1961 Oregon Collegiate Conference football season

The 1961 Oregon Collegiate Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Oregon Collegiate Conference (OCC) as part of the 1961 college football season. The 1961 Southern Oregon Red Raiders football team, led by head coach Al Akins, compiled an undefeated 4–0 record in conference games (1–4 in non-conference games) and won the OCC conference championship.^[1][2]

1961 Oregon Collegiate Conference football season
Sport	Football
Number of teams	5
Champion	Southern Oregon

1961 Oregon Collegiate Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Southern Oregon $	4	–	0	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Oregon College of Education	2	–	1	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Portland State	2	–	2	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
Oregon Tech	1	–	2	–	1			4	–	4	–	1
Eastern Oregon	0	–	4	–	0			1	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion

Southern Oregon led the OCC in total offense with 3,037 yards, an average of 337.4 yards per game. Oregon Tech led the conference defensively, giving up an average of 256.1 yards per game in total defense and 152.7 yards per game in rushing defense.

The 1961 OCC all-conference team was led by Southern Oregon with seven players named to the first team and Oregon College of Education (OCE) with six first-team honorees. Southern Oregon quarterback Doug Olsen set new OCC records with 1,377 passing yards and 1,462 yards of total offense. OCE halfback Bob Pennel also set a new conference record with 864 rushing yards. Portland State's Bill White was the OCC scoring leader with 84 points. Southern Oregon end Howard Hartman was the OCC's leading receiver with 51 receptions for 631 yards.^[3]

Conference overview

Conf. rank	Team	Head coach	Conf. record	Overall record	Points scored	Points against	Total offense (yds/game)	Total defense (yds/game)
1	Southern Oregon	Al Akins	4–0	5–4	200	140	337.4	272.5
2	Oregon College of Education	Bill McArthur	2–1–1	4–3–1	159	132	296.8	287.8
3	Portland State	Hugh Smithwick	2–2	3–5	141	222	279.0	339.8
4	Oregon Tech	Rex Hunsaker	1–2–1	4–4–1	84	139	194.6	256.1
5	Eastern Oregon	Archie Dunsmoor	0–4	1–7	80	210	179.8	318.7

^[4][3]

Teams

Southern Oregon

1961 Southern Oregon Red Raiders football
OCC champion
Conference	Oregon Collegiate Conference
Record	5–4 (4–0 OCC)
Head coach	Al Akins (7th season)
Home stadium	Fuller Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Southern Oregon Red Raiders football team represented Southern Oregon College (now known as Southern Oregon University) of Ashland, Oregon. In their seventh year under head coach Al Akins, the team compiled a 5–4 record (4–0 against OCC opponents) and won the OCC championship.

Seven Southern Oregon players were named to the 1961 OCC all-conference team: quarterback Doug Olsen; fullback Al Barnes; ends Howard Hartman and Dave Hughes; defensive end Jess Munyon; linebacker John Buck; and defensive halfback Doyle Branson.^[5]

Olsen set OCC records with 1,377 passing yards and 1,462 yards of total offense. End Howard Hartman was the OCC's leading receiver with 51 receptions for 631 yards.^[3]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	at Chico State*	College Field Chico, CA	L 0–27	3,800	[6]
September 23	at Linfield*	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	L 25–34		[7]
September 30	Lewis & Clark*	Fuller Field Ashland, OR	L 26–28		[8]
October 7	at Sacramento State*	Charles C. Hughes Stadium Sacramento, CA	L 6–25	3,000	[9]
October 14	at Portland State	Portland, OR	W 39–19		[10]
October 21	Oregon Tech	Fuller Field Ashland, OR	W 6–0		[11][12]
October 28	Oregon College of Education	Fuller Field Ashland, OR	W 26–7		[13]
November 4	at Eastern Oregon	La Grande, OR	W 39–0		[14]
November 11	at Pacific (OR)*	McCready Stadium Forest Grove, OR	W 33–0		[15][16]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[17]

Oregon College of Education

1961 Oregon College of Education Wolves football
Conference	Oregon Collegiate Conference
Record	4–3–1 (2–1–1 OCC)
Head coach	Bill McArthur (6th season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Oregon College of Education Wolves football team represented Oregon College of Education (commonly referred to as "OCE", now known as Western Oregon University) of Monmouth, Oregon. In their sixth year under head coach Bill McArthur, the team compiled a 4–3–1 record (2–1–1 against OCC opponents) and finished in second place in the OCC.

