Hollywood Hills commemorates 50th anniversary of first football state championship team
Following the 1972 state semifinal playoff loss to Merritt Island, the consensus sentiment of the returning players of the Hollywood Hills High football team was “We won’t lose a game next season.”
True to form that following year, the Spartans became the first high school from Broward County to win a state football championship following a 22-9 victory over Jacksonville Raines at Lockhart Stadium on Friday, Dec. 14, 1973.
On Saturday afternoon at halftime of Hollywood Hills’ football game against Hollywood South Broward, that 1973 Spartans undefeated 13-0 team was honored in a 50th anniversary celebration.
“Today is very special in talking with the guys on what happened fifty years ago,” Former Spartans quarterback John Kurowski said. “We talked about how close-knit the team was and how well we played as a team. We were the melting pot of Broward football.”
“After the loss to Merritt Island, we were on the bus going home after that game and we said we’ll never lose another game again while in high school. We will not lose another game. The whole team had that drive. We made sure of that. It was an amazing time.”
The team was engineered by head coach Dick Saltrick, who spent 11 seasons at the helm. With assistants such as Matt Lococo and Jim Rich a state title was inevitable.
The Spartans reeled off a perfect regular season after perfecting the wishbone offense. A 7-0 victory over Fort Lauderdale in the third game of the season was the only time that year a victory was decided by fewer than 10 points.
“We had gotten beaten in ‘72 by Merritt Island,” Former Hills defensive end Mike Guido said. “We dedicated the whole offseason to come back and win the state championship. We had the type of character to come together as one. We were ready. We were totally focused and did the job.”
Playoff victories over South Miami 48-7 and Orlando Edgewater 28-8 set up the opportunity to play in the Class 4A title game.
“Thinking what we did then still gives me a rush,” Former Hills tight end Roy Dean said. “Most of this team had been together since optimist football. We knew our capabilities and limits. It was a nice ride.”
In that state title game, the Spartans were actually tied in the third quarter before rallying for the lead following a 27-yard pass from Kurowski to split end Gerald Bain and a four-yard rushing touchdown by junior Carl Golden.
“One is we had that foundation of coaches and they believed in us,” Former split end Gerald Bain said. “Our coaches went to Texas to learn the wishbone and they taught us the whole thing. We became really tight and we’ve been the same way ever since. It’s been a family and has always been a family. Coming back for a day like today is unbelievable.”
In the two seasons from 1972-73, the Spartans were the dominant team in Broward with a 24-1 record, while outscoring their opponent 811-206. It would be 13 seasons until another football state title came to Broward when Dillard won in 1986 under coach Otis Gray.
During the halftime ceremony to honor the former state champions, the players were informed they would become the first team to be inducted into the Broward Sports Hall of Fame this March.
The traditional rivalry game between the South Broward and Hollywood Hills teams concluded the afternoon with the visiting Bulldogs rolling to a 61-31 victory.