Carl Hayden (Phoenix, Ariz.) held a school assembly Friday afternoon to celebrate the end of a 66-game football losing streak.
The Falcons rolled past visiting San Luis, 44-21, to sever what probably was the nation’s longest current losing streak. The crowd was estimated at 250, but over the years it probably will grow.
In August, Red Boiling Springs (Tenn.) snapped a 67-game losing streak.
From left to right, Eric D. Kemp-athletic director, Coach Dansby and Principal Stephen A. Ybarra.
Photo by Carl Hayden high school
The Falcons had lost their first two games of the season and even though they were ahead at halftime, 20-6, leery fans were taking pictures of the scoreboard at the intermission, according to the Arizona Republic. They then jubilantly again took scoreboard pictures at the end of the contest.
Among the many heroes for the Falcons were senior tight end-defensive back Oscar Vera (6-4, 200), who made two interceptions; senior running back Mario Valladares (5-8, 170), who scored their first two touchdowns; and junior quarterback Ulises Contreras (5-8, 160), who came off the bench to complete 10-of-15 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Carl Hayden coach Cleveland Dansby, who took over the losing program in 2005, had suffered through the last 42 losses in the streak.
“I’m relieved, man. It’s been a hard road to travel," Dansby said. "I started at the bottom and have been scratching my way up. A couple of times we were close, but we finally got over the hump. They had lost 30-some straight games (in a previous era).
“This is my fifth year. I had been used to success (at other schools). I thought I could turn things around overnight. I didn’t know it was so bad. The first year we had 36 players and ended up with 18. It’s really been a humbling experience, man. Believe me, I have pride, but I’ve been knocked down to the ground level. I never coached as hard as I have (now).”
Losing has been an albatross around the neck of the football program for a long time.
“We heard it from everybody,” Dansby said. “Students give them (the players) a hard time, too. This streak would have been over a long time ago (if a lot of good prospects didn’t refuse to play due to the losing reputation).
“I’ll bet if we get a couple more wins, some of those naysayers will come out and jump on the bandwagon. This year we have 34 kids who are solid. They’re good kids and I love them to death. I’ve been told it’s a young man’s job and I should get out, but the kids say, ‘Don’t leave us, coach. We need you.’ ’’
Dansby has tried for the last two years to get surrounding industries to put up some money so Carl Hayden can start a Pop Warner feeder program.
“I’ve been turned down flat,” he said. “Ninety-five percent of these kids aren’t exposed to football until they reach high school.”
The fall-out from the Falcons’ emotional victory produced at least 50 congratulatory emails on Friday. But an email they received prior to Thursday night’s game “really touched me,” Dansby said, and probably made a major impact on the outcome.
It was from a Virginia resident – unknown to Dansby - named Michael Bell. He has level four cancer, but was urging the Falcons to never give up. Dansby read the letter to the players during his pre-game talk and “the kids really took it to heart.”
There also was a call from radio station KWAL in Anchorage, Alaska, and he will be on an upcoming talk show.
Friday also was somewhat sad because Dansby had to attend a funeral for Norris Noble, a close family friend. Still, he found a silver lining.
“I know he was up there cheering for me.”
