Under Hamlin, the Falcons were dominant from 1962-1964, going 24-3 over that span. Roth was 10-0 in 1963 and set a school record in 1964 with 312 points thanks to a talented roster that included receiver Lon Gilbert (Louisville), fullback Jim Harden (Bowling Green) and quarterback Verbie Walder (Miami, Ohio).
The highlight of the 1978 season was snapping Meadowdale’s 25-game win streak with a 19-14 win en route to the city title.
Roth went out with a bang.
The Falcons, fueled by running back Keith Byars, recorded back-to-back undefeated runs (10-0) in their final two seasons (1980 and 1981). Advancing to the Division II state playoffs each year, Roth lost in the first round to Lebanon 17-0 in 1980 and Trotwood-Madison 33-13 in 1981. The Falcons’ 1980 postseason berth was the first for any City League team.
Roth, which was located at 4447 Hoover Avenue, became a middle school beginning in the 1982-83 school year. The doors were permanently closed in 2004, and demolition started later that year. Thurgood Marshall High School now stands on the same turf.
This is the latest in a season-long series of the top high school football players in Dayton area history. The Dayton Daily News received recommendations and nominations from athletic directors and readers to help compile the list.
Below are the top eight players in Roth history:
Laron Brown, WR, 1982
Few football players in area history have been able to rival Brown’s speed. True track standout that transitioned to football. A two-time DDN All-Greater Dayton selection, he caught 32 passes for 695 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. Went to Tennessee on a football ride, but also ran track (sprints). Played for the Denver Broncos in 1987. Speedster won his 31st straight 400-meter race and an Ohio Class AA state title in a then-state meet record 47.54 as senior. Finished runner-up in the 100 and 200. Was Class AAA state champion in the 400 and 200 and runner-up in the 100 as a junior.
Keith Byars, RB, 1982
One of the area’s top prep products ever. Multi-sport star in football, basketball, baseball and track was a part of five state titles (track and basketball). Best sport was football where he had over 3,000-yards rushing. Ran for 1,173 yards as a junior and 1,590 yards as a senior. Named DDN All-Greater Dayton both seasons. Went to Ohio State where he was Heisman Runner-Up and Big Ten Player of the Year as a junior after running for a then-school record 1,764 yards and 22 touchdowns. Big game was a 274-yard, five-touchdown performance against Illinois in which the Buckeyes rallied from a 24-0 deficit to win 45-38 on Byars final touchdown with 36 seconds left. Famously ran out of his shoe on his fourth score that day – a 67-yard jaunt. Was a two-time first team All-Big Ten and All-American selection. Finished OSU career with 4,369 total yards, 50 touchdowns (ranks second) and 3,200 yards rushing. Drafted in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft (10th pick overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles. Spent seven years in Philly and 13 in the NFL (stints with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets). Selected for the Pro Bowl in 1993 and member of the Eagles 75th Anniversary Team. Finished NFL career with 610 receptions, 865 carries, 54 touchdowns, 3,109 yards rushing and 5,661 yards receiving. Member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Averaged 11 points and a team-high 13 rebounds as a senior on Roth’s 1982 Class AA state championship basketball team and ran on state meet winning 400 relay team that helped secure the 1982 Class AA track and field state title. Hit .457 in baseball. “No question he’s a great athlete,” legendary Roth head coach Tom Montgomery told Chick Ludwig of the DDN in 1981. “But it’s a team thing…He accepts being a big spoke on the wheel.”
James “Butch” Caldwell, QB, 1972
Three-year starter accounted for nearly 4,000 total yards (2,600 passing and 1,300 rushing) and 46 total touchdowns (including 34 passing) during storied career. Three-time All-City League selection was named Class AA All-Ohio and DDN All-Greater Dayton as a junior. Named a Journal Herald Area All-Star and DDN All-Greater Dayton as a senior. Also played free safety. Highly sought-after prospect went to Iowa, where he was recruited by assistant coach Jack Harbaugh. Got his first start in Week 8 as a freshman and finished the season under center. Played four seasons in Iowa and sat one (1974) due to an appendectomy. Led the Hawkeyes to come-from-behind win at Northwestern as a senior by throwing the winning touchdown pass with 40 seconds to play in a 24-21 victory. Ran for 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw for 1,651 yards and seven touchdowns in 44 career games at Iowa. One of the first African-American quarterbacks to start at a major university, he was an Iowa captain and team MVP in 1976. Signed NFL free agent contracts with the Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers. Injuries limited pro career. Finished degree at Iowa in 2020 at age 66.
