A Pearl River College connection led running back Fred Runte from his high school in Lake Charles, La., to Poplarville. His backfield coach was Robert "Arab" Morris, a former PRCC star and member of the school’s Sports Hall of Fame.
"He suggested that Pearl River might fit in my style of football," said Runte. "I had respect for Coach Morris and looked up to him. When he said that, my family drove over here, looked the place over, and I was accepted. I kind of wanted to get away from home anyway. Turned out to be the best two years of my life. I will never forget it."
Runte was an all-state halfback on the 1961 national champion Wildcats. He ran back punts and played cornerback on defense. 
He was a two-year starter and possessed "pretty good hands" for a 145-pound player.
Players for Coach Holden say he was a sticker for details, something Runte can attest.
"When Coach Holden devised a game plan, always if we performed it like he expected, there would be no problem," said Runte. 
"But when Coach threw up both his hands, somebody did not run that play right. We had to keep running the play over and over until Coach Holden would not throw both hands up in the air."
During his stay at PRCC, the Wildcats were 19-1 over two years. He went on to play at Southeastern Louisiana.