North Muskegon Football: Norse Football News
Monday, February 26North Muskegon High School: 1941 - 1942
North Muskegon High School
FOOTBALL TEAMS OF 1941-42
Undefeated, untied and unscored upon from the sixth game of the 1940 season up to game five of the 1942 schedule - that translates into 15 consecutive shutout victories for the North Muskegon Norsemen football squads of 1941-42. No other Muskegon area prep grid teams in the past have ever gone through a single season of all shutout victories, let alone compile such a record over a two-year period. This incredible streak still stands as a state record in high school competition and may never be equaled or broken. An even more remarkable feature of this accomplishment is the fact that the Norsemen, a class C school, faced higher class B opponents in over half of those 15 games. In another unusual twist, they established this record of perfection under two different head coaches.
Lyle McNitt, who took over as athletic director and football coach when the new school matured into full varsity sports competition in 1934, guided the Norsemen's football program through the 1941 season, a full schedule of shutout victories that year that stretched the record to 10. McNitt departed after that season to accept another coaching position, leaving behind a brilliant record of 33-4-1 and five straight West Michigan Conference championships. With most of the starters from 1941 returning, new head coach Paul Moyes continued the shutout victory string as the 1942 season was underway and another perfect season appeared well within the grasp of the Norsemen as they continued to dominate all opponents as the season progressed. The streak reached 15 when conference opponent Scottville finally penetrated the North Muskegon end zone in a 25-6 loss. The Northsiders finished out the schedule with two more shutout victories - another undefeated season and yet another conference championship. A successful debut for coach Moyes, but dampened by a lost opportunity to stretch the record to 18.
Even so, the higher scoring and stiffer competition that comes with today's high school playoff competition very likely will prevent any Michigan high school football team from bettering this long-standing record of consecutive shutout wins and little North Muskegon may continue to claim this record far into the future.
Special thanks Lori Vanderweele and Allison Karaba