The 1973 Salem-West Branch game played in a monsoon in then West Branch Stadium (now Clinton Heacock Stadium) was a classic. West Branch won 7-6 on a 73-yard punt return by Doug Blasiman and clutch snap, hold and PAT kick by Jim Stitle through a driving rain. “What can you say, just a super run and kick,” said then West Branch head coach Dick Hartzell in an article in the Alliance Review. “The return was exactly what we needed because our offense just couldn’t get untracked between the muddy field and their defense. Stitle showed real poise under pressure in making the point after, but don’t forget the snap of a wet ball by Mike Brown who did a great job on punts all night long, and the hold by Jerry Buell.”
West Branch finished 9-1 that season and the Warriors' All-Ohio quarterback, Mark Rohaley, was chosen to QB Ohio in the Big 33 game against Pennsylvania and some guy from Ringgold (Pa.) High School named Joe Montana.