La Salle College High School Football: In Retrospect

NOTE: This is the thirty-fourth in a series of retrospectives highlighting some unique history of the football program at La Salle. Please continue to provide me with suggestions for future topics. Hope you enjoy these. Bill Wasylenko, ‘69 Issue Number Thirty-Four: A Falcon Never Lets Go

This is the story of the rich football rivalry between the La Salle Explorers and the North Catholic Falcons.

In the early 1920’s, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of , foresaw the need to expand the reach of the Archdiocese. He acquired many plots of land in the outer reaches of the city of Philadelphia, and beyond, into what we now know as the suburbs. His visionary plan allowed for many parishes and parish schools to be built on these plots of land years after their acquisition.

But, in the field of secondary education, the needs were more pressing. With just two diocesan high schools for boys (Catholic High, West Catholic) located in the city of Philadelphia, it was time for another boys’ high school to be built to meet the growing demand for Catholic secondary education.

The land for Northeast Catholic High School (“North” Catholic started to appear around 1937) was purchased from the Railroad Company, and the school opened on September 7, 1926, to 277 freshmen and 172 sophomores. Eight Oblates and 5 other teachers formed the initial faculty.

The first class at Northeast Catholic chose a Latin expression for its motto; the translation: “What I have, I will not lose”. To reflect this motto, the school symbol was chosen to be the falcon, a bird of prey that is completely faithful to its trainer, and never lets go of what it has captured. The students also chose the school colors to be Cardinal red and white, with red honoring Dennis Cardinal Dougherty’s sponsorship of the school.

In just their second year of existence, in the fall of 1927, the Northeast Catholic Falcons fielded a football team in the 7-year old Philadelphia Catholic League. Though their 0-7- 1 inaugural record was probably expected, they played some close games, with a scoreless tie against St. Joseph’s Prep, and losses to West Catholic 8-6, and Catholic (not yet Roman Catholic) 6-0. La Salle (not the Explorers just yet) eked out a 7-6 win over the fledgling Falcons, on their way to a share of the regular title with Catholic (Catholic won the playoff game, 26-0). In 1928, the Falcons started their long rivalry with the Frankford Pioneers, and the following season started their Thanksgiving traditional game. Banished from the Catholic League after the 1927 season, La Salle did not play Northeast Catholic during the 1928 to 1933 seasons. Meanwhile, the fledgling Falcons grew bigger and stronger, and by 1934 were a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron.

In 1930, a familiar La Salle name took over the fortunes of the Falcon eleven. Kenneth “Cy” Simendinger, great star of the undefeated 1917 La Salle football team, became head coach of the Falcons, and also was the hoops-master, staying on to 1940. Simendinger had a few average seasons at first, but 1934 saw the Falcons rise to the top of the Catholic League, sharing the title after a scoreless playoff game against Salesianum. In that first year back in the Catholic League, La Kenneth “Cy” Salle was welcomed back rudely by Northeast Catholic with a Simendinger, former 33-6 drubbing on October 5, 1934. La Salle great

By the fall of 1935, enrollment at Northeast Catholic grew to 2,300 students, and the football team went undefeated, their season only blemished by a scoreless tie with West Catholic, but they won their first outright Catholic League championship in front of 15,000 fans at Baker Bowl with a 9-0 playoff whitewash of the Burrs. On November 9, 1935, the Falcons had dispatched the Explorers by a 54-0 bloodletting.

Simendinger’s charges won again in 1936 with an perfect 8-0-0 record, including 6 shutouts. La Salle was not one of them, though; led by star back John Edinger, they gave the Falcons a tough time in a 12-6 loss. Frank Reagan, of Penn and fame, led the Falcons to a 32-0 regular-season clinching of the title against St. Joseph’s Prep, with two TD runs (one off a fake punt) and two TD passes.

The Falcons won their 4th straight Catholic League title in 1937 in a playoff game at Baker Bowl against St. Joseph’s Prep. Their 8 wins in an 8-1-1 season were all by shutouts, including a 17-0 victory over the Explorers in the mud and rain.

