You contribute  football records by sending information to pittsfordfootballweb@hotmail.com

 

 

In April 1964, the Pittsford School District hired John Ordiway as the programs first head coach. The football team played at the Junior Varsity level for 2 seasons.    

 

Pittsford instituted Varsity Football in the fall of 1966.  The Pittsford Knights first head coach was John Ordiway.  Ordiway died in the summer of 1968 after a brief illness.   On September 17, 1969 prior to a game against Rush Henrietta, the Pittsford football field (at Sutherland High School) was named in his honor, Ordiway Field.

 

1966 Season

 

Team played as an independent with majority of games against schools outside the Greater Rochester area.

 

First Game

Saturday, September 24, 1966

@Pittsford

 

Hinsdale          0          0          0          0          - 00

Pittsford            0          6          13       12        - 31

 

P - Greg Onash 5 yd run( PAT failed)

P - Mike Bagle 25 yd run (PAT failed)

P - Bagale 1 yd Pass from Bill Taylor (Bagale pass)

P - Jeff Eisenhower 15 yd run (PAT failed)

P -John Bettinger 20 yd run (PAT failed)

 

source:  Democrat & Chronicle

 

The 1970 Pittsford JV team recorded the first Pittsford undefeated football team record (8-0) coached by Bob Nagle and Joe Arnitz.
 

With the growth of Pittsford Schools in the early 70s, the district built a second high school and the football program split into the Pittsford Mendon Vikings and the Pittsford Sutherland Knights.  The teams represented Pittsford  from 1973 until 1984.  The schools played annually in the last regular season game of the year. The 1979  Pittsford Sutherland team was the first to represent the district in Sectional football play and that year was the first of four straight  that Pittsford had a team in the sectional finals.  In 1980, Sutherland and Mendon played in the AA final.   Mendon won sectional titles in the '80, '81 and '82 seasons. 

 

The District combined the Mendon and Sutherland football programs beginning with the 1984 Season.  They became known as the Pittsford Panthers.

 

 

Some notes of interest:  

Greg Clark, from the first Mendon team,  went on to play at Lehigh University, where he won the Division ll national title in his senior year. He was the Chevrolet Player of the game in that title game.  Also from the team, Dave Taylor, went on to play football at Dartmouth.  Both Dave (inducted in '95) and Greg (inducted in '94) are members of the Pittsford Athletic Hall of Fame.

Drew Timura (Mendon grad '83) continued his career at Wisconsin.

In the late 80s and early 90s, several players continued their careers at Division 1 schools including Brent Parkhill, linebacker at Toledo,  Craig Butler Michigan State, Adam Borell (defensive back) Butler Univ., Eric Calendine (Defensive End) Maryland.

 

 

You contribute any football records by sending information to pittsfordfootballweb@hotmail.com