Wheaton College Athletics

The 1961 football team was the last Wheaton team to go undefeated. Coached by first-year head coach Jack Swartz, the Crusaders were 8-0 and ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Small College Division. Wheaton allowed just one rushing touchdown all season (none in the last seven games) and only one team scored two touchdowns in a game. The Crusaders outscored the opposition, 217-37, posted three shutouts and held the opposition to an average of 145 yards total offense per game.

Among the biggest wins was a 20-7 win over North Central for the Little Brass Bell, and a 7-2 win over Northern Illinois in a torrential downpour gained when quarterback Dave Iha hit Kent Hutcheson with a 24-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes to play. The team’s MVP was All-American Dave Iha, who was co-captain with guard George Kraft. Second team All-American tackle Dave “The Bear” Kemna played both offense and defense.