During this time, Northeast Catholic featured some great players, including backs Ed Reagan and Frank Reagan, end Buzz Howlett, backs John Sadlik and Marty Toohey, and lineman Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, who went on to play at Temple, and then for 13 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was known as one of the toughest (and dirtiest!) players in the NFL. Kilroy was an assistant coach for the Eagles in the late 50’s, and went on to work for the Boston Patriots of the League. Though the PCL championships stopped for a while for North after the 1937 season, their dominance over La Salle continued. In 1938, the Explorers lost a season-ending game to the Falcons, 26-6, yet again in the driving rain and mud. 1939 was a much closer affair, with La Salle coming up short, 12-7, despite netting 13 first downs to North’s 5. The turning point was a 96- yard interception return by North’s Ed Garaffe to make the score 12-0. Johnny Krystkiewicz’s TD run made the score close, but La Salle went down yet again to the Falcons.

The Falcons had slipped under Simendinger during 1939 and 1940, winning only 3 times each year, but he continued his undefeated mastery over his Alma Mater with a 12-0 blanking of the Bondermen (Jim Bonder was the Explorer coach). This was Simendinger’s last year at the Falcon helm; Babe Marshall took over in 1941, and the transition was not smooth, as the North limped home with a 0-8-1 record, including a rare loss to La Salle, 20-0. Bunky McMenamin ran off-tackle on the second play from scrimmage for a 45-yard touchdown, and the Explorers were never headed in notching their first win over North since 1927; in both of those seasons, the Falcons won nary a game.

North Catholic opened its doors to 3,149 students in the fall of 1942, and it was still growing; annexes in nearby parishes were used to accommodate many of the students. Babe Marshall righted the ship as the Falcons won 7 games, including a 7-6 edging of a good La Salle team. Explorer fullback Paul Gibbons scored early for La Salle, but North’s All-Catholic back Jim Dugan bowled over for a 4th-quarter touchdown, and end Jim Begley’s extra point sent the Blue and Gold home with a heart- breaking loss. Begley baffled the Blue and Gold in 1943 too, scoring on an end-around in a 13-0 victory over the Explorers. 1938 Wisterian The Falcon fortunes were rising again, as Babe Marshall led them to a 9-1-0 record in the 1943 season, falling just short of the PCL title won by West Catholic.

LS’s Tommy Byron (#17) gains 1st down in 1943 game But Marshall left prior to 1944, probably joining the service, and John Gillespie took his place. He continued a real Golden age of Falcon football with a 7-1-2 record in 1944. La Salle battled North to a 7-7 tie in their league finale; Jim Sundstrom scored in the first quarter for the Explorers, but North tied the game in the third quarter. 1945 saw the two teams play in the season opener, and North won easily, 20-0. La Salle had a unique season in 1945, losing their first 4 games and winning their last 5.

In 1946, both clubs were contenders for the Catholic League title. On September 29, 1946, La Salle and North squared off in yet another bad weather game, and the Falcons edged out the Explorers, 18-13, on their way to a share of the regular season lead with West Catholic. But the Burrs won the playoff game, 8-0, at , in front of 40,000 fans. North Catholic, West Catholic, and Catholic League football were at its peak of popularity; North’s enrollment in 1946 exceeded 4,000 students. North crushed La Salle, 26-0, in 1947, as Harry Connor scored three times, twice on rushes and one on a pass reception. 1948 was no different, as North, now under young Jack Gillespie, whitewashed the Blue and Gold, 27-0. In 1949, the Falcons returned to championship glory with an dominant 11-0-0 season, culminating in their first City Title over Gratz, 21-6. North bested La Salle at Yellowjacket on October 16, 32-13. 1947: La Salle defenders after Falcon The Falcons won the Catholic League again in 1950, but lost the City Title to Bok, 13-0. The powerful Falcon line, outweighing La Salle by 20 pounds a man, stifled the Explorers in an 18-0 victory. 1951 saw another North shutout, this time by 35 points, and 1952 was marginally more competitive, as North won, 19-7, on their way to another PCL Championship and a City Title, defeating Lincoln, 25-0. North Catholic football seemed to be becoming a veritable dynasty, and their ranks swelled to 4,726 students in the fall of 1953. 109 Oblates, along with 23 other teachers, comprised the school staff. North was now reputed to be the world’s largest high school for boys.

The Falcons were also routinely winning their 25-year old Turkey Day affair with Frankford, shutting out the Pioneers for five consecutive years between 1942 and 1946. There seemed to be no stopping North Catholic.