Six OCE players were named to the 1961 OCC all-conference football team: halfback Bob Pennel; tackle Herb Harmann; center Francis Tresler; defensive end Frank Colburn; and defensive halfbacks Dick Wildfang.^[5]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 30	at Linfield	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	L 7–13		[18]
October 7	Eastern Oregon	Monmouth, OR	W 34–14		[19]
October 14	at Pacific (OR)	Forest Grove, OR	W 27–14		[20]
October 21	Portland State	Monmouth, OR	W 26–24		[21]
October 28	at Southern Oregon	Fuller Field Ashland, OR	L 7–26		[13]
November 4	at Oregon Tech	Modoc Field Klamath Falls, OR	T 7–7		[22]
November 11	Lewis & Clark	Monmouth, OR	L 13–28		[23]
November 18	Lower Columbia JC	Monmouth, OR	W 38–6		[24]
Homecoming

^[25]

Portland State

1961 Portland State Vikings football
Conference	Oregon Collegiate Conference
Record	3–5 (2–2 OCC)
Head coach	Hugh Smithwick (3rd season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Portland State Vikings football team represented Portland State College (now known as Portland State University) of Portland, Oregon. In their third and final year under head coach Hugh Smithwick, the team compiled a 3–5 record (2–2 against OCC opponents) and finished in third place in the OCC.

Four Portland State players were named to the 1961 OCC all-conference team: halfback Bill White; tackle Bob Williams; defensive tackle Mike Hafterson; and linebacker Bob Holcomb.^[5]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Lewis & Clark*	Roosevelt HS field Portland, OR	L 6–39	2,300	[26]
September 30	at Nevada*	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	L 20–41	4,000	[27]
October 7	Oregon Tech	Portland, OR	W 13–7		[28]
October 14	Southern Oregon	Portland, OR	L 19–39		[10]
October 21	Oregon College of Education	Monmouth, OR	L 24–26		[21]
October 28	at Eastern Oregon	La Grande, OR	W 27–7		[29]
November 11	Linfield*	Maxwell Field McMinnville, OR	L 19–55		[30]
November 18	Western Washington*	Portland, OR	W 13–7		[31]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[32]

Oregon Tech

1961 Oregon Tech Owls football
Conference	Oregon Collegiate Conference
Record	4–4–1 (1–2–1 OCC)
Head coach	Rex Hunsaker (2nd season)
Home stadium	Modoc Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Oregon Tech Owls football team represented Oregon Tehnical Institute (now known as Oregon Institute of Technology) of Klamath Falls, Oregon. In their second year under head coach Rex Hunsaker, the team compiled a 4–4–1 record (1–2–1 against OCC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the OCC.

Four Oregon Tech players, all on defense, were selected to the 1961 OCC all-conference team: defensive tackle Jim Madden; guard W. Winterbottom; linebacker Jack Williams; and defensive halfbacks Andrew Cook.^[5]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Westminster (ID)*	Modoc Field Klamath Falls, WA	W 12–6		[33]
September 23	at Whitworth*	Spokane, WA	L 0–47		[34]
September 30	Grays Harbor*	Modoc Field Klamath Falls, OR	W 14–7		[35]
October 7	at Portland State	Portland, OR	L 7–13		[28]
October 14	Eastern Oregon	Modoc Field Klamath Falls, OR	W 25–13		[36]
October 21	Southern Oregon	Ashland, OR	L 0–6		[11][12]
October 28	at Humboldt State	Redwood Bowl Arcata, CA	L 7–41	4,500	[37]
November 4	Oregon College of Education	Modoc Field Klamath Falls, OR	T 7–7		[22]
November 11	College of Idaho*	Modoc Field Klamath Falls, OR	W 12–6		[38]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[39]

Eastern Oregon

1961 Eastern Oregon Mountaineers football
Conference	Oregon Collegiate Conference
Record	1–7 (0–4 OCC)
Head coach	Archie Dunsmoor (7th season)
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

The 1961 Eastern Oregon Mountaineers football team represented Eastern Oregon College (now known as Eastern Oregon University) of La Grande, Oregon. In their seventh year under head coach Archie Dunsmoor, the team compiled a 1–7 record (0–4 against OCC opponents) and finished in last place in the OCC.

Eastern Oregon offensive guard Gordon Meyers was named to the 1961 OCC all-conference football team.^[5]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	College of Idaho*	La Grande, OR	L 0–14		[40]
September 30	at Whitman*	Walla Walla, WA	W 19–13		[41]
October 7	at Oregon College of Education	Monmouth, OR	L 14–34		[19][42]
October 14	at Oregon Tech	Klamath Falls, OR	L 13–25		[36]
October 21	at Olympic JC*	Bremerton, WA	L 7–18		[43]
October 28	Portland State	La Grande, OR	L 7–27		[29]
November 4	Southern Oregon	La Grande, OR	L 0–39		[14]
November 11	Columbia Basin*	La Grande, OR	L 20–40		[44]
*Non-conference game

^[45]

