La Salle College High School Football: in Retrospect
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La Salle College High School Football: In Retrospect NOTE: This is the twenty-ninth of, I hope, many retrospectives highlighting some unique history of the football program at La Salle. The topics to discuss seem endless at this time. Hope you enjoy these. Bill Wasylenko, ‘69 Issue Number Twenty-Nine: 1960 – Explorers and Eagles Prologue In 1958, the Philadelphia Eagles made three major changes to alter their fading fortunes. First, they hired Buck Shaw as their head coach (had retired to private business after coaching Santa Clara University), despite being first interested in either Vince Lombardi or Tom Landry, both assistant coaches for the New York Giants. Secondly, they traded for Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, feeling that Sonny Jurgensen was just too young to lead their team. And finally, they moved from Connie Mack Stadium to Franklin Field, a place of greater capacity for a professional football league that was about to explode. The Eagles went 2-9-1 in that season, but improved to 7-5-0 in 1959, and looked forward to a 1960 season as contenders for the Eastern Division title, and the NFL championship. In 1958, La Salle College High School firmed up plans to move away from La Salle College’s campus at 20th and Olney, and chose a location on the site of the Brown estate in Wyndmoor. It took a little longer to build than expected, but September 15, 1960 was the first day of classes for the La Salle students in the suburbs. La Salle football was in its heyday at the time, having won Catholic League titles in 1955, 1957, and 1958, City Titles in 1955 and 1957, but they lost out to Monsignor Bonner, 6-0, in the Catholic League title game in 1959, and were looking forward to rebound in 1960 to again reach the top of the League, as well as the city. This is the story of two teams who played in Franklin Field in December of 1960 for a Championship, and who made 1960 so memorable for all of us. These are the Explorers and the Eagles. Pre-Season Prognostication The Eagles had bolstered their 1960 team with some key additions in trades, such as Don Burroughs, a safety from the Rams, and Bobby Freeman, another defensive back, from the Packers. They had several good drafts in the late 50’s, adding players like end Pete Retzlaff, running back Ted Dean, linebacker Maxie Baughan, and backs Billy Ray Barnes, Ted Dean, and Timmy Brown, joining a solid contingent of Van Brocklin, end Bobby Walston, defensive tackle Jesse Richardson, defensive back Tom Brookshier, fullback Clarence Peaks, as well as flanker Tommy McDonald, and the heart and soul of the team, center and linebacker Chuck Bednarik. Yet it was still concluded that there were several better teams in the NFL, including the Giants, Browns, and the Packers. Norm Van Brocklin, Chuck Bednarik, Tom Brookshier, Pete Retzlaff, Jesse Richardson La Salle had to replace several key players due to graduation, including quarterback Howie Guarini, and some key members of the line, including Barry Dunleavy. But they had a solid group of returning starters, and would augment that group with some rising juniors that would play significant roles on the 1960 team. They also added to the coaching staff, as Bob Vincent was brought on to be the line coach, and Bill Magee, great Explorer and Villanova quarterback, would be the backfield coach. Head coach Tex Flannery was confident that the Catholic League championship would return to La Salle, but now would reside in the school’s 1st year in Wyndmoor, not Olney Heights. The Season of 1960 La Salle opened their season on a muddy field in South Philadelphia against the Pirates of Bishop Neumann on Sunday, September 18. The Explorers were already hampered with the loss of their starting fullback, Harry Heinzl, who suffered a severe leg injury in a scrimmage over the Labor Day weekend. And Neumann was as tough as usual, with a rugged line to contend with. But co-captains Jack McDonald (T) and Vince Dennery (E) would lead the line play for the Explorers in shutting down the Pirate offense. Halfback Tom Crow scored from 1 yard out in the first period, and in the 4th quarter, junior