Terriers thrived in ‘79, but couldn’t drive 55

REDLANDS – The mood was festive Saturday at Pat Hafley’s home near San Timoteo Canyon, 10 minutes from downtown Redlands.

Outside Hafley’s well-appointed house, a fountain gurgled and a chalkboard under a football said, “Welcome. Come on in.”

The guests of honor were Hafley’s old teammates, players on the 1979 Redlands High football team. The team went 11-3 and toppled three Catholic schools in the playoffs before falling to powerhouse Edison of Huntington Beach 55-0 before 20,254 at Anaheim Stadium.

“The Terriers couldn’t drive 55,” wrote former Redlands Daily Facts sports editor Jeff Lane, referring to the old Sammy Hagar song.

“The whole town is in mourning,” observed former Redlands Daily Facts sportswriter Obrey Brown. 

But this was a night for celebration – remembering a team from more than five decades ago that accomplished so much. A photo of the squad hung in the living room, along with a portrait of the Terriers’ 1909 state rugby title team.

More than half a century later, former quarterback Hafley is philosophical about his team’s blowout loss to Edison.

“We came up one win short, but not everything in life goes according to plan,” he said. 

ROAD TO ANAHEIM

The 1979 Terriers were poised for success. The program, under the late coach Paul Womack, won six league championships in the 1970s and was gunning for another.

“The season was memorable,” Hafley said. “We had local guys, it was a one-high school town, and we had one dream.”   

The Terriers were talented with Skeeter Lewis at running back on his way to a school-record 1,436 yards rushing and a hard-hitting defense. Stalwarts like Ray Carillo, Kevin Chaves, John Stockham, Peter Owens, Greg Dabov, Leo Ramos, Mike Allsup, Tim Rezendes, Sam Kingsfield, Jerry Stafford, Jon Payne, David Corrente, and Tim Caulo dotted the lineup.

Redlands won its opener against Riverside Poly 21-7 with Hafley and Steve Holden throwing touchdown passes.

Victories against Chaffey, West Covina, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, and San Bernardino followed, before Pacific edged the Terriers 13-12 in a Citrus Belt League game.

The Terriers rebounded with blowout wins against Palm Springs and Corona before suffering a tough 7-6 loss to Fontana before 8,500 fans at the University of Redlands.

“The stands were packed and (Fontana coach Dick) Bruich had his guys coached up,” Hafley said. “It was a defensive battle and for a high school kid the atmosphere was cool.”

Redlands’ league title hopes were dashed but the Terriers made the CIF-Southern Section Big 5 playoffs as a wild-card team. They opened the postseason with a 3-0 victory against Mater Dei of Santa Ana. Corrente kicked the winning 20-yard field goal.

Next up was No. 1-seeded and 11-0 Loyola of Los Angeles. 

“That was the first chance I had to start at quarterback,” Hafley said. “Womack said, ‘You’re the guy.’ We led 10-0, but they had some guys. We fumbled a few times, and they led 13-10 late. But I threw a touchdown pass to Jerry Stafford and we won 17-13.”

So excited was Redlands assistant coach George Tesla that he emptied the contents of a garbage can all over the Cerritos College locker room.

Outside, a misguided Terrier dad gave Terrier players sips of vodka from a leather bota bag. It was a different era. 

Only one victory now separated Redlands from a berth in the section title game. The Terriers got it, defeating St. Francis of La Canada 15-0.  

COMEBACK KID  

Hafley was not raised with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. He grew up with six brothers and two sisters in a single-parent home. His mother, Ira Jean Hafley, worked multiple jobs.

“My dad, Warren Rorer, was shot and killed in 1975 in a Circle K robbery,” Hafley said. “I was in eighth grade sitting in science class when the news came. It was devastating.”

Rorer, 54, had just opened the store when an intruder entered. The man led Rorer to a restroom and shot him at least once, then fled on foot with $82. Some of the money was found in a nearby alley.

“My dad was a recovering alcoholic who was working to get his life together,” Hafley said. He didn’t live with us. My one big regret is that he didn’t have a chance to see me play sports, and I played my share. So my childhood was not perfect, but I was blessed to have my mom.”

Hafley also leaned on men like Bob Moore and Dale Stockham. In high school, defensive coordinator Jim Evans provided a lift, telling Hafley to “keep working hard and you’ll get your chance.”

OVERMATCHED

The city of Redlands was in a tizzy over the Terriers making the title game for the first time since 1961. It did not know Goliath awaited.  

Title-game opponent Edison was bursting with talent led by quarterback Frank Seuer who later played for the Kansas City Chiefs. Seuer threw for more than 2,000 yards in 1979 and 23 touchdowns, four of which came against Redlands in the title game.

Running back Kerwin Bell transferred from St. Francis to Edison for his senior year and rushed for 2,268 yards and 26 touchdowns. His 73-yard first-quarter touchdown run put Edison ahead.

“I was the last guy to hit Bell,” defensive back Allsup said. “I slipped on the baseball field, otherwise I would have cleaned him out. I still have the scar from that.”

Trailing 14-0 at the half, three lost fumbles and two blocked punts after the break sealed the Terriers’ fate. It was a difficult end to a magnificent season for Redlands.

“We’re too good of a team to go out like this,” Womack said at the time.    

SPEED TRAP

As day turned into night at the Hafleys, the party continued. But a few celebrants, filled with chicken, shrimp, and suds, slowly made their way to the front door.

The fountain still gurgled, and the sky was a dazzling palate of blue, red, and yellow.

The aging Terriers said good-bye, then hopped in their cars to leave. But even more than 50 years after their blowout loss, they still couldn’t drive 55.