Great Newton runner having great time in Dallas
By CRAIG MURPHY NDN Sports Writer, September 2008

Even though Chad Guthrie is 20 years removed from an incredible senior year on the gridiron and living in Texas, the former fullback still applies what he learned on the field to everyday life. For longtime fans, Guthrie’s name brings back fond memories. And for good reason. In 1988, No. 37 scored a total of 37 touchdowns. Of those, a school-record 32 came on the ground. Another record was the 1,965 yards Guthrie, now 37, amassed on the ground. Six touchdowns came in one game, also a school record. The fact those numbers are still records in a football program offensively based on the run is impressive indeed. “Obviously it feels awesome,” Guthrie said from Dallas, where he is senior sales executive at New Media Gateway. “I’m very proud of those statistics. I look back on those memories of playing in Newton very fondly. “Playing football at Newton had something to do with everything after,” he added. “It helped me a lot. It’s helped me with everything since high school.”

After graduating from Newton in 1989, Guthrie went on to play football at Northeast Missouri State, now Truman State. Following college, Guthrie took a job teaching at Marshalltown High School. In his first summer after taking the teaching job, Guthrie played in a rugby tournament in Kansas City against a team from Dallas. That led him to move to Dallas, playing for the Dallas Reds. “I broke every bone in my body,” joked Guthrie, who hasn’t played the game in five years and is loving life in Dallas.

Prior to life in Dallas, Guthrie loved being part of a powerful group of Newton players that were nearly unbeatable from the time they entered the field in seventh grade. “All through seventh and eighth grade, all the way into our senior years, we had lost only two games.” Guthrie recalled. “The system we ran was excellent. I think our team could compete with anybody, even now. We had a great class. And what we didn’t have, the junior class complemented nicely. Coach Stiles did an excellent job with the offensive line, and Coach Jenkins had us in top form.” Guthrie followed that offensive line to paydirt time and time again, including the game in which he set the school record with six touchdowns. “If I remember right, it was Indianola,” he said. “It was our first conference game. I had a kickoff and a punt return for a touchdown, and four rushing touchdowns. That’s not a bad game. I remember it being just a great game. “Our offensive line that year was way superior to anything opposing defenses could put up,” Guthrie added. “I’m not sure I was that good, I think it was just the O-line that made the holes. Anyone that could run a straight line could have gotten through there.” Not everyone would agree with the modesty.

In a Newton Daily News story last summer, longtime Newton football historian Tom Weeks called Guthrie the best player he had ever seen. “That’s a huge compliment,” a humbled Guthrie said. “Newton has such a great tradition of football. To be thought of at the top, I’m happy with that. I worked hard, and so did my teammates. I’m very appreciative of the honor.” Guthrie noted the spotlight can shine on the wrong position due to how the Newton game of football is played. “At Newton it’s somewhat easy for a running back to be thought of in that way because we run a lot,” he said. “But we’ve had some great offensive linemen that have made the backs look good over the years.”

As Guthrie’s senior season drew to a close, his undefeated Cards were on a collision course with fellow unbeaten 4A Bettendorf. The two met in the title game, a rematch of the 1980 game won by Newton. There would be no repeat for the Cards, as Bettendorf capped off a perfect season with the title. “I feel we didn’t play our best game,” Guthrie lamented. “I know I did not play my best game. I had a couple of fumbles. We started out behind. Bettendorf had been there the year before. We were a little overwhelmed. But if we had 10 chances, I think we would win that game seven or eight times.” Guthrie said the loss could be traced back six years earlier. “A lot of us had talked about the state title game since seventh grade,” he said. “We were maybe a little overconfident, telling everyone that by our senior year we would be state champions.” Still, Guthrie greatly enjoyed being in the class. “I don’t know what the right word is,” he said. “I’m very proud to be a part of that group. We were pretty good in every sport. We certainly had a lot of talented players.”

Guthrie took from Newton lessons he applies now to his life in Texas. “The lessons I learned were about preparation and focusing on things you want to accomplish,” he said. “It was not fancy at Newton. We had four plays, so we didn’t surprise anybody. But if you do those things really well, you can be successful.”