Statistical leaders

Team statistics

Total offense

1. Southern Oregon - 3,037 yards (337.4 yards per game) on 605 plays
2. OCE - 2,375 yards (296.8 yards per game) on 457 plays
3. Portland State - 2,232 yards (279.0 yards per game) on 527 plays
4. Oregon Tech - 1,752 yards (194.6 yards per game) on 508 plays
5. Eastern Oregon - 1,439 yards (179.8 yards per game) on 447 plays

^[3]

Rush offense

1. OCE - 1,777 yards (222.1 yards per game)
2. Southern Oregon - 1,612 yards (179.1 yards per game)
3. Portland State - 1,401 yards (175.1 yards per game)
4. Oregon Tech - 1,313 yards (145.8 yards per game)
5. Eastern Oregon - 898 yards (112.2 yards per game)

^[3]

Pass offense

1. Southern Oregon - 1,425 yards
2. Portland State - 831 yards
3. OCE - 598 yards
4. Eastern Oregon - 541 yards
5. Oregon Tech - 439 yards

^[3]

Total defense

1. Oregon Tech - 2,305 yards (256.1 yards per game) on 513 plays
2. Southern Oregon - 2,453 yards (272.5 yards per game) on 550 plays
3. OCE - 2,303 yards (287.8 yards per game) on 489 plays
4. Eastern Oregon - 2,550 yards (318.7 yards per game) on 522 plays
5. Portland State - 2,719 yards (339.8 yards per game) on 497 plays

^[3]

Rush defense

1. Oregon Tech - 1,375 yards (152.7 yards per game)
2. OCE - 1,364 yards (170.5 yards per game)
3. Southern Oregon - 1,572 yards (174.6 yards per game)
4. Eastern Oregon - 1,688 yards (191.3 yards per game)
5. Portland State - 1,876 yards (234.5 yards per game)

^[3]

Pass defense

1. Southern Oregon - 65 completions, 881 yards, 417 completion pct.
2. Oregon Tech - 68 completions, 930 yards, .524 completion pct.
3. Portland State - 54 completions, 843 yards, .403 completion pct.
4. Eastern Oregon - 59 completions, 862 yards, .476 completion pct.
5. OCE - 75 completions, 939 yards, .490 completion pct.

^[3]

Individual statistics

Scoring

1. Bill White, Portland State - 84 points (14 TD)
2. Al Barnes, Southern Oregon - 60 points (10 TD)
3. Bob Pennel, OCE - 48 points (6 TD)
4. Clayton Ladd, OCE - 48 points (6 TD)
5. Howard Hartman, Southern Oregon - 43 points (6 TD, 1 PAT)

^[3]

Rushing

1. Bob Pennel, OCE - 864 yards on 151 carries (5.7 yards per carry)
2. White, Portland State - 851 yards on 144 carries (5.9 yards per carry)
3. Al Barnes, Southern Oregon - 727 yards on 142 carries (5.1 yards per carry)
4. Showers, Eastern Oregon - 545 yards on 157 carries (3.4 yards per carry)
5. Ladd, OCE - 533 yards on 114 carries (4.6 yards per carry)

^[3]

Passing

1. Doug Olsen, Southern Oregon - 103 of 195 passing for 1,377 yards
2. Grant, Portland State - 56 of 145 passing for 828 yards
3. Ransome, Oregon Tech - 44 of 125 passing for 440 yards
4. Burns, OCE - 40 of 67 passing for 569 yards
5. Showers, Eastern Orego - 31 of 190 passing for 311 yards

^[3]

Receiving

1. Howard Hartman, Southern Oregon - 51 receptions for 611 yards and six touchdowns
2. Huges, Southern Oregon - 32 receptions for 445 yards and 2 touchdowns
3. Bates, Eastern Oregon - 17 receptions for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns
4. Myers, Oregon Tech - 11 receptions for 177 yards and 1 touchdown
5. Weber, Portland State - 10 receptions for 129 yards and 3 touchdowns

^[3]

All-conference selections

After the season, the conference coaches selected their 1961 all-conference team consisting of the following players:

Offense

• Quarterback - Doug Olsen, sophomore, Southern Oregon
• Fullback - Al Barnes, junior, Southern Oregon
• Halfbacks - Bill White, sophomore, Portland State; Bob Pennel, junior, Oregon College of Education
• Ends - Howard Hartman, sophomore, Southern Oregon; Dave Hughes, junior, Southern Oregon
• Tackles - Bob Williams, senior, Portland State; Herb Hermann, senior, Oregon College of Education
• Guards - Gordon Meyers, senior, Eastern Oregon; Jerry Gilman, senior, Oregon College of Education;
• Center Francis Tresler, senior Oregon College of Education

