1946 Nebraska College Conference football season

The 1946 Nebraska College Conference football season was the season of college football played by the nine member schools of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) as part of the 1946 college football season. The Doane Tigers from Crete, Nebraska were led by head coach James L. Dutcher and compiled an overall record of 6–2–1 with a mark of 5–0–1 in conference play, winning the NCC championship. The Nebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen were led by head coach George W. Knight. They finished second in the conference with a 5–0–2 record in conference play and a mark of 7–0–3 overall in the regular season. They then lost to Pepperdine in the Will Rogers Bowl.

1946 Nebraska College Conference football season
Sport	Football
Number of teams	9
Champion	Doane

1946 Nebraska College Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Doane $	5	–	0	–	1			6	–	2	–	1
Nebraska Wesleyan	5	–	0	–	2			7	–	1	–	3
Kearney State	5	–	2	–	1			6	–	2	–	1
Peru State	4	–	3	–	1			4	–	4	–	1
Midland	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	4	–	0
Wayne State (NE)	2	–	3	–	0			4	–	3	–	0
Hastings	1	–	4	–	1			1	–	6	–	1
Chadron State	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
York (NE)	0	–	6	–	0			3	–	6	–	0
$ – Conference champion

None of the NCC teams was ranked in the Associated Press poll.

Conference overview

Conf. rank	Team	Head coach	Conf. record	Overall record	Points scored	Points against
1	Doane	James L. Dutcher	5–0–1	6–2–1	253	51
2	Nebraska Wesleyan	George W. Knight	4–0–2	7–1–3	169	37
3	Kearney State	Charlie Foster	5–2–1	6–2–1	116	49
4	Peru State	Alfred G. Wheeler	4–3–1	4–4–1	116	100
5	Midland	John Pfitsch	4–3	4–4	89	73
6	Wayne State (NE)	Don B. Emery	2–3	4–3	69	33
7	Hastings	Larry Owens	1–4–1	1–6–1	45	123
8	Chadron State	Ross O. Armstrong	1–5	3–7	70	230
9	York (NE)	Rolland E. Tonkin	0–6	3–6	92	138

^[1]

Teams

Doane

1946 Doane Tigers football
NCC champion
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	6–2–1 (5–0–1 NCC)
Head coach	James L. Dutcher (5th season)
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Doane Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Doane University as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach James L. Dutcher, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record (5–0–1 against NCC opponents), won the NCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 136 to 78.^[2][3]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 20	at Simpson*	Indianola, IA	L 0–14		[4]
September 28	Peru State		W 12–0		[5]
October 4	York (NE)	Crete, NE	W 12–6		[6]
October 12	Hastings	Crete, NE	T 19–19
October 18	at Wayne State (NE)	Wayne, NE	W 7–6		[7]
October 25	Kearney State	Kearney, NE	W 13–7		[8]
November 1	Dakota Wesleyan*	Crete, NE	L 7–19		[9]
November 15	Chadron State	Crete, NE	W 21–0		[10]
November 28	at Roswell Army Air Force*	Roswell, NM	W 45–7		[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Nebraska Wesleyan

1946 Nebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen football
Will Rogers Bowl, L 13–38 vs. Pepperdine
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	7–1–3 (4–0–2 NCC)
Head coach	George W. Knight
Home stadium	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Nebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen football team represented Nebraska Wesleyan University as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach George W. Knight, the Plainsmen compiled a 7–1–3 (4-0-2 against NCC opponents), outscored opponent by a total of 169 to 37, and finished second in the NCC. They were invited to play in the Will Rogers Bowl in Oklahoma City on New Year's Day, losing to Pepperdine by a 38–13 score.^[12]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 21	Morningside*	Sioux City, IA	W 13–6	3,500	[13]
September 28	Simpson*	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	T 6–6	4,000	[14]
October 4	at Nebraska Central	Central City, NE	W 33–0
October 12	at Kearney State	Kearney, NE	T 6–6		[15]
October 18	Midland	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	W 7–6		[16]
October 25	Tarkio*	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	W 20–7		[17]
November 1	at Peru State	Peru, NE	T 6–6
November 8	at York	York, NE	W 26–0
November 15	Hastings	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	W 19–0		[18]
November 22	Chadron State	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	W 33–0		[19]
January 1, 1947	vs. Pepperdine*	Taft Stadium Oklahoma City, OK	L 13–38	800	[20]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Kearney State

1946 Kearney State Antelopes football
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	6–2–1 (5–2–1 NCC)
Head coach	Charlie Foster
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Kearney State Antelopes football team represented Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney (now known as University of Nebraska at Kearney) as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Charlie Foster, the Antelopes compiled a 6–2–1 record (5-2-1 against NCC opponents), outscored opponent by a total of 116 to 49, and finished third in the NCC.^[21]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
September 20	York	Kearney, NE	W 16–0	[22]
	Hastings		W 7–0
October 5	Chadron State	Kearney, NE	W 14–0	[23]
October 12	Nebraska Wesleyan	Kearney, NE	T 6–6
	Sterling		W 32–0
October 25	Doane	Kearney, NE	L 7–13	[8]
November 2	at Wayne State (NE)	Wayne, NE	W 14–12	[24]
November 9	at Peru State	Peru, NE	W 20–12	[25]
November 15	Midland		L 0–6

