Canoga Park Revisits the Spirit of ’68

They imagined themselves Jets, soaring through the playoffs and winning the City Section championship.

Just like their heroes, the New York Jets.

The year was 1968 and Joe Namath was leading the Jets on their improbable Super Bowl run. Meanwhile, the Canoga Park Hunters, also clad in green and white, rolled to the City final with upsets over Manual Arts, Gardena and Westchester.

The Hunters beat Poly for the title behind the running of Bobby Adams and Greg Done, and the passing of Keith Litz, who wore white shoes like Namath.

“They didn’t sell any around here, so I used alcohol to take the black off and rubbed women’s shoe polish on them,” said Litz, 48, a Woodland Hills businessman.

Litz and his teammates were honored Friday night at Canoga Park’s homecoming with a pregame reception, a meeting with the current team and halftime introductions.

Attending were more than 20 players and coach Jack Mathieson, now retired and living in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The idea was hatched during the group’s 30-year reunion in August.

“I didn’t realize the impact one semester of football can make on people’s lives,” Litz said. “Not just athletes, but the drill team, band, cheerleaders and students who go to the game. So many people [at the reunion] still remember that season as a highlight of high school.”

Times change: Canoga Park lost to Poly, 19-5, Friday night.