LHS football in 1966-67 was Barrington's nightmare
• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.
The 1966 season featured powerhouse defenses from Barrington and North Chicago. Libertyville High School was undefeated until a sixth week loss to North Chicago, 20-7. The only consolation was it was the only points North Chicago allowed all season.
North Chicago played Barrington in the seventh week of the season. At this point, Barrington had not allowed a point all season, with North Chicago allowing just the lone LHS touchdown. The two teams finished in a 0-0 draw.
That set the stage for the eighth and final week of the season. Most figured Barrington would shut out LHS and finish the season in a tie with North Chicago.
The first quarter finished scoreless. LHS took to the air from that point on. Two Thad Johnson to Craig Schwerman touchdown passes put LHS up 12-0 at the half. Two second-half passes for touchdowns - one to Schwerman, one to Rick Sitz - matched Barrington's two touchdowns to make the final score 25-14 LHS.
Barrington had seven shutouts in eight games and still finished third in the conference behind champion North Chicago and runner-up Libertyville. All-Conference selections for LHS included Johnson, Schwerman (the Newsom Award winner), Brian Brahe, Gary Longabaugh, Red Miller and Bill Graham.
It appeared like LHS might have lost too much talent to contend for the title in 1967. And Barrington appeared to be loaded, the clear conference favorite. The first game of the season would seem to confirm it would not be LHS's year as they lost their opener to nonconference opponent Grant 18-0. Barrington dominated in their opener.
Barrington and Libertyville would meet the second week of the season. Libertyville held a 14-13 lead with time running out in the first half and Barrington in scoring position. The Broncos set up to kick a field goal that went wide.
With LHS getting the ball on the 20 with less than 10 seconds on the clock, it looked like Libertyville would take a knee to end the half. But quarterback Bill Beckman took the ball on a quarterback sneak, went untouched into the second level, broke to the left sideline, and went 80 yards for the score with no time remaining on the clock. LHS took a 21-13 lead heading into the locker room.
That last second series of events must have deflated Barrington, because LHS rolled to a 41-13 win.
Beckman would run for two scores on the day and throw three touchdown passes, two to 6-foot-8-inch junior basketball star Keith Hansen. Bill would be named the Chicago Daily News "Player of the Week." He was named the Newsom Award winner and would go on to play for Northwestern.
Libertyville would keep winning until the seventh week, when they lost 13-7 to North Chicago. As much as LHS had Barrington's number during this four-year stretch, North Chicago had ours, beating us each time during this four-year period, but only winning one title (1966).
Barrington beat North Chicago in the eighth and final week, LHS wrapped up their season with a 26-0 win over McHenry as these two teams tied for the 1967 NSC title. LHS All-Conference honorees were Beckman, Hansen, Longabaugh, Sitz, Chuck Bell, Jim Akers and Steve Stone.
The hex on Barrington was over after that game, though, as Barrington beat Libertyville the next five years. The two teams would split four games between 1973 and 1976. Barrington left the NSC for the Mid-Suburban Conference after the 1977 year and the rivalry was over.