Midwest City High School
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Midwest City High is one of the two high schools in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
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[edit] History
In 1941, the Midwest City-Del City area was farmland consisting of wheat farming, dairies, and cattle ranches. Several rural schools made up the centers of their respective communities. Farmers and others living on acreages traveled to Oklahoma City to purchase what could not be produced from the land. The federal government had determined that the country would soon be in the war that was spreading in Europe and the Far East. Construction of Tinker Field began and W. P. Atkinson, seeing an opportunity, purchased 160 acres of farmland with the intention of developing a new community.
On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. With the growth of Tinker Field, Midwest City increased as well. More families meant higher school enrollment. Children had to travel to Oklahoma City to attend school above the eighth grade. To meet the crisis, the Sooner School Board agreed to an expansion of the school system by April 1943; members of the Sooner School Board were: Tom Townsend, Furman L. Fox, Cecil Fish, and Oscar Rose, Superintendent of Sooner School District No. 52.
In May 1943, Rose organized for the upcoming school year. The high school was held and J.E. Sutton was hired June 1943 to be the first principal of the high school. In August 1943, the school plan was organized but there was no school building. Even though the building was not finished, it had 17 teachers and 413 students on the first day and over one thousand students to enroll during the school year. Furniture was borrowed from Draugh's Business College; half day sessions were in operation for the lower grades. Mr. Rose borrowed an old school bus from Bearan, Oklahoma, the school district he came from. There was no heat, and students had to wear their coats in class during the winter. Later people loaned stoves to the school.
The first night in April 1944, a wind hit the campus (several military huts for buildings), turning some buildings at a forty-five degree angle and it demolished the entire English room. Buildings were left where the wind pushed them, foundations were put back and the school continued. During the school year, a new brick building had been under construction next door to the collection of huts and was ready for occupancy by Spring. Students moved to the new building on April 6, 1946; it was later dedicated in May.
There were fourteen students in that first senior class. Despite the weather, cold, mud, and wind storm, the hutment (collection of huts) served its purpose. This was the beginning of 3 great high schools: Midwest City High School, Carl Albert High School, and Del City High School.
[edit] Football
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In 1945 the first MCHS football game was played at what later became Jim Darnell Stadium. The team still plays there to this day. The MCHS football program includes over 80 All-Staters including Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy. With a winning percentage of .730 of all games ever played, a state record for 45 consecutive winning seasons and the first ever undefeated 6A State Football Champions. At MCHS there is a saying: "Winning, it's not pressure, it's a way of life". Some call it tradition, some call it spirit but the Midwest City community calls it Bomber Magic.
Since its first season under coach Fred Barlow in 1945, MCHS has had only 11 coaches in over 60 years. From 1955-1977 legendary coach Jim Darnell led the football program. In 1960 they captured their first state championship. Darnell retired after the 1977 season and left MCHS as the winningest coach in school history (183-51-12) which prompted naming the stadium after him.
Coach Darnell's successor was his former player and later Assistant Coach, Dick Evans. Evans became the 2nd in all-time wins at Midwest City. During his time at the helm he produced standout quarterback Mike Gundy who went on to play at Oklahoma State. Gundy became the university's all-time leading passer and later became the head coach at OSU. Coach Evans will always be remembered for his 1988 campaign with the Bombers. They went 6 and 4 for the regular season to make the playoffs and went on to win the state championship. Some call it the Cinderella story of Oklahoma High School football.
Evans retired in 1991 and coach Dennis Huggins took over the reins to a powerhouse football team. During the 1994 season Huggins led the Bombers to the state's first ever 6A Championship. They accomplished that while at the same time having an undefeated season. By virtue of their finishing 14-0 ESPN pronounced them the 5th best high school football program in the nation. The following year they repeated as State Champs and finished in some polls as the 'mythical' high school National Champions. ESPN had them as the 2nd best in the nation.
Huggins retired following the 1995 season leaving behind what Bomber fans call "A tradition of winning".