Bill Alter (#40) and John McAneney (#24) zero in on North Catholic rusher in The 1950 game. On Sunday, November 1, 1953, La Salle would take its anemic 2-17-1 overall record against North into battle at McCarthy Stadium. The previous week, La Salle battled Roman to a frustrating 25-25 tie, blowing an 18-7 lead, and having to come back to tie the game. With just 8 seniors on the team, many underclassmen were relied upon as starters. 1952: Gerry Chesnes (#21) avoids Their 0-3-2 record gave no North tackler indication of what was going to transpire.

But 1953 was the “Season of Coming Attractions”, a turnaround year for La Salle football fortunes, and this game against North was a watershed event.

Early in the 2nd quarter, La Salle recovered a fumble by North’s Ray Banas on the Falcon 34. Four plays later, junior RB Jim Ward punched it in from the one, and the Explorers had a 6-0 lead, which lasted through halftime and through the 3rd quarter. Early in the 4th quarter, junior Ed Nessler intercepted a Banas pass and returned it to the North 20. Nessler, subbing at quarterback for injured senior Bill Magee, scored from 6 yards out to make it 12-0, and the Explorer stands were rocking. Another North fumble led to another Ward 1-yard TD, and the 18-0 win was La Salle’s first over North since 1941. Two weeks later, La Salle also beat West Catholic in an upset, and went on to win their last 4 games.

In the early 50’s, North lineman Frank D’Agostino went on to play at Auburn, & became the 3rd Falcon to play in the NFL when he played all 12 games for the Eagles in 1956.

The times they were a’changin’ for North Catholic in the mid-50’s, as both Father Judge and Cardinal Dougherty opened for business, alleviating the overpopulation at North. La Salle now sought to get even for all those brutal years at the hands of the Falcons, and beat North soundly in 1954, 27-7. In 1955, the La Salle defense shut out North, 6-0, as a double reverse put the Explorers in the end zone for the winning score. The Blue and Gold won their first PCL Championship, and also the City Title in 1955, finishing 10-0-0.

1954: LS QB Ed Nessler bootlegs around end 1955: Ray Frankson & trio of NC tacklers But North Catholic was back in 1956 with a strong team, belting La Salle in the final regular season game, 34-12, mowing their way through the Catholic League, losing only one game by one point to St. James, and they defeated Lincoln again for the City Title, 12-0, as the Falcons featured an 8-man defensive front that stifled the Railsplitter ground game.

La Salle repeated its 1955 achievements in 1957, but accomplished them without playing North, a first since 1933. Two postponements, one for the Asian flu, and one for a snowstorm, led the teams to cancel the game. The Explorers had already clinched Frank D’Agostino the regular season Catholic League crown at that point. at Auburn By the late 50’s, North’s football fortunes were noticeably lower than in its Golden Age of 1942 to 1957, and they suffered a 42-12 pasting from the Blue and Gold in 1958. Ray Koss and Scotty Maxwell each scored twice on runs, and Howie Guarini’s long TD pass to Tom McTear gave the Explorers a 30-0 halftime lead. 1959 was more of the same with an 18-0 win over North, as Guarini, Maxwell, and Bob Biggans ran in for scores, and the La Salle defense stopped North in their tracks.

In 1960, La Salle clinched the PCL championship in the regular season with a 28-8 decision over the Falcons. Ed Brennan scored on an 8-yard run, and Tom Crow added two rushing scores. La Salle defeated North rival Frankford for the City Title, 24-0.

The North Catholic Thanksgiving rivalry against Frankford took on mythical dimensions over the years. The Pioneers were a Public League powerhouse, winning dozens of championships, the New York Yankees of Philadelphia high school football. Despite that success, Frankford usually went home with the giblets and not the turkey on Thanksgiving. In fifteen seasons that Frankford won the Public League, the Falcons bested them on Turkey Day, including 2005, when North was 0-11-0 heading into that game. There was something about that neighborhood game that brought out the best in the Falcons.

La Salle’s season opener in 1961 was against the Red and White, and they won 18-8, as Frank Daniel and Ed Brennan both scored in the first half to put the Blue and Gold in the lead for good. The Explorers had now defeated the Falcons 4 straight times, and their stingy defense kept North scoreless for the next 3 years, as they rolled up wins of 20-0, 12-0, and 12-0. The 1964 game featured a touchdown pass from Joe Sheehan to Bob Gumrot, and a 28-yard bolt for a touchdown by Steve McNichol. North stopped that streak in 1965 1965: Bob Enoch (#42) leads Steve with a 12-6 win, as soph Joe Kaiser scored the Bukowski (#33) into hole during the deciding touchdown. The Blue and Gold scored North Catholic game just once, on a Steve Bukowski run. 1966 saw La Salle dominate a solid North team in a 27-6 victory, just a week before the famous upset win over unbeaten Bishop Egan. In 1967 and 1968, the schools played to two frustrating ties, as both teams had dropped to the middle of the pack. The 1968 game was a moral victory for La Salle, as they recovered from a 14-0 deficit in the 4th quarter on runs by Mike Brett, and Tom Makaila; trailing 14-8, Makaila’s score occurred with 35 seconds to go, but the extra point failed.