Peru State

1946 Peru State Bobcats football
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	4–4–1 (4–3–1 NCC)
Head coach	Alfred G. Wheeler
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Peru State Bobcats football team represented Peru State Teachers College (now known as Peru State College) as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Alfred G. Wheeler, the Bobcats compiled a 4–4–1 record (4-3-1 against NCC opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 116 to 100, and finished fourth in the NCC.^[26]

Other coaches included Wayne Riggs. For the prior three years, Navy V-12 students comprised the majority of Peru's football team. With the 1946, the team returned to non-military status.^[27]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
September 20	at Colorado College*	Washburn Field Colorado Springs, CO	L 7–40	[28]
September 28	Doane		L 0–12	[5]
	Midland		W 19–6
	Wayne State (NE)		L 0–7
	Chadron State		W 26–6
	Hastings		W 14–0
November 1	Nebraska Wesleyan	Peru, NE	T 6–6
November 9	Kearney State	Peru, NE	L 12–20	[25]
	York		W 32–3
*Non-conference game

Midland

1946 Midland Warriors football
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	4–4 (4–3 NCC)
Head coach	John Pfitsch
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Midland Warriors football team represented Midland University of Fremont, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach John Pfitsch, the Warriors compiled a 4–4 record (4-3 against NCC opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 89 to 73, and finished fifth in the NCC.^[29]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
September 20	Bethany (KS)*	Fremont, NE	L 4–13	[30]
	Wayne State (NE)		L 0–13
	Peru State		L 6–19
	York		W 20–14
October 18	at Nebraska Wesleyan	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	L 6–7
	Chadron State		W 40–6
	Hastings		W 7–0
November 15	Kearney State		W 6–0
*Non-conference game

Wayne State

1946 Wayne State Wildcats football
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	4–3 (2–3 NCC)
Head coach	Don B. Emery
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Wayne State Wildcats football team represented Midland University of Wayne, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Don B. Emery, the Warriors compiled a 4–3 record (2-3 against NCC opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 69 to 33, and finished sixth in the NCC.^[31]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
	South Dakota Wesleyan*		W 13–0
	Midland		W 13–0
October 5	at South Dakota*	Inman Field Vermillion, SD	W 12–0	[32]
	Peru State		W 7–0
October 18	Doane	Wayne, NE	L 6–7	[7]
	Kearney State		L 12–14
	Chadron State		L 6–12
*Non-conference game

Hastings

1946 Hastings Broncos football
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	1–6–1 (1–4–1 NCC)
Head coach	Larry Owens
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Hastings Broncos football team represented Hastings College of Hastings, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Larry Owens, the Broncos compiled a 1–6–1 record (1–4–1 against NCC opponents), were outscored by a total of 123 to 45, and finished seventh in the NCC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
September 20	at Washburn (KS)*	Topeka, KS	L 0–25	[33]
	Kearney State		L 0–7
October 5	at Western State (CO)*	Gunnison, CO	L 7–19	[34]
October 12	at Doane	Crete, NE	T 19–19
	Peru State		L 0–14
	York		W 19–13
	Midland		L 0–7
November 15	at Nebraska Wesleyan	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	L 0–19	[18]
*Non-conference game

Chadron State

1946 Chadron State Eagles football
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	3–7 (1–5 NCC)
Head coach	Ross O. Armstrong
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 Chadron State Eagles football team represented Chadron State College of Chadron, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Ross O. Armstrong, the Eagles compiled a 3–7 record (1–5 against NCC opponents), were outscored by a total of 230 to 70, and finished eighth in the NCC.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
	South Dakota Tech*		W 19–6
September 28	Colorado State–Greeley*	Elliott Field Chadron, NE	L 8–46	[35]
October 5	at Kearney State	Kearney, NE	L 0–14	[23]
	Black Hills State*		W 19–0
	Peru State		L 6–26
	Midland		L 6–40
November 2	at Western State (CO)*	Gunnison, CO	L 0–38	[36]
	Wayne State (NE)		W 12–6
November 15	at Doane	Crete, NE	L 0–21	[10]
November 22	at Nebraska Wesleyan	O. N. Magee Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	L 0–33	[19]
*Non-conference game

York

1946 York Panthers football
Conference	Nebraska College Conference
Record	3–6 (0–6 NCC)
Head coach	Rolland E. Tonkin
Seasons ← 1945 1947 →

The 1946 York Panthers football team represented York University of York, Nebraska, as a member of the Nebraska College Conference (NCC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by head coach Rolland E. Tonkin, the Eagles compiled a 3–6 record (0–6 against NCC opponents), were outscored by a total of 138 to 92, and finished last in the NCC.

