ELKINS -- Something happened 44 years ago with Elkins football that appeared in newspapers all over the country for a single-game performance.
John Bunch Jr., shattered the national high school rushing record on Oct. 25, 1974, when he ran for 608 yards on 38 carries in a 74-0 victory over the Winslow Squirrels. Bunch's achievement was surpassed a few years ago but his 608 yards is still No. 8 on the all-time rushing list for a single game, according to MaxPreps.
So, it is appropriate John Bunch Jr.'s name remains on the new $3.5 million football stadium that opened with Friday's game between Huntsville and Elkins. Bunch Jr. died of cancer at a young age in 1984, but he would've enjoyed the atmosphere, the crowd, and the new field that now runs north and south instead of east and west when he played.
Joe Bunch, John Bunch's uncle, was among a handful of people who were introduced Friday before kickoff.
"He'd probably be embarrassed by it," Joe Bunch said about his nephew's name being on the new stadium. "He was a humble guy. But this is fantastic. I'm 83 years old and I went to school here when they had outdoor restrooms. Everything has changed and it's really great."
John Bunch Jr. Memorial Field is the third new football facility in Northwest Arkansas to open this season. Bentonville West lost to Fort Smith Southside in its home opener on Aug. 31 and Berryville lost 21-14 last week to these same Huntsville Eagles to open its new stadium.
Huntsville entered Friday's game 2-0, but the Eagles were no match for the Elks, who led 18-0 after one quarter and won 38-20. The victory on opening night at the new stadium was a perfect gift for Elkins quarterback Quinn McClain, who turned 17 on Friday.
"We had a great turnout tonight and that helped our confidence going into the game," said McClain, a junior standout. "Then, playing on the nice field, was real helpful."
McClain will go down in the record book after scoring the first touchdown in the new stadium on a 4-yard run with 9:25 left in the first quarter. Chad Graham had the first turnover off a tipped pass and he had another interception in the end zone to stop a Huntsville drive in the fourth quarter.
John Bunch Field has double the seating capacity on much of the same site from the previous one, which was a baseball field that was also used for football when that sport was added at Elkins in 1966. Bleachers were brought in for the visitors' side and the football games were held in the outfield.
There is now enough room behind the goal posts for a picnic if it were allowed, which it isn't.
The new stadium seats nearly 2,100, including 1,550 on the home side, and the football field is encircled by an eight-lane track that'll be put to good use in the spring. For now, there are challenges facing the Elks, who improved to 3-0 in their first season in Class 4A.
"Our season," Elkins coach Bryan Hutson reminded his team, "starts next week."
That's when Elkins begins conference play with a long trip to Waldron.
There'll be more victories and perhaps, just perhaps, another accomplishment that earns Elkins widespread attention.
It's an idea John Bunch Jr. certainly would have approved.
Sports on 09/15/2018