The Falcons had winning seasons in 1969 and 1970, but both North and La Salle were now far 1971: Bobby Mizia carries vs. North removed from their glory years. North stomped La Salle in both of those years, but the Explorers came back in 1971 with a 20-0 whitewash, as star running back Bob Mizia scored all three touchdowns, one on a 60-yard run. La Salle’s good 1972 team opened their season with a 14-7 win over North. Quarterback Jack Flannery started the scoring with a short run, and, with the score tied in the waning moments of the game, Flannery found receiver John Mastronardo from 4 yards out for the winning touchdown.

An almost identical tight affair occurred in the 1973 opener, but this one had even more drama. Sean Brett scored the first touchdown, and North came back in the 3rd quarter to tie the game at 6-6. Late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Mike 1973: Pluck’s Immaculate Reception? Cassidy found receiver Pete Uzelac open deep down the field, but the North defender was able to tip the ball away. In a virtual replay of running back Franco Harris’s “Immaculate Reception”, receiver Kevin Pluck grabbed the deflection out of mid-air and bolted into the end zone for the score to win the game, 12-6.

La Salle lost in 1974, 14-9, and the schools played another frustrating scoreless tie in 1975. In the last really good season under Tex Flannery’s helm, the 1976 Explorers beat the Falcons, 13-0. The play of the game occurred when La Salle’s Jim Gillies stripped North RB Lou Sigmund of the ball, and dashed inside the 10-yard line to put La Salle in scoring position, and Mike Vesey’s short run put the Explorers on the board. Later, Chris Santoro’s short run iced the game for La Salle. SHUTOUT IN 1976 By 1977, North’s population of 2,384 students was half of its peak a quarter of a century ago. The football team was in the throes of several consecutive losing seasons, but they handled La Salle, 14-9, and then rolled over the Explorers in 1978, 33-7. La Salle came back in 1979 to win, 16-0, but then North took the next 6 contests, as the Explorers were in a dark time for their football program. The Falcons reached the playoffs in 1984 for the first time since the City Titlists of 1956, but lost to Father Judge in the quarterfinals; 3 years later, Judge did the honors again. The playoffs would not beckon to the Falcons till 1996.

Jim Gilmore was a two-time first-team All-Catholic lineman in 1979 and 1980 for North, and he went on to play college ball at both Villanova and Ohio State. Gilmore became the fourth and final North Catholic player to make the NFL, playing a couple of games for the Eagles in 1986, as well as Miami in 1987. Amazingly, all four North Catholic NFLers played for the Eagles, whose predecessors, the Frankford Yellowjackets, played at Yellowjacket Stadium, where North hosted its home games in its early years, before the Falcons migrated to Lincoln High School for their home schedule. JIM GILMORE

1979: John Avallone (#31) vs the Falcons; 1981: John Mellet (#55) mixes it up vs North

La Salle finally got back into the winning column against North in the 1986 season. Quarterback Jim Logan found receiver Brendan McGowan for two TD passes, and RB Doug Ward scored the other TD in a 20-7 win against the Falcons. North came back in 1987 to administer a 34-21 loss to the Explorers. No one knew it at the time, but the 1987 game would be the last time the Blue and Gold would taste defeat at the hands of the Falcons. The magical 1988 season had the Explorers dealing an opening day 21-0 shutout to the Red and White. QB Jack Stanczak ran for a TD, and threw one to receiver Colin Stowe. Dave Billitto also scored as the defense throttled the Falcon offense. In their return to PCL championship glory in 1989, La Salle overwhelmed North, 34-6, as RB Jason Pennington scored three times, one on a 70-yard run, and FB Martin Feeny scored twice, one on a 51-yard run and one on a 56-yard pass from QB Chris Massella. 1989: Jason Pennington rushes The Falcons gave the Explorers a difficult time in the league opener in 1990. North scored on Steve Wendt’s 27-yard run in the second quarter to take a 6-0 lead, but La Salle’s Max Guevara ran 58 yards for the game-tying TD in the 3rd quarter, and Jamie Barton’s PAT gave the Blue and Gold a tight 7-6 win. The Explorers opened up the floodgates in 1991’s 45-0 win over North. QB Geoff Crawford ran for a 58-yard TD, and also threw a TD pass to TE Chris Smith, as La Salle thoroughly dismantled the Falcons.

