1978 Trimble Tomcats TVC Co-Champions

1978 8-2 27        Warren                  8 25        Belpre                     8 26        Ironton St. Joe        7 27        Vinton County         0 20        Nelsonville-York     21   0        P. Notre Dame       28 13        Alexander                0 28       Minford                  14 48       Miller                      14 43       Federal Hocking         6

The 1978 Tomcats won the first TVC Championship in our football history, in our first year in the TVC

The 1978 Offense featured an outstanding ground attack led by TB Jeff McClelland, FB Bill Jones, and QB Mike Roback

1978 Leaders: Rushing: Jeff McClelland 1,710 yards, 16 TDs Passing: Mike Roback 557 yards, 8 TDs Receiving: L.R. Faires 219 yards 2 TDs

The 1978 Defense allowed an average of just 7 points per league game

Tailback Jeff McClelland became Trimble's 1) All-time career leading rusher - 3,380 2) All-time season leading rusher - 1,710 3) All-time single-game leading rusher - 330 4) First TVC Player of the Year ...and probably holds the record for highest yards per carry average for his 18 attempts for 330 yards at Federal Hocking (18 yards per carry).  Jeff was named all-state after the 1978 and because of him the Trimble Alumni Football Players Association was created.  In 2000 we honored Jeff by awarding the first Tomcat Excellence Award in his name.

The 1978 season was the final year under the direction of Coach Paul Culver.  Culver took over a program that had won one game in two years and established it as a dominant force in the TVC.  Culver exited his Trimble career with a record of 37-18-4.