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When the Marshalltown High School football team completed its perfect 9-0 regular season a few weeks ago, many in the area were trying to remember the last time that happened.

Three Marshalltown residents remember it well - they were on the field for it in 1947.

Emory Eichorn, Bob Becker and Dick Bloomquist played on that 1947 team that finished the season as Iowa's top ranked team and mythical state champions, as there were no playoffs back then.

The three former players reminisced this week about the time they spent on the gridiron and that special season 62 years ago.

As football-frenzied fans talk about the Bobcats' success around town now, they said it was even more the case in 1947, most likely because there weren't as many things to do.

"The whole town turned out for the games," Eichorn said. "It was the talk of the town."

Becker, a lineman, remembers home games at Franklin Field which were filled with fans in the bleachers - standing 10 to 12 deep in the end zones at times.

"The support was fantastic as evidenced by the crowds that were there," Becker said.

That team was coached by the legendary Leonard Cole, who also led undefeated Bobcat teams in 1943 and 1944 and whose name graces the current MHS stadium.

Eichorn, who played fullback on offense and halfback on defense, remembers one game in 1947 against Ames when a touchdown by the Little Cyclones to tie the game at 7-7 did not go over too well with the big men up front.

"When Ames scored our linemen just went insane," he said. "We ended up beating them 21-7."

Becker and Eichorn also talked about the 26-0 win against a good Dowling team to start the season and the rainy 13-0 victory over Boone. Bloomquist said the game that stands out the most to him is the 26-0 win over rival Newton to cap the perfect season and the Central Iowa Conference title.

Bloomquist remembers the good times and that the success was built by "playing as a team." The former lineman also recalls playing both ways and being tired after the game.

"At the end of the game my butt was dragging," he said.

Cole did not believe in having one-way players - he took the 11 fastest and toughest players and used them the whole game - on both offense and defense.

"He envisioned himself in a fight in the alley and he picked the 11 best guys he would want in the fight," Eichorn said.

Whatever methods Cole used, he garnered respect from his team. Eichorn said everyone had "great admiration" for Cole.

Becker said Cole did not yell at his players during the game, he would prepare them in practice to play well on game night.

"He knew exactly what it took to win a game," Becker said.

The 1947 team outscored its opponents 267-25 and the defense recorded six shutouts.

Several players from that team went on to play football in college including Eichorn who played at Iowa State University and Bloomquist who played at Drake.

Many of the players agree their key player was halfback Stan Cozzi, a senior who ran for 1,189 yards and scored a total of 19 touchdowns.

The 2009 Bobcats have won two more games after recording a perfect regular season to extend its record to 11-0 with a big matchup at 7 p.m. at home tonight against Ankeny in the state playoff quarterfinals.

Eichorn has been to a few of the games this year and is impressed with the current team.

"This is undoubtedly one of the greatest teams ever in Marshalltown," Eichorn said of the 2009 team. "They have two of the best players (Chanse Creekmur and Jarred Carlson) in Marshalltown ever."

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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com