The Player
Season Overview
(vs. Centerburg)
(vs. Lucas)
Scoring Rank
1969 Season
Game-by-Game Results
Team racked up 307 yards. "Keith Spillman did much of the damage."
"Keith Spillman ran wild for the winners." Record improved to 3–0.
"Spillman Sparks Albany Triumph." Record improved to 5–0, 3–0 in MBL.
Eagles' lone score in a hard-fought defensive tie. Kellett converted EP.
Spillman's TD was his 85th point of the season, highest in Franklin County. Record fell to 5–1–1.
Spillman accounted for 2 of New Albany's 3 touchdowns. Record: 5–2–1.
A see-saw battle settled with a 34–30 victory. "New Albany Wins Finale."
Week by Week
Scoring Race — Leading Scorers
As recorded in the Columbus Dispatch / Franklin County Area weekly standings throughout the season. Spillman led Franklin County in scoring for most of the 1969 campaign.
| Snapshot | Rank | TDs | EPs | Total Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After Game 1 | — | 4 | 2 | 26 | Pickerington game — 3 TDs, 1 PAT run |
| After Game 3 (Centerburg) | 1st | 7 | 5 | 47 | Led all Franklin County scorers |
| Oct. 8 (After Lucas) | 1st | 11 | 9 | 75 | 5–0 record; #1 in all rankings |
| After Newark Catholic | 1st | 14 | 5 | 89 | 85th pt was highest in Franklin County |
| End of Season (Final) | 1st | 17 | 5 | 107 | Final ranking — #1 Albany in Columbus Dispatch |
From the Press Box
Newspaper Headlines & Quotes
Keith Spillman did much of the damage, scoring three touchdowns, including a 61-yard runback of a punt and a 32-yard pass from quarterback Bob Criner.
— Game 1 vs. Pickerington, 48–6
Coach Jerry Rensi's Eagles, now 3-0 for all games, were led by Keith Spillman, who gained 240 yards and scored three touchdowns.
— "New Albany Has Breeze," vs. Centerburg, 67–0
Keith Spillman ran wild for the winners, tallying three touchdowns and rushing for 240 yards. The Eagles scored three TDs in the second and fourth quarters.
— Second account of the Centerburg game
Keith Spillman scored all four touchdowns and Ron Campbell ran for two conversions as unbeaten New Albany (5-0) defeated Lucas, 28-0… Spillman reeled off runs of 81, 8, 51 and 75 yards.
— "Spillman Sparks Albany Triumph," vs. Lucas
The Eagles came back in the final period and Spillman dazzled with a 51-yard TD that featured crisp blocking. Later in the period he took a short pass from QB Bob Criner and threaded his way through the Eagle defenders for a 75-yard pass-run play.
— vs. Lucas game story
Criner found Keith Spillman free at the midfield stripe and after several changes of pace and diagonal cuts, Spillman broke clear to go all the way for his 85th point of the season, the highest in Franklin County.
— vs. Newark Catholic game story
Keith Spillman scored three touchdowns for the winners during the see-saw battle while East Knox's Ron Johnson tallied four times.
— "New Albany Wins Finale," vs. East Knox, 34–30
Heading the backs will be shifty Keith Spillman who can run close to the ground for plenty of yardage. Spillman should head the Eagles' ground game while QB Bob Criner should find an ample target in Kroeplin.
— Pre-season preview, "New Albany Eagles Look Tough On Grid"
Honors
Awards & Recognition
1969 Mid-Buckeye Conference All-Star Team
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Kutch | H.B. | 5′9″ | 170 | Sr. | Newark Catholic |
| Jim Lee | H.B. | 5′11″ | 165 | Sr. | Newark Catholic |
| Doug Rodenbeck | H.B. | 5′11″ | 170 | Sr. | Newark Catholic |
| Jerry Bell | Q.B. | 5′10″ | 160 | Sr. | Newark Catholic |
| Mike Gummer | E. | 5′11″ | 170 | Sr. | Newark Catholic |
| Steve Bennett | C. | 5′10″ | 160 | Sr. | Danville |
| Jeff Durbin | F.B. | 6′ | 200 | Sr. | Danville |
| Larry Martin | L.B. | 6′ | 190 | Sr. | Danville |
| Lowell Banbury | H.B. | 5′10″ | 165 | Sr. | Danville |
| Keith Spillman | H.B. | 5′10″ | 175 | Sr. | New Albany ★ |
| Jim Hendren | T. | 6′ | 200 | Sr. | New Albany ★ |
| Steve Kellett | F.B. | 5′10″ | 175 | Sr. | New Albany ★ |
| George Kroeplin | E. | 5′11″ | 175 | Sr. | New Albany ★ |
| Bart Smith | E. | 5′10″ | 165 | Jr. | East Knox |
| Rod Johnson | E. | 6′3″ | 188 | Sr. | East Knox |
| Curt Campbell | T. | 6′3″ | 185 | Sr. | East Knox |
★ New Albany had four players named to the All-Conference team — the most of any school.
The 1969 Eagles
Team & Teammates
1969 New Albany Eagles Football Squad
In Action
Photo Gallery
The Scrapbook
Newspaper Clippings
These clippings were carefully preserved from Columbus-area newspapers during the 1969 season — a testament to a remarkable year that still speaks for itself decades later.