Jim Harden, FB, 1965
Two-time DDN All-Greater Dayton and All-City selection scored 186 points his junior and senior seasons (27 touchdowns and 12 two-point conversions) en route to helping Falcons win City League titles both years. Went to Bowling Green.
Larry Lee, OL, 1977
Two-time DDN All-Greater Dayton selection was named Class AAA All-Ohio as a senior when he was also the first unanimous offensive line selection on the DDN All-Public League team in nine years. Became then-head coach Terry Donahue’s first recruit from Ohio at UCLA where he earned first team ALL-Pac 10 honors as a senior. Drafted in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL Draft (No. 129 overall) by the Detroit Lions. Spent eight years in the NFL and started 25 of 96 career games with the Lions, Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos. Served as the Lions’ Vice President of Football Operations from 1996-2000. Also a standout athlete in wrestling and track and field. Placed third in the shot put (58-5) and fifth in the discus (168-1) at the 1977 Class AAA state meet.
Leon Thomasson, DB, 1981
Two-time first team DDN All-Public League selection was named DDN All-Greater Dayton and Class AAA first team All-Ohio as a senior. “Thomasson patterns himself after Kenny Easley,” Montgomery told Ludwig in 1980. “He reads defenses well. He makes things happen.” Went to Texas Southern. Played for the Atlanta Falcons in 1987.
Paul Thompson, LB, 1977
Two-time DDN All-Greater Dayton selection garnered more votes among area coaches than any linebacker as a junior and averaged 14 tackles as a senior (when he also had three interceptions). Doubled as a standout running back that produced 1,022 yards rushing as a senior when he was named Class AAA All-Ohio.
Verbie Walder, QB, 1965
Two-time All-City League and All-Greater Dayton selection was named first team Class AA All-Ohio as a senior after leading the Falcons to their second straight City League title and setting a then-city single-season record with 18 touchdown passes. Finished his career with a then-area record 37 career touchdown passes. Completed 80 of 158 passes for 1,461 yards and no interceptions as a senior, including five touchdowns in a 58-0 season-ending win over Troy. Following a Week 1 loss to Moeller (21-12) that season, Crusaders head coach Gerry Faust called Walder “the greatest roll-out quarterback” he’d ever seen. Tossed 14 touchdowns as a junior when the Falcons finished 10-0. Played in the Ohio North-South Game where he suffered a knee injury. Recruited to Miami (Ohio) by then-head coach Bo Schembechler. Transferred to Sacramento State after sitting out his freshman year following surgery.
Honorable Mention: Charles Bell, DB, 1965; Randy Bozeman, RB, 1981; Calvin Brown, DE, 1978; Chris Clements, LB, 1981; Ed Cooley, DL, 1980; Mark Davis, OL, 1971; Terry Daniels, OL, 1982; Larry Dickerson, E, 1969; Ron Ditto, E, 1965; Tim Garrison, OL, 1982; Lon Gilbert, E, 1965; Antonio Goldsmith, DL, 1982; Jeffrey Grant, DB, 1975; Jim Harden, FB, 1965; Chae Harris, OL, 1981; Jim Hathcock, OL, 1964; Dickie Howard, OL, 1967; Frank Jackson, RB, 1965; Mike John, DL, 1970; Jerome Johnson, DL, 1970; Ivory Kennedy, RB, 1980; Nate Kimbrough, OL, 1981; John Lumpkin, E, 1967; Ron Malone, RB, 1979; Cedric Manuel, K, 1982; Howard McClerian, LB, 1978; Paul Moore, DE, 1977; Frank Murray, DL, 1963; Bobby Oldham, LB, 1971; Marshall Parks, DL, 1977; Phil Peterson, WR, 1979; Mike Pullen, DL, 1965; Delbert Render, RB, 1971; Tim Saine, DB, 1979; Jeff Schulte, WR, 1980; Walter Seldon, QB, 1981; Pete Sharp, OL, 1980; Eric Skinner, LB, 1967; Rod Sneed, LB, 1980; Alvin Starks, DE, 1980; Paul Sumlin, DE, 1964; Greg Thurman, DL, 1978; Randell Webb, DL, 1981; Mike White, HB, 1970; John Williams, DL, 1977.
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