Fields of History: Monongah Football

WBOY-TV reposted this. It appeared originally in 2014, then in 2015. It’s worth another look.

MONONGAH -- Very few things change the landscape of high school athletics like consolidation.

Marion County once boasted nine high schools, now the county has three.

Monongah High School was consolidated into North Marion in the 70's. But still today, the Lions have more state football titles than North Marion, East Fairmont and Fairmont Senior have combined.

"It was tremendous to know you had such a great team here that would be fighting for a state championship each year," said John Veasey, editor for the Times West Virginian.

Where Monongah Football once played their games, now stands an elementary school and playground.

Veasey began covering Marion County sports in 1959. He remembers an era dominated by the Lions.

"They were just better than all the other teams around," he said. "They opened every year against East Fairmont. A AAA team versus a smaller team, and about every year East Fairmont would lose."

Monongah won 5 state football titles (1952, 1955, 1968, 1969, 1973). Its most notable alumni led two of them. (Also a state baseball title in 1955.)

Kerry Marbury was a WVU football star who played pro ball in Canada. His teammate Nick Saban needs no introduction.

"I played professional football, I played College football, Pop Warner, and High School," said Marbury. "I played all levels, and the most fun I had was in High School and Pop Warner."

"Kerry Marbury was just a college player among high school kids," said Veasey. "And Nick Saban, Earl Keener would always call him a coach on the field."

Marbury and Saban are still friends. Their bond goes back for years.

"Nick Sr. told us if we started winning he'd take us to the Dairy Queen he had," said Marbury. "That motivated us and we started winning, so much so, he almost went broke."

Monongah spent it's latter years playing at East-West Stadium. The field where Monongah Elementary now stands became a practice field.

Today only the rusted out backstop of the former duel-purpose field, and a torn down scoreboard tucked in the woods still remain.

"Some of the most fond memories I have took place at that field," Marbury said. "The comradery we had, the friendships that were developed there I will never forget."