North was more competitive in the next two seasons, losing to La Salle 14-0 and 21-6, but a 36-6 pasting in 1994 featured an 81-yard opening kickoff TD by Brian Curci. RB Tim Foster scored twice, and QB Dan McNichol found receiver Dan Hangey twice for TD passes. La Salle had now defeated North 7 straight times, and counting.

La Salle’s 1995 and 1996 PCL champions dispatched North efficiently by 13-0 and 10-0 scores, despite valiant efforts by the Falcon defense to keep the vaunted La Salle offense under control. But soon came a 40-0 La Salle playoff win in 1996, and a 34-0 1997 drubbing of the Red and White, as RB Eric Seiferth caught two touchdown passes from senior QB Brett Gordon. North surprised La Salle in 1998 by jumping to a 7-0 lead, but long TD runs by Obi Amachi & Chris Pennington led La Salle to a 22-7 win.

In 1999, the league split into the Red & Blue Divisions, based on school size. North was still placed with the larger schools, but student population had fallen off dramatically at the end of the 20th Century.

La Salle won the 1999 game, 28-14, as RB Ben Bailey scored twice, and QB Gabe Marabella also ran one in.

North was competitive during most of the 90’s, but the start of the 2000’s found them more like league doormats. La Salle won 27- 6 in 2000, and 14-7 in 2001 on a very hot day; FB John Barrett scored, and QB Brian Donohoe hooked up with receiver Max North runner manhandled in 1997 game Mullineaux for the other score. North dropped to a 1-11 record in 2002, including a 28-12 loss to the Blue and Gold. Brian Donohoe rushed for two touchdowns, and defensive ballhawk Brian Hogan pilfered a trio of errant Falcon aerials. Things didn’t get better for the Red and White in 2003. Dropping down to the Blue Division due to declining population, the Falcons still won only one game. La Salle won a 27-11 non-league decision over North, as Mike Lynch had a touchdown pass to Brian Hogan. North’s fortunes picked up a little in 2004 under new coach Charlie Szydlik, making the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The non-league game against La Salle went to the Explorers, 36-7, as running backs Chris Ashley and Tyrell George JV action in 2003 each had two rushing TD’s. North Catholic moved back into the Red Division in 2005, but their return was not successful. Their 1-11-0 record included a 35-0 loss to the Explorers, as sophomore quarterback John Harrison threw for two touchdown passes. The Falcons flapped their wings proudly in 2006, improving to an 8-5-0 record, including their first playoff win since 1956 with a quarterfinal 30-27 victory over Father Judge. La Salle continued their recent mastery over North, 14-6, but it was tough. Holding onto a 7-6 lead into the 4th quarter, the Explorers were able to fend off the Falcons, and score a late touchdown by QB John Harrison to seal the victory.

There would be just one remaining game to be played between these long-time rivals. On October 20, 2007, La Salle and North Catholic squared off for the last time. The Falcons gave the Explorers all they could handle, trailing just 12-10 well into the 4th period. But senior QB John Harrison connected with TE Matt Alba for a touchdown with just 2 minutes to play, and DB Kevin McLaughlin sealed the affair with his second interception of the game. La Salle had defeated North 21 times in a row.

In 2008, the PIAA classifications were applied to the Catholic League, and La Salle and North were no longer division-mates, and did not ever play each other again. North had a 6-5-0 record in 2008, and entered 2009 with storm clouds swirling about a possible closure of the school. The rumors became a reality as the season progressed, and the Falcon football team was now aware that they would be playing the last games of a legacy that went back over 80 years.

North made the playoffs, and fought for their Catholic League lives, defeating Conwell- Egan, 20-17, to stay alive in the post-season. Alas, their league competition ended as Archbishop Wood beat them in the Class AAA championship game, 21-7.

