2020: Bill Rainey, Crawford Football Star and CIF Track Champ

Bill Rainey left with a couple championships when he graduated from Crawford High in 1962 and went on to the University of Southern California.

Rainey, who passed away recently at his home in Seattle, was the San Diego Section football player of the year in 1961 and also was the first San Diego Section track-and-field champion in the 880-yard run in 1961.

Two separate and distinctive achievements.

As a junior Rainey bested  the field at Kearny High in the inaugural San Diego Section championships, winning in a time of 1:58.0.

Rainey proceeded to score 19 touchdowns in the fall and led Crawford to the CIF championship, 13-0 over Kearny, but it was in the game the previous week that forever etched Rainey’s name in San Diego Section lore.

The 175-pound halfback scored 5 touchdowns in a 31-13 victory over Helix in a contest billed as matching the two best teams in the County.  Entering the game Crawford was 6-0-2 and Helix 8-0.

Crawford’s 8-0-2 championship record remains the only unbeaten season in school history.

Rainey was an all-Southern California, first-team choice by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the San Diego Section player of the year.

Bill did not defend his 880-yard championship in the spring track season.  He instead contributed to Crawford’s track-and-field squad by becoming a pole vaulter.