Defense

• Defensive ends - Jess Munyon, junior, Southern Oregon; Frank Colburn, senior, Oregon College of Education
• Defensive tackles - Jim Madden, senior, Oregon Tech; Mike Hafterson, sophomore, Portland State
• Guard - W. Winterbottom, junior, Oregon Tech
• Linebackers - John Buck, junior, Southern Oregon; Bob Holcomb, senior, Portland State; Jack Williams, sophomore, Oregon Tech
• Defensive halfbacks - Doyle Bransom, Southern Oregon; Andrew Cook, senior, Oregon Tech; Dick Wildfang, freshman, Oregon College of Education

^[5]

References

1. "Doug Olsen Gains OCC Back Honor". Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. November 10, 1961. p. 13. Retrieved October 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
2. "The Owler 1962". The Owler. Klamath Falls, Oregon: Oregon Institute of Technology: 70. 1962. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
3. "White Takes Over Pennel's Crown As OCC's Top Scorer". Statesman. November 25, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Official Collegiate Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 65.
5. "Owls Rate Four All-Conference Berths". Herald and News. December 1, 1961. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Eddie Booth (September 18, 1961). "Wildcats Throttle Red Raiders, 27-0". Enterprise-Record. pp. 4B, 5B – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Wildcats Dump SOC". Herald and Press. September 24, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Pioneers Nose Out Red Raiders 28-26". Medford Mail Tribune. October 2, 1961. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Tom Horton. "Hornets Click to Trim Southern Oregon 25-6". The Sacramento Union. pp. 1S, 2S – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Raiders Chalk Up Victory". Herald and News. October 15, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
11. Wayne Scott (October 22, 1961). "Red Raiders Shade Oregon Tech 6-0". Herald and News. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
12. "SOC Likcs OTI 6-0". Statesman. October 22, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "SOC Trips OCE 26-7". Statesman. October 29, 1961. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Red Raiders Whip Mountaineers 39-0". Statesman. November 5, 1961. p. II-14 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "SOC Downs Pacific 33-0". Statesman. November 12, 1961. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "SOC Blanks Pacific In Gridiron Finale". Medford Mail Tribune. November 13, 1961. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
17. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 158.
18. "Wildcats Get Past Wolves 13-7". The Oregon Statesman. October 1, 1961. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
19. Ron Blankenbaker (October 8, 1961). "OCE Win Sparked By Pennel". Statesman. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Oregon College Tops Pacific Eleven 27-14". Statesman. October 15, 1961. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "OCE Wins Wild Game". Statesman. October 22, 1961. pp. 11 12 – via Newspapers.com.
22. Wayne Scott (November 5, 1961). "Owls, Wolves Prove Nothing In 7-7 Tie: Homecoming Tilt Is Defense Battle". Herald and News. p. 6A – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Lewis and Clark Subdues Oregon College 28-13". Statesman. November 12, 1961. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "OCE Ends Season In 38-6 Contest". Statesman. November 19, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
25. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 127.
26. "Pioneers Rip PSC 39-6". Statesman. September 24, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
27. "Nevada Clubs Portland St. in 41-20 Clash". Nevada State Journal. October 1, 1961. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Oregon Tech Stumbles To Vikings In OCC Opener". Herald and News. October 8, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
29. Dale Conklin (October 30, 1961). "Vikings Post 27-7 Victory Over Eastern Oregon College". La Grande Observer. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Linfield in 55-19 Win Over PSC". The Oregon Statesman. November 12, 1961. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "PSC Upsets Viks, 13-7". Statesman. November 19, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
32. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 128.
33. "OTI Owls Top Westminster In 12-6 'Squeaker'". Herald and News. September 17, 1961. p. 7A – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Owls Run Into Pirate Buzz Saw, Lose 47-0". Herald and News. September 24, 1961. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
35. Floyd L. Wynne (October 1, 1961). "Alert Techmen Take Breaks, Beat Chokers 14-0". Herald and Press. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
36. Wayne Scott (October 15, 1961). "Oregon Tech Mauls Mounts 25-13 For First OCC Victory". Herald and News. p. 1D – via Newspaper.com.
37. Don Terbush (October 30, 1961). "Humboldt State Captures Fifth Grid Win Of Season". Eureka Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. p. 23. Retrieved April 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
38. Wayne Scott (November 12, 1961). "Owls Edge Coyotes 12-6 In '61 Finale". Herald and News. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
39. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 155.
40. "Eastern Oregon Drops Football Opener To College Of Idaho". La Grande Observer. September 25, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
41. "Mounties Post Victory Over Missionaries". La Grande Observer. October 2, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
42. "OCE Defeats Mounts 34-14". La Grande Observer. October 9, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
43. Dale Conklin (October 23, 1961). "Mountaineer Eleven Drops Grid Game To Olympic 18-7". La Grande Observer. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
44. "Mounties Drop Final Game To Columbia Basin 40-20". La Grande Observer. November 13, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
45. Official Collegiate Football Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1962. p. 149.