Sean Sollenberger is an up-and-coming sports journalist, following in the footsteps of his great uncle Barry Sollenberger, who served as an Arizona high school sports historian and the AIA's Sports Information Director for decades.

When you’re a high school athletics fan from Phoenix, the name Phoenix Union will always bring up some memories. A program with 25 high school football championships in the span of 60 years is nearly unheard of in any sport. Twenty-five almost seems like a number, but every team has a story to tell. This would be the last time Phoenix Union would win a state championship in football, and like most teams this school produced, this particular squad is not short of greatness

The Coaching

The ‘55 Phoenix Union squad had Coach Sam Winningham at the helm. Winningham played quarterback at the University of Colorado in the 1940s, so he knew a thing or two about football. Winningham was also highly intelligent. Unlike most coaches at the time, he was very educated, having a master’s degree from ASU and a Ph.D. in Physical Education from Southern Cal. He had an amazingly high football IQ as well, which he used to his advantage.

Winningham coached the team with flexible tactics and grueling conditioning. He was one of the first to utilize the pulling guard, providing huge holes for their stellar running backs to explode downfield. Due to his scientific approach to the game, he ran highly structured practices. He ran very organized, high intensity drills that maximized his players being in shape. In that harsh Arizona heat, his team was ready to dominate the fourth quarter at Montgomery Stadium.

Even though most of the team was very talented and had natural athletes, Winningham was known as a coach who would hold players accountable to their roles and demand flawless execution. Unlike most high school football coaches, he was actually on the more quiet, calmer side. All in all, they had a great, tactically minded coach that approached the game in a new way that very few coaches were doing at the team.

But you could be the most well-coached team and still lose if you don’t have great players. This was not a concern for the Pack.

The Squad

There were a lot of big expectations for this team. The Coyotes were even ranked nationally in the preseason. It’s not hard to understand why. They had amazing, all-state worthy players in every position group on both sides of the ball.

An important thing to note is that most of the elite players from this squad were actually transfers from Carver High School after the desegregation of schools in Phoenix in 1954. This just goes to show how much of a powerhouse Carver was at the time.

Like most teams in the ‘50s, players lined up in multiple positions. This was true to their quarterback, receiver and defensive back Dave Hibbert. Hibbert was highly praised for his glue-like hands, coordination, route running, spatial awareness, and natural ability to track the ball. The team needed him at quarterback due to their starter, Robert Fields, being injured. As a QB, he was known for his laser accurate passes, mental toughness, and his athleticism.

At receiver, Hibbert had the pleasure to be able to throw to Darnel Haney and Delbert Hodge. Haney, standing at a massive 6-foot-7, was the team's primary red zone target. His game was tough-nosed and physical. He could catch bullets in the end zone or take it in himself, bulldozing defenders as he does. Defensively, he lined up at defensive end and used that massive frame to his advantage. Even if the opposing tackles managed to get a block on him, he could just shed it or extend one of his long arms and take down ballcarriers with his immense upper body strength.

When teams did drop back to pass, the opposing quarterbacks had to throw the ball over Hodge. Which was a seemingly impossible task. He was also a part of a 23-0 basketball team at Phoenix Union while earning All-American honors. Hodge served as the team’s speedy vertical threat that kept opposing team’s secondaries on their toes all game long. He also had elite ball hawking ability, especially on the sidelines.

Defensively, Hodge was also a star at defensive end, similar to Haney. His unique speed at the position allowed him to also drop back and become an extra secondary defender if needed. In Winningham’s defensive scheme, Hodge was a crucial part of the success. His main task on the line was fighting off blockers and disrupting runs before they got going. He had elite coverage skills, jumping passing lanes and picking off balls from unsuspecting offenses.

At offensive line the Coyotes had three impenetrable players. Those stars were tackle Sumner Smith and guards Al Carr and Desi Sanchez. Smith was every coach's dream. He had massive physical strength, an unstoppable motor, and elite hand technique to dominate the trenches. He used his very strong lower body to completely stall opposing defensive lines. Smith was also an expert at keeping his pads low, giving him a lot of leverage against his opponents. He was widely known for finishing his blocks. He would make contact, then push and push until either the whistle blew or the opponent’s defensive end was on the floor. He was also a player with a very high football IQ, executing Winningham’s single wing offense to perfection.

When possession changed, Smith went from opening big holes as offensive tackle to immediately closing them as a defensive tackle. Smith was a key piece on this unstoppable D-line. Smith’s explosive first step and unbelievable power would easily defeat interior linemen. Against run heavy teams he would use his great lower body leverage to be immovable. Due to this dominance, opposing teams had to double or even triple block him, freeing up space for their linebackers to wreak havoc.

