Varsity Football

The Black and Gold 1976

Inconsistent Play Reaps Even Varsity Grid Season

 A 12-7 loss to Waipahu followed a week later by a 21 rout over Aiea was a preseason indication of an inconsistent 1975 varsity football season. Faced with a tough eight-game schedule and young first-year coaches, the Tigers ground out an even 4-4 record.

McKinley came up two points short in the season opener against the Seariders, who proved to be of championship caliber in the OIA. The powerful Waianae offense tallied first with a two-point safety, then a 40-yard run and PAT for a 9-0 lead. A fumble recovery turned TD and successful PAT kept hopes high for a triumph, but time ran out on the Tigers. McKinley then bounced back and scored in every quarter to wallop the small Menehune team from Moanalua.

 In their Aloha Stadium debut, the Mick defense rose to the occasion to upset the physical Kahuku Red Raiders. The Tigers were almost overturned by surprisingly tough Kaimuki as the Bulldogs staged a comeback with four minutes in the game. However, they failed to strike the powerful McKinley defense, which stopped the Bulldogs short of the two-point conversion attempt.

 A Kaiser homecoming, plus numerous Tiger errors, sparked the Cougar offense to a fourth quarter comeback dealing a fatal blow to McKinley. The loss fixed the Micks in a tie for second with Roosevelt, a formidable foe for Homecoming the following week. A fervid Tiger team determined to maintain high standings in the Honolulu District, battled with the Rough Riders in a tight contest, the Tigers' last shot at the city title. The Micks held on to a 7-6 lead at the half, but tumbled to a favored Roosevelt squad.

 Another homecoming stand, this time by Farrington, coupled with the Governor running and passing attack, rambled over the McKinley goal line twice for a shutout victory.

 McKinley ended their up-and-down season with an anticlimatic victory of winless Kalani. The Falcons proved to be a tougher opponent than expected as a halftime tie initiated a brilliant goal line stand and sealed the win for the Micks.

McKinley High School Class of 1977

40th Reunion Summer 2017