Replays goes back 40 years, recapping the 1967 high school football season of the Helena Central Cougars.

Central was formerly Helena Cathedral High, which had relocated from the school next to the Cathedral church in 1966, to its new location at the present-day site of Capital High. The Cougars, who had previously played their home games at Legion Park, were now competing on the newly constructed field just north of the school, now known as Tuss Field.

Helena Central was one of the smallest schools in Class A.

"I remember helping out when they hauled a bunch of sod from a dairy farm in the valley to that location (Tuss Field), and we used it as our practice field our freshman and sophomore years," said Joe Filson, who was an HCHS junior interior lineman four decades ago. Filson, who was a member of the only class to spend four years at Central (the school disbanded after the spring of 1969), said that prior that the team had practiced at the site of the Memorial Park skating rink.

New additions to the Central facility in the summer of 1967 were a gravel and cinder oval track, a surrounding chain link fence, and temporary bleachers, seating 400 spectators.

Under coach Cecil "Jim" Deming, HCHS opened the season with a 4-0 victory over perennial powerhouse Missoula Loyola in the Garden City. Cougars' defensive backs Dave Nickel and Tim Murray produced a safety apiece, tackling Ram players in the end zone twice. Nickel added an interception and a sack. Also standing out on defense were linebackers Mike McCabe and Tony Hunthausen.

After a 20-0 loss to Libby, Central gained 510 yards rushing in a 50-7 romp over Columbia Falls. The game started rather auspiciously for the locals, when the Wildcats' Joe Konan returned the opening kickoff back 82 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. But that was the last of their scoring.

The Cougars were led by fullback Jules Harrell, who ran for 195 yards and produced three TDs n two rushing and an 85-yard punt return. Halfbacks Nick Jacques and Tom Power accounted for two TDs each, while Jacques kicked a 17-yard field goal and booted five extra points. The defense, which recovered five fumbles, was paced by Nickel, Joe Filson, Mick Robinson and Joe Serati.

In a 6-0 loss to Hamilton, HCHS lineman Charlie Poole compiled 20 total tackles. The Cougars next downed Anaconda Central, 19-6. Quarterback Jim Manion ran for an 11-yard score, Nickel reached paydirt on a 30-yard sweep around right end, and Harrell provided a 2-yard plunge. Bob Applegate n who later starred for Carroll College and is a former head coach of the Flathead Braves n scored the Saints TD.

After a scoreless first half, Central QB Dave Nickel fired a pair of touchdown passes, to Bert Glueckert and Tom Garden, in a 14-0 shutout win over Dillon. Deming praised the defensive work of Garden, Greg Hahn, Tim Crawford, Poole, Nickel and Robinson.

In a 19-6 victory over Whitefish, scoring for HCHS were Jules Harrell on a 2-yard dive, a 42-yard strike from Jim Manion to Glueckert, and Tom Miller's 28-yard run. The Cougars intercepted four Bulldog passes, by Joe Serati, Jacques, Dave Roberts and Crawford.

HCHS closed their season with a 20-7 triumph over Deer Lodge, behind the scoring of Jacques, on a 2-yard plunge; Glueckert, on a 22 yard pass from Manion; and Charlie Poole, recovering a Warden fumble in the end zone, forced by Jacques and Mick Robinson.

The Cougars finished with a 6-2 overall record, and third (4-2) in the Western A Division. Selected as team MVP and the best offensive player was Jules Harrell. Harrell's father, Art Harrell, had helped integrate the local City Baseball League back in 1932. Dr. Jules Harrell has been a longtime professor of psychology at Howard University, where he authored the book, "Manichian Psychology: Racism and the Minds of People of African Descent."

Mick Robinson was named the outstanding defensive player, while Mike McCabe was voted the most inspirational. Making the 1967 all-conference team were Nick Jacques, Mick Robinson and Phil Grainey.

Some of the remaining regulars 40 years ago were Kenny McLaughlin, Dan Noel, Dave DeWolf, Tim Hays and Brad Luck.

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150, email curt52s@bresnan.net.