Smith was not the only dominant linemen the Coyotes had. They also had guard Carr. Carr was defined by his jet quick speed, astounding technical mechanics, and ferocious tenacity. Carr possessed a rare quickness that was not found in most offensive linemen in the 1950s. Winningham utilized this by making him a pulling guard in the single wing to come around and knock the lights out of defenders. His ability to come around so quickly pretty much made the Pack’s outside run game unstoppable. Lacking a massive, intimidating build, Carr relied on his elite blocking mechanics to make him a great blocker. Carr was also known for running downfield and blocking linebackers or safeties, making their run game that much better.

Carr also played defensive tackle. He used that agility and leverage to completely stop run games in their tracks. He was also an exceptionally hard hitter, making sure every tackle was felt by opposing running backs in the morning.

Finally we have Sanchez. Sanchez was another one of the elite pulling guards Winningham used for the Single Wing. He was an aggressive, downhill blocker that used brute strength to create holes. Defensively, he was a monster.

All of these players were great, most of them getting athletic scholarships and all-state honors. But the main part of this team was certainly the running backs. They had three stellar backs that paved the way for the success of this team. This was essentially the Four Horsemen of high school football, except there were three of them.

The first one up ws Lafayette Windrow. A fullback, Windrow did most of the blocking and dirty work that made this offense go. He specialized in kick-out blocks, meeting the defensive end or outside linebacker head on. Blocking wasn’t his only claim to fame though. Whenever they needed a couple of yards in a tight spot, Windrow was their guy.

Next, there is Syl Mabry. Mabry was a multi-sport athlete, being as good as he was in baseball as he was in football. Due to his baseball skills, Mabry possessed elite hand-eye coordination, giving him a big advantage in blocking and catching. He had great agility and acceleration, allowing him to break big runs in open field.

Finally, we have one of the greatest running backs in Arizona high school football history -- George Greathouse. Greathouse was an unbelievable talent, earning himself first team high school All-American honors, first team all-state honors, and was a two-time state player of the year. He was so unbelievably fast and could take it to the house on any given play. He also had immense strength with similar traits to Jim Brown.

George Greathouse breaking a 94-yard TD run against West High School (Sollenberger archive photo)

He was a very tough player, playing in leather helmets and scrawny shoulder pads, Greathouse was always the one standing up after heavy contact. He could take tons of heavy hits and still score five touchdowns in a game.

His best friend, T.C. Dean, who was a two-time state champion basketball player at Carver and the first black athlete to receive an athletic scholarship at GCU, recalls attempting to tackle Greathouse in a scrimmage. He explained that he tried to tackle Greathouse but was carried 10 extra yards before finally taking him down. If this isn’t enough to show you that Greathouse was one of a kind, in his first-ever varsity game, he took his first carry 45 yards for a touchdown. He then followed that up with a 75-yard touchdown dash on his second-ever touch.

Having all this talent, along with Winningham’s high football IQ, this team was bound for an astounding season. It certainly did not disappoint.

The Season

The campaign began with an explosive start. Nearly 9,000 fans watched the Coyotes decimate neighboring St. Mary’s 33-6 at Montgomery Stadium. Greathouse led the way with three touchdowns, along with Hibbert finding the end zone as well.

But then tragedy struck. The Pack traveled to South Mountain and were stunned 14-13 by the Jaguars. The Arizona Republic described it as one of the most shocking defeats in Arizona high school football.

After this disastrous loss, Phoenix Union needed to regroup against Yuma High, a team that would finish second in the state. The Coyotes used their anger to pound the Criminals 35-0. They leaned on the passing attack with Hibbert finding Haney and Hodge multiple times. Greathouse hit paydirt twice and also fired a touchdown pass to Hodge. Mabry got into the action by scoring from 69 yards out. The star power of the Pack was simply too much for Yuma.

The next games would be tough. They faced San Diego’s Helix High School and Santa Barbara High School. The Helix squad was just not enough to go up against Greathouse and company. They got clobbered by the Coyotes 39-2. The Santa Barbara game carried more weight to it. Phoenix Union had faced the Dons six times in history, losing all six. Phoenix Union struck first blood late in the first quarter as Hodge picked off a pass and took it 55 yards for a touchdown.

Greathouse finished the game off by punching in a short yardage run. The Coyotes, for the first time ever, bested Santa Barbara by a score of 14-0.

Next they faced Tucson. The Pack decimated the Badgers 26-6. This meant that the Siegel Memorial Trophy stayed in Phoenix. The play of the game was Smith taking a fumble 36 yards for a score.

Then they faced an unpredictable, but great, Mesa High team. In a close contest, over 5,000 people saw the Coyotes narrowly defeat Mesa 13-7. Greathouse led the way yet again.

The Coyotes didn’t travel too far to face their next opponent, Phoenix’s newest school, West High. It was a team effort that had the Coyotes rout West 28-0. Greathouse dashed 94 yards for a score, and Hibbert found Haney for a key touchdown pass.

