The Crater High Football Team of 1953 was inducted into the Crater High School Athlete Hall of Fame on September 5th, 2005. 26 former players attended the ceremony, including long-time Crater coach Leonard Warren and Doris Knapp, the widow of the late coach Ed Knapp. The team posted a 19-4 record, winning 3 Jackson, Douglas, and Josephine County league titles. The 1953 season was capped with a 20 – 14 upset of the Medford Black Tornado — the only Crater football team to defeat Medford Senior High School.

This group of athletes boasted ten All-Conference members, 17 individuals who participated at the collegiate level, and two Collegiate All-Americans. Among this group of talented athletes, six became head coaches at the High School or College level.

Members of the 1953 team: Larry Bigham, Marvin Bohnert, Jay Bowker, Gordy Carrigan, Dick Davis, Nathan Douthit, Bob Elden, Bill Evans, LeRoy Gillaspey, Jerry Golden, Allen Gosnell, Duane Goyette, Don Goyette, Bob Gray, Johnnie Greb, Neil Green, Don Hall, Dick Hamilton, Dick Harnes, Doug Harsh, Melvin Harsh, Bob Hill, Fred Hogue, Don Hubbard, George Juveland, Kay Kelley, Bob King, Carl Koellner, Bob Lance, Harold Lefler, Jack Lilly, Harry Mallon, Norman Mallon, Bob Mason, Delbert Mayfield, Howard Morris, Jerry Neitzel, Very Parent, Don Parker, Dave Parker, Frank Saxbury, Roger Seaman, John Shama, Frances Smelts, Bill Smith, Cliff Smith, James Stegall, Peto Thompson, Gordon Tidwell, Harvey Tonn, Adrian Van Horn, Dick Walker, LeRoy Waterhouse, Herb Webber, Jim Welch, David Wright, Lyle Yocum and Jerry Young.