Unlocking the archive: Millersport football got its start in 1957 with 22 players

It was September 1957 and Millersport High School was about to debut its new football team.

"A year ago this community was a quiet and peaceful little town. There was no idea of the local high school having a football team.

A year later things aren't so quiet. The former silence in the air is broken, in fact shattered, by the high school band practicing each night and the football team crashing at each other in fervent desire to learn what this game is all about.

That previous sentence tells in a nutshell the story at Millersport in regard to its outlook on the 1957 season. Before you can run you have to walk. Before the Lakers can play they will have to learn."

Joe Radcliff was the first coach and that first team had 22 players - only one of which had ever played football before. That player was Al Huth who had transferred in from Wisconsin.

The first 11 for the Lakers that season were: Roger Davenport, Lowell Barnes, Gary Hiles, Larry Lowe, Mike Reardon, Fred Rousculp, Lonny Crist, Nelson Trimmer, Bill Crist, Wayne Raab and Jim Allen.

Backing them up were Dennis Speaks, Fred McNaughten, Eddie Jewell, Jim Luckey, Jack Nien, Al Huth, Ralph Taylor, Jim Kaar, Jim Bracey, Mike Keeley, Jim Townsend and John Faught.

To celebrate the return of high school football this season, the Eagle-Gazette will be publishing photo galleries of local teams on Mondays leading up to the season. This week is Millersport, but if you missed the previous ones - Lancaster, Fisher Catholic and Amanda Clearcreek - be sure to go to LancasterEagle-Gazette.com and check it out.