All-conference team

The United Press (UP) and the NCC coaches each selected 1946 All-Nebraska College Conference football teams. NCC champion Doane did not place any players on the UP team. The all-conference picks were as follows:^[37][38]

• Quarterback: Rex Mercer, Nebraska Wesleyan (UP)
• Halfbacks: Dick Peterson, Kearney (UP, Coaches); Johnny Warwick, Hastings (Coaches); Revoe Hill, Midland (UP, Coaches)
• Fullback: Al Butterfield, Chadron (UP, Coaches)
• Ends: John Rumbaugh, Kearney (UP, Coaches); Rich Clough, Midland (UP); Orville Yocup, Peru (Coaches)
• Tackles: Bob Westphal, Wayne (UP, Coaches); Everett Poe, Nebraska Wesleyan (UP); Don Redman, Doane (Coaches)
• Guards: Wayne Linder, Peru (UP); Ralph Patterson, Kearney (UP, Coaches); Dick Uphoff, Hastings (Coaches)
• Center: Cliff Squires, Nebraska Wesleyan (UP, Coaches)

References

1. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 132.
2. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 174.
3. "Hard Race For First...In NCC". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. November 11, 1946. p. 10. Retrieved December 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
4. Frank Miles Jr. (September 21, 1946). "Doane Fed 14 to 0 Pill By Redmen". The Des Moines Register. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Doane's Win Insures Wide Open Race". Lincoln Journal Star. September 30, 1946. p. 10.
6. "Doane Tigers Crush York Eleven 12-6". The Nebraska State Journal. October 5, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Doane Nips Wayne, 7-6; Peru Wins". Norfolk Daily News. October 19, 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Doane Tigers Head Nebraska College Race: Kearney Bows 13-7 In Gridiron Upset; Peru Tops Hastings". The Beatrice Times. October 27, 1946. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Dakotans Stop Doane, 19 to 7". Lincoln Journal Star. November 2, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Doane Tigers Top Chadron by 21-0". The Nebraska State Journal. November 16, 1946. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Doane Tigers Rout Roswell AAF, 45 to 7". Lincoln Journal Star. November 29, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
12. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 201.
13. "Plainsmen Ramble Past Morningside". The Lincoln Star. September 22, 1946. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Jim May (September 29, 1946). "Plainsmen, Simpson in 6-6 Deadlock". The Nebraska State Journal. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Knight's Plainsmen Spoil Kearney's Clean Slate 6-6". The Lincoln Star. October 13, 1946. pp. 1B, 3B – via Newspapers.com.
16. Walt Panko (October 19, 1946). "Wesleyan Wins 7-6: Plainsmen Halt Midland to Remain Undefeated; 3,000 at Homecoming". The Lincoln Star. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
17. Walt Panko (October 26, 1946). "Plainsmen Roll On: Wesleyan Scores in First Three Periods to Halt Tarkio Club, 20-7". The Lincoln Star. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
18. Walt Panko (November 16, 1946). "Wesleyan Is Victor: Plainsmen Blank Hastings Broncs 19-0 To Remain in Unbeaten Ranks". The Lincoln Star. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Wesleyan Wins Over Chadron By 33-0 Count". Chadron Record. November 26, 1946. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Plainsmen Fall". Will Rogers Bowl 38-13. Lincoln Star. January 2, 1947. p. 10. Retrieved January 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
21. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 200.
22. "Kearney Scores Win Over York Panthers: Teachers Chalk Up 16-0 Win In Season's Opener At Kearney Last Night". The York Daily News-Times. September 21, 1946. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Kearney Whips Chadron State In Loop Fray". Chadron Record. October 8, 1946. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Antelopes Nudge Wayne Wildcats By 14-12 Count". The Nebraska State Journal. November 3, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Antelopes Tip Peru 20 to 12 in NCC Mix". the Nebraska State Journal. November 10, 1946. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
26. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 200.
27. "Sixty-Eight Answer PSTC Football Call". The Peru Pointer. September 5, 1946. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Peru Outclassed". Evening World-Herald. September 21, 1946. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
29. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 196.
30. "Swedes' Drives too Much for Pfitsch 11, Midland Loses, 13-4". Fremont (Neb.) Guide and Tribune. September 21, 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
31. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1947). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1947. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 201.
32. Phil Devany (October 6, 1946). "Wayne Power Sinks USD Eleven 12-0: Nebraska Trio Performs Brilliantly in Downing Coyotes". Argus-Leader. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Washburn Opens with Win Over Hastings". The Emporia Gazette. September 21, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "HC Loses In Colo.: Falls Before Western, 19-7". The Hastings Collegian. October 9, 1946. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Colorado '11' Defeats Eagles by 46-8 Score". The Chadron Record. October 1, 1946. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Western State Wins Over Chadron State By 38 To 0 Count". The Chadron Record. November 5, 1946. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
37. Jim Hughes (November 22, 1946). "3 Plainsmen Selected for N.C. Honors". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
38. "Wesleyan Ace Squires Gets All-Star Spot". The Lincoln Star. November 22, 1946. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.