minutes. He had a touchdown dash of 51 yards and also caught a 37-yard pass for a total offense of 214.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: From the archives: Monroe News story on Flat Rock 1976 football title