The Last Game

But there was one more game to play. This very special Thanksgiving Day game against the Frankford Pioneers was relocated to La Salle University’s McCarthy Stadium, and was played on November 26, 2009. A tremendous throng of North Catholic students, fans, and alumni turned out for the game, and the North stands were a sea of red. Here’s an edited version of Ted Silary’s report on this historic last game:

I've covered almost all of these meetings over the last three decades and rarely have they disappointed. In fact, with the action itself and the energy provided by large crowds, going back to Temple Stadium deep into the 1980s and in 1978 for the 50th anniversary game (51st one total), these have been some of the best possible experiences. Today? The all-timer. The site was La Salle University's McCarthy Stadium, which had not been used for football since the school dropped the sport after the '07 season. Portable goalposts -- and, boy, were they flimsy -- had to be set up, but otherwise the field and its artificial surface were football ready. In the first half, in part because of gloomy skies, the mood was somewhat drab, honestly. Frankford rolled to a 14-0 lead and North looked poor, at best, and horrible, at worst. North loyalists no doubt were thinking, "There's so much pressure on these kids. They're playing not only for themselves, but for everybody who ever cared about North. Maybe they just can't handle it. Maybe they're just flat-out overwhelmed. Understandable. We'll forgive them." Well, then the game headed down the stretch and these young MEN, not kids, were simply sensational. They won the game, then lost it, then won it AGAIN and the brass they showed, under incredible stress, if transferred to other aspects of life, will serve them well long after they stop playing football. For recounting purposes, we'll flash ahead to the fourth quarter. A huge moment, which kind of got lost in the later-on shuffle, occurred when Frankford jr. RB Jeffione Thomas took a simple right sweep far up the right sideline (away from the big building). The TD would have been a 98-yarder! However, he stepped on the sideline at the 11 and that possession would prove fruitless. On the next play, sr. FB Zaire "Bam" Anderson rolled 11 yards to the left corner for an apparent TD. But . . . a penalty erased the score and a pitchout was dropped on the ensuing play, with North sr. DB Daniel Clark recovering at 11:09. On third down, jr. QB Anthony Reid sent a long fade down the left sideline. Sr. WR Dave Sherman stretched out fully and brought the ball in while beginning to stumble. The gain was 54 yards to Frankford's 17. If he'd been able to make the catch in stride, he might have scored. Two plays later, sr. RB Eugene "U-Turn" Byrd had to depart with an ankle ding and the TD two plays after that, a 5-yarder, was scored by soph RB Taishan Tucker. It was his first carry since September. Maybe two seconds after Tucker scored, North fans nearby began chanting, "Two! Two! Two!" As in, go for two and the lead. Coach Chalie Szydlik sent out his kicker, John McCarthy. Just as a kick was about to take place, Frankford's defense went offsides. The chanting intensified. Just as THIS snap was looming, Szydlik called time and sent the full offense onto the field. Byrd was there. He got the call on an off- tackle right. He was tripped up by jr. OLB Taron "Ra-Ra" Mills -- what a game THIS guy had! -- and landed at the 1. That play left North on the wrong end of 14-13 arithmetic. A three-and-out followed and sr. LB David D. Williams made two of the stops. The Falcons were getting another chance. This drive covered 67 yards in eight plays. The big one was Byrd's 45-yard burst right up the middle, with a angling toward the right to finish it off. The tackle was made by a lineman, jr. Edwin Burgos, who hustled all the way downfield. Great effort! Mills and Anderson combined for stops on first AND second down, leaving North with third-and-goal from the 8. Reid rolled slightly to his right and launched one to the right corner. Sr. WR Julian Huggins jumped, extended and . . . made the catch!! Another great play. Frankford again messed up by going offsides. Reid powered 1 1/2 yards for two points and a 21-14 lead. On Frankford's fourth play, Thomas ran to the left, stopped short, cut back on an angle, sidestepped a few more guys downfield and wound up in the end zone!! A 56-yard TD!! My goodness. Would Frankford just kick it? Nope. The Pioneers went for the win. Thomas had no trouble reaching the end zone on a sweep right. Frankford was up, 22-21, with 1:11 left. By the way, just as this was happening, the sun came out for the first time all morning. Very brightly, in fact. But only for maybe 45 seconds total. Weird! Here's the play-by-play of North's final possession, following a 1- yard return by sr. Gabriel Toledo to the 38: 4-yard pass to Huggins, 19-yard pass to Sherman, incomplete pass to pretty much no one at 0:36 (almost intercepted by diving sr. LB Peace McClain), 15-yard pass to Huggins on a slant at 0:28, spike at 0:25, 4-yard pass to Sherman on a right-side out at 0:21, 20-yard TD pass to Byrd at 0:13. That play began at 0:21 and North had no timeouts remaining. Almost all game, Byrd had stayed in on pass plays to block because Frankford was bringing it. But on this one, he ambled over the middle, set up shot and hoped that Reid would find him. He did, at about the 10. Byrd then dashed toward the left corner and got a block from sr. WR Tre Stone-Davis, as he was hoping he would. McCarthy's kick made it 28-22 at 0:13. Incredible! THREE lead changes in the final 2 1/2 minutes! Would there be one more miracle? Nope. Frankford went with a trick play, a pass TO jr. QB Michael McGroarty. The gain was only four yards as Clark made the last tackle in North Catholic history. Needless to say, everyone wearing red went nuts. Frankford will long lament three TDs it lost out on. Even four, potentially. Martin lost an early 41-yarder to a block in the back, Anderson lost the one already discussed and on what could have been his 98-yarder, it appeared Thomas simply became disoriented late in the process and made contact with the sideline. I was on the opposite side and far way, but it didn't appear as if he was pushed out. Also, on the final play of the first half, soph DB Savoy Martin made a pick along Frankford's sideline and took off for what folks envisioned as a 90-yard TD. That play was stopped 30 yards upfield when a ref said he stepped on the sideline. Frankford's coaches vehemently disagreed. Mills finished with 179 yards on four returns, including 67 with a punt for a score, made three tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and, as also mentioned, stopped Byrd on what could have been, if not for the late-game craziness, THE play of the game. The best pregame moment was watching Skip Angelo, son of the legendary former coach, Al Angelo (now deceased), represent the Pioneers as the honorary captain. When his name was announced, there wasn't even a HINT of negative reaction out of North's stands. Up to that point, even slight references to Frankford -- and the Pioneers' appearance on the field -- had caused loud, mostly playful booing. But when the reference to Al was made, there was only applause. I LOVED that showing of respect. And it was returned after the game when I asked Frankford's current coach, Mike Capriotti, whether he felt even a hint of happiness for the Falcons, keeping in mind their pending demise. If I'd asked some guys that question, they would have scoffed. Maybe even called me crazy. But I think I know "Cap" by now. He's truly one of those has-no- enemies guys. He's a '70 Frankford grad and was two years ahead of Szydlik. Here's what he said: "You couldn't have had a more exciting finish. Obviously, I wish we were on the other end, but I am happy for Chalie and the alumni and faculty and everybody associated with North Catholic." Postscript

