As a quality control manager for a local ready mix firm, John Poncher has been involved in several local projects.
It is a little bit of engineering, a little bit of chemistry and just plain know-how for Poncher, who has been with Ozinga Ready Mix since 1991.
"We've done a lot of (work with Indiana Department of Transportation), and a lot of different projects in the area like BP," Poncher said. "We do the mixes and there are different mixes (of concrete) for different jobs.
"We interpret the specifications and get the job done for the client."
Poncher and his Valparaiso High School football teammates got the job done and were perfect in 1975, and Poncher literally put his best foot forward that season. The Vikings, who ran the single wing under coach Tom Stokes, became the first Region team to win a state football title in a playoff format. At the time, the IHSAA playoffs were three years old.
The Vikings beat a Carmel team quarterbacked by Mark Herrmann 14-13 at Valparaiso High School. It was the first and only time a football state championship was played in the Region. Back then, there were just three classes and teams had to qualify for the playoffs. Only 12 teams made the playoffs among the three classes.
With the Vikings trailing 13-7, Efres Belmonte scored on an 8-yard run, and Poncher kicked the PAT for the margin of victory. Carmel missed a potential game-winning 59-yard field goal as time ran out. Valpo's other score came on a Mark Allen 63-yard punt return for a score.
"I didn't think much of it, I just went out and kicked it," Poncher said. "My holder, Aaron Curtis, he put the ball down perfect as he did all year.
"It was really neat to win state and to win it on our home field."
It was Poncher's second game-winning kick in three weeks as he kicked the PAT in a 24-23 overtime win against Hobart in the last game of the regular season.
"That was exciting because it put us in the playoffs," Poncher said. "If we had lost, we would have been out."
Poncher and his wife Patricia were reminded recently of the team's success as their two daughters -- Emily (10) and Katie (9) wore his old No. 49 jerseys -- one green and one white to a Vikings game.
"That was kind of cool to see that," Poncher said. "People remembered me and what we did that year."
Valparaiso finished with a 12-0 record and started a run of the Duneland Athletic Conference winning three straight state titles as Merrillville won in 1976 and Portage in 1977.
Poncher said he was glad to be a part of history.
"I figured at my size (150 pounds), my only shot to play high school football was to be a kicker," Poncher said. "We were really hungry that year after losing our first game in 1974 (to Munster) and that kept us from getting into the playoffs. We came back in 1975 and went undefeated."
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? | JOHN PONCHER
The John Poncher file
Poncher is quality control manager for Ozinga Ready Mix in Gary.
He and his wife Patricia have two daughters: Emily (10) and Katie (9).
Poncher kicked both PATs in Valparaiso's 14-13 win over Carmel in the 1975 Class AAA state championship football game.
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