|
Howard Stevens
Class of 1968
Athlete
Howard Stevens played both basketball and football at HHS. Though only 5’5” tall, he was a valuable member of the 1968 Blue Streak basketball team that lost in the state championship game by a single point. In football his senior year he led the Streaks to a stunning 20–18 victory over a powerful Richlands team that had beaten HHS by 40 points the previous year. During his senior season Howard gained 1159 yards rushing in 10 games, was named 1st team All-State, honorable mention All-American, and had his #28 jersey retired by Harrisonburg High School.
After graduating from HHS Howard entered Randolph-Macon College and starred in football for 2 seasons. His freshman year he rushed for 1,468 yards and led the nation in scoring with 142 points. He added 1106 rushing yards and 114 points his sophomore season, then transferred to the University of Louisville for his final 2 seasons. During his junior year at Louisville he gained a school record 1,429 yards rushing in leading his team to a 9 – 1 record. In his 4 seasons of college football Howard set NCAA records in all-purpose yards (7,564), rushing yards (5,297) and touchdowns (69). These records stood for many years. In 1973 Howard was drafted by the New Orleans Saints and had a productive 5 year career in the National Football League with the Saints and the Baltimore Colts. He was a kick-return specialist and at one time held both the Saints and Colts season records for number of punt returns and punt return yardage.
|
