Illowa Conference — 1953-59
Clearly, Bettendorf’s supremacy
in the Illowa Conference was just the beginning of the dynasty that would become
Bulldog football.
Illowa Conference Champions
Illowa Conference Champions 
The Bettendorf Football program began in 1951 and for the
first two seasons the Bulldogs were independents and not affiliated with any
league. However, in 1953 they became members of the newly-formed Illowa
Conference and as the name implied, consisted of both Iowa and Illinois team; on
the Iowa side, St. Mary’s of Clinton, DeWitt, and Bettendorf comprised nearly
half the league while Illinois schools Amboy, Fulton, Lyons, Morrison, Newman,
and Savanna completed the conference.
There certainly were some great
games among the Illowa Conference rivalries and in 1954 the enmity spilled from
the field into the parking lot as the Bettendorf-Amboy game was followed by an
unfortunate scuffle in which an Amboy fan died from a concussion.
For the seven seasons the
Bettendorf was a member of the Illowa Conference, five different teams won the league title while only
one school—Bettendorf—won more than one championship and did so
their last three seasons in the conference from 1957-59. As well, Bettendorf’s
domination of the Illowa the last few seasons also marked the beginning of
Bettendorf’s First Winning Streak that would ultimately culminate in 1960.
Bettendorf Bulldogs
1957, 1958, 1959
Lyons Lions
1953
St. Mary’s of Clinton
1954
Newman Comets
1955
DeWitt Sabers
1956
Amboy Clippers
Bettendorf Bulldogs
DeWitt Sabers
Fulton Steamers
Lyons Lions
Morrison Mustangs
Newman Comets
Savanna Indians
St. Mary's of Clinton