A proud school, once the largest Catholic boys’ high school in the world, had shut its doors for good. Remaining students transferred to Father Judge, Roman Catholic, other Archdiocesan high schools, and public high schools. Catholic League aficionados are still stunned, as North Catholic’s legacy extended way beyond the football field. The North Catholic Alumni Association is still a vibrant and active organization, and will continue to nurture those memories of glorious days gone by. Here is the website address for the organization: http://www.necathalumni.org/

There were rumblings a few years ago that the school would re-open as a Cristo Rey school, but, at this writing, nothing has been confirmed. Time will ultimately not be an ally for the faithful alums, as evidenced by the aging of the Tommy More, St. James, and Bishop Kenrick loyalists. But the faithful alums of Northeast Catholic High School will fight to the end, because, a Falcon never lets go.

Please pass this on to your Falcon friends.

North Catholic had many great players. Here’s a list of some of those players who were multiple first-team All-Catholic: • Marty Wisniewski, defensive end in 1973 and 1974 • Mike Morrin, offensive end in 1973 and 1974 • Chuck Morganti, running back in 1987 and 1988 • Shawn Stratz, defensive lineman in 1992 and 1993 • Matt McCloskey, offensive lineman in 1994 and 1995 • Sean Fisher, defensive lineman/inside linebacker in 1998 and 1999 • Eugene Byrd, running back in 2008 and 2009 • Daniel Clark, end/outside linebacker in 2008 and 2009

Daryl Robinson received the Player of the Year award in 2006.

La Salle’s all-time record against North was 40 wins, 31 losses, and 3 ties. Long live North Catholic High School!!

I welcome your comments, corrections, and additions. Go La Salle!! Bill Wasylenko, ‘69 [email protected] March 23, 2013, revised January 8, 2014