High School Football Players in '73

I came across a copy of Prep All-America Football 1973-74, and I found three Canton-enshrined players in the listings. While this isn't strictly 1974, it should be a treat for readers (if I had any).

James Lofton got 1,402 passing yards (or is it receiving yards?) and 333 rushing yards for LA's Washington High School. He also made 79 punts for an average of 39.6 yards. Lofton was named to the All-City and All-Southern League teams, and in '72-73, he was captain of the track team.

Joe Montana passed for 1230 yards and rushed for 436. Attending Ringgold High School in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, he was a Parade All-American in 1973 and AP and UPI 2nd Team All-State. Montana also played baseball and basketball, earning a Section 4 Honorable Mention in the latter in '72-73.

Ozzie Newsome, an end and halfback for for Colbert County High School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, got five interceptions and three end-around touchdowns in 1973. He was All-3A State and Super State. Newsome played baseball and basketball well, and his GPA was 3.8.

I didn't find a listing for Earl Campbell, but I did see he made the Prep All-America Super 11. The back for John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, ran for 2,036 yards in his high school career and scored 28 touchdowns in 1973. Campbell was "All-State, All-District[,] and All-East."

Another familiar name in the Super 11 is back Willie Wilson, who scored 401 points in football and over a thousand points in basketball for Summit High School in Summit, New Jersey. He was "All-Conference and All-State" in football and All-County in basketball and baseball. Though the major leagues sought him in high school, Wilson went to college and eventually played for the Kansas City Royals.

Also of note is LB/FB/G Clay Matthews, father of the player currently in the NFL. Named to the Prep All-America 100 Squad for his play at New Trier East High School in Winnetka, Illinois, he was an All-State linebacker and received many other honors. He averaged 11 tackles per game and rushed 200 yards on 30 carries. In '73-74, Matthews also played basketball.

It's always good to find something new for this blog, and I hope this special entry adds something.

Source: Keith, Dwight, ed. Prep All-America Football 1973-74. Montgomery, AL: Coach and Athlete, 1974.

[EDIT 11/30/2023: Introducing the "football" label]