Steve Huff is in his third year as head coach for Midwest City. Coming from Texas as a high school football coach at Texas A&M Consolidated, Steve Huff went 11-3 as the offensive coordinator at the high school in College Station his last year. He lost in the semifinals to Trinity High School who later that year would be crown the state champion. They were also ranked that year as the number 5 high school team in the nation. Steve Huff comes to Midwest City looking to win his first ever state title as a head coach for football. In his first season at Midwest City he brought the Bombers back to the playoffs after a four year absence. He finished his first year at Midwest City 6-5. With the 2007 regular season over, Steve Huffs Midwest City Bombers finished the regular season, going into the playoffs, undefeated with a 10-0 record and as the District 6A-2 Champions, and Regional Champions. This is the first time Midwest City has gone undefeated in the regular season since 1995. With the 10-0 record Midwest City had the opportunity to host two playoff games at historical Jim Darnell Stadium against Mustang and Owasso,which MWC won both by a score of 63-38. It was the first time Midwest City has hosted a playoff game since 2001. They finished this unforgetable season with a loss to Jenks in the 6A Semi-finals. The last time Midwest City won a playoff game was back in 1997, and the last time they won two or more was in 1996. Steve Huffs Bombers finished the 2007season campaign 12-1. This is Midwest Citys best season record since its 11-3 mark back in 1996. Coach Steve Huffs win loss record now stands at 18-6.(0.750).
[edit] Midwest City vs. Del City
Every year Midwest City plays Del City, in the Sooner Road rivalry, during "BEAT DEL CITY WEEK!". Midwest City has dominated the series since it was started back in the 50s. On September 1, 2007, Midwest City played at Del City continuing the winning streak against their school district rival by beating them 34-14 in front of an almost sold out crowd. With the win Midwest City won its 501st game of all time. Del City won the very first game in the series. The last time the two teams met in the playoffs, Del City prevailed.
[edit] Trivia
- H. G. Bissinger's "Friday Night Lights" had the choice of Permian High School in Odessa, Texas or Midwest City.
- The years that Midwest City did not make to the playoffs was because of last game defeats by Putnam City High School.
- The mascot "Bombers" comes from the B-52 Air Force planes located at Tinker Air Force Base.
- Jarman Junior High was the original Midwest City High School.
- In 1996, Midwest City played Jenks High School in the state championship game.
- On November 24, 2007, Midwest City played its 701st football game of all time in the 2007 Oklahoma High School 6A Semi-Finals in Edmond, Oklahoma at UCOs Wantland Stadium against Jenks High School. The Bombers lost 35-7.
[edit] Bombers Football Winnings
- 1 "Mythical" National Championship (1995)
- 5 State Championships (1960, 1985, 1988, 1994, 1995)
- 8 State Finalist (1952, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1996)
- 14 District Championships (1967, 1970, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2007)
- 22 Conference Championships (1952, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2001)
- 41 Oklahoma High School Playoffs Berths (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980,1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007)
- 86 Oklahoma High School Football All-Staters.
- First ever National 6A Undefeated State Champion (1994)
- Back to Back Undefeated State Champions (1994-1995)
- 45 Consecutive Winning Seasons (1955-1999)
- A Winning Wercentage of 0.730/1.000 (701 games totaled) (512 wins - 172 losses - 17 ties)
[edit] Football Coaches
- 1944 Jack Furr
- 1945-1946 Fred Barlow 3-10-2
- 1947-1948 Jack Juffman 8-8-1
- 1949-1954 Jack Spahn 47-14-2 (3)
- 1955-1977 Jim Darnell 183-51-12 (1) 1 State Championship
- 1978-1991 Dick Evans 144-33 (2) 2 State Chapionships
- 1992-1995 Dennis Huggins 45-7 (4) 2 State Championships *National Champions*
- 1996-1999 Brian Vavakera 27-20
- 2000-2004 Ricky Oliver 31-19
- 2005-2006 Jesse Wall 6-4
- 2006- Steve Huff 18-6
[edit] School Song
Come On And Fight Team,
Get On The Drive For Victory,
Fight Team, Get On The Go,
Go! Go! Go!
Hit Them, You Fighting Sons Of Bombers,
Fight On To Meet Our Foes
So Hit That Line Team With All Your Bomber Glory
Fight On Till We Are Through
Its Your Job, And Its An Honor
For This Midwest Bomber Crew!
[edit] External links
- Official website]