On a Saturday afternoon at UofA’s stadium, the Pack destroyed Amphitheater 34-0. Greathouse scored three times, one of those being a 4-yarder, which would be his 63rd and last touchdown of his high school career.

Finally, on Thanksgiving day, Phoenix Union faced North in front of over 9,000 diehard fans. The Coyotes struck first on a 21-yard pass from Hibbert to Hodge. But later in the game, Greathouse would lose the ball and watch North defenders take it in for the score and tying the game up. No team would score again, ending in a 7-7 tie.

That would be the end of the season. The Pack finished 8-1-1, by far the best record in AA. There were no playoffs in 1955 and voters tabulated results on who they thought deserved the state crown. This gave the Coyotes their 25th and last state title in football. It truly was an unforgettable season for them.

The Legacy

A lot of key parts of this team had great careers after this season. First, Winningham would win class AA Coach of the Year and would continue to coach Phoenix Union until 1960, compiling a 44-28-4 record. He would then transition to college coaching at Cal State Northridge. He coached there from 1962 to 1968. In 1967 his Matadors team beat West Texas State in the Junior Rose Bowl.

After retiring from football Winningham became the Chairman of Physical Education at CSUN from 1978-1988, and then went on to become Assistant Athletic Director. He was inducted into the university’s athletics hall of fame in 1987. In 2017, CSUN honored him by naming a part of campus the Sam Winningham Spirit Plaza. He passed away in 2024 at the age of 97.

Hibbert, the Coyotes’ undersized quarterback stayed local and played at Phoenix College. There he was a Junior College All-American in 1956 and 1957. He then transferred to the University of Arizona, where he would put together an amazing career. In 1958, he recorded 61 receptions in just 10 games, which led the NCAA and was a record until 1960. After football he went into the building and contracting business. He helped build real estate around central Phoenix and was well known by neighbors as a guy with a lot of community leadership.

Hibbert coached youth sports teams, ran Cub Scouts out of his own house, and liked to compete in senior league softball. He passed away in 2009 at age 70.

Haney went on to play football and basketball at ASU as a freshman in 1956 with a brief stint in the Coast Guard from 1957 to 1959. Due to his high school athletic abilitiess and military league play being so well known, he was actually drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in the NBA draft in 1959.

He declined that offer and transferred to Utah State, which was the right decision. In basketball he averaged 12.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in his 46-game career. He led Utah State to a conference title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Moving back to the gridiron, Haney was a monster receiver and defensive end. He was so impressive that he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1963 NFL draft, making him a draftee of two professional sports leagues.

In his later years, Haney was a truly amazing person. He helped out with youth and was an all-around nice guy. He passed away in 2025 at the age of 88 and was deeply missed.

Unlike his counterparts, Hodge did not pursue an athletic career in college. He instead chose the military path. After that, he served as a heavy machinery worker and is still alive and going strong today.

Smith was named All-State after that magical season and went on to play tackle for ASU. He was a key part of that lineup. After college he moved to Arkansas and established a castle and livestock ranch. At the same time, Hodge worked for the US Postal service for 30 years. He passed away in 2025 at the age of 87.

Sanchez was named an all-state player and went on to play at ASU during his collegiate time. It was hard to find what Sanchez did after football, but he did, however, coach teams in the Catholic Youth Organization athletic leagues. He is still alive today.

Mabry went on to be the starting halfback at NAU and would dominate there. After football, he would work for the Salt River Project (SRP), one of the state’s largest utility companies. He later wrote a book about his experiences and the history of other Black Arizonans called “Arizona Negro.” He would pass away in 2025 and his celebration of life service would be held at George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, where Carver High School was opened 100 years prior.

Finally, there is Greathouse. After terrorizing high school defenses he decided to take his talents to Arizona State. He would play there for two years before quitting the team due to conflicts with new head coach Frank Kush. He dropped out of school and decided to pursue an entirely different career path, opening the Esquire Barber & Beauty Salon on Jefferson St. It quickly became a hotspot in Phoenix and Greathouse is widely credited with bringing the Afro to Phoenix in the 1960’s. His barbershop was host to some names fans might recognize, such as Jesse Owens, Shaquille O’Neal, and the great Muhammad Ali.

In 2009 Greathouse was inducted into The Arizona Central High School Sports Hall of Fame. He officially retired and closed the Esquire Barber & Beauty Salon after 52 years and sadly passed away in 2021. When his time came, people remembered him not only as a football paladin, but a legendary community figure that would ultimately have a lasting impact on the city of Phoenix.

This team marked the end of an era. The dominance that Phoenix Union had in football was officially coming to a stop. There wouldn't really be a better way to go out like this. With so many legendary squads that Phoenix Union had, it’s easy to get lost in the pile. It made a huge and lasting impact on Arizona high school football to this day.