fullback Ed Brennan, filling in for Heinzl, followed center Roger Agin’s block for a 3 yard TD, and La Salle blanked the Pirates, 12-0. Other lineman who excelled this day included Bill Cheney, Jim Putz, and Fred Poellnitz. One week later, at the friendly confines of McCarthy Stadium at 20th and Olney, the Explorers defeated Cardinal Dougherty for their second win, 20-8. In the first period, halfback Bob Biggans broke loose on a 31-yard run for a touchdown, and the two point conversion was successful on a pass from junior QB Dan Maiden to Vince Dennery. After the Cardinals scored to make it 8-6, Tom Crow scored on a 50 yard run for another touchdown. The Explorer defensive backfield was sensational, with two interceptions by Ed Bogdan and one by Carl Mattia. Dougherty added a safety, but in the 4th quarter, the dynamo Vic Gittens matched Crow’s score from 50 yards, and the Blue and Gold rode back to Wyndmoor on a happy note. Vic Gittens Ed Bogdan Ed Brennan On that same day, the Philadelphia Eagles started their campaign at Franklin Field, losing to the Cleveland Browns at Franklin Field, 41-24. The Browns throttled the Eagle offense early, and the twin rushing attack of the great Bobby Mitchell (156 yards) and the legendary Jim Brown (153 yards) carved holes in the vulnerable Eagle defense. This was an unexpected bad start to a season that held a lot of promise, but the veteran leadership of the Eagles team was a big factor in getting them back on track. The Eagles then headed down to Dallas to take on the Cowboys for the first time ever, and the game was on a Friday night. The Dallas expansion team nearly pulled an upset, but the Eagles prevailed, 27-25. Billy Ray Barnes scored twice, and Tommy McDonald caught a 16-yard TD pass from Van Brocklin, and the Eagles evened their record at 1-1. Two days later, the rejuvenated Golden Bears of St. Thomas More planned an ambush of the Explorers at McCarthy Stadium, but long runs for touchdowns by Crow and Gittens, as well as an interception return for a touchdown by Bogdan, who now had five for the young season, kept the Bears at bay, 20-0. Jack McDonald was again a force on the line on both sides of the ball. La Salle was now 3-0-0, a third of the way through their regular season. Vic Gittens and Timmy Brown Vic Gittens was a small package of dynamite who provided quite a change of pace both in kick returns as well as in the backfield for La Salle, and he scored 4 touchdowns and passed for another. His great breakaway speed reminded many of Johnny Herrera; indeed, Gittens chose number 24 to honor his idol. Timmy Brown had some spot time in the backfield, but contributed mightily for the Eagles on kick and punt returns, and became one of the league’s best returners in subsequent years. He also provided a change of pace to the bruising style of the Eagle runners. Jim Putz tackles West Catholic runner as ref Jim Reilly ‘44 looks on But the following week was a frustrating one at McCarthy Stadium, as the Burrs of West Catholic stymied the Explorers in holding them to a scoreless tie. Despite an interception by Carl Mattia and some fine running by Bob Biggans, the game featured fumbles and interceptions on both sides, as well as defensive stands that kept both teams off the scoreboard. About 6 miles away at Franklin Field, the Eagles were more successful, defeating another team with a recent move, the St. Louis (formerly Chicago) Cardinals, 31-27. Van Brocklin hit Retzlaff for two early scores, but the Cardinals’ John David Crow ran for 46 yards and a touchdown to tie the score at 24-24 in the 4th period, and the Redbirds added on a field goal to take the lead. But, in a theme that would occur several times in 1960, Van Brocklin brought the Eagles back, and he hit McDonald with an 11-yard TD pass for the win to get the Eagles’ record to 2-1-0. The Kelly green and silver made their record 3-1-0 with a dismantling of the Detroit Lions, 28-10, as the defense stepped up to play impressively. FB Clarence Peaks scored from 1 and 49 yards, and HB Ted Dean and E Bobby Walston caught TD passes from Van Brocklin. The Eagle offense was now in full gear, as Van Brocklin expertly combined a punishing running game with a passing game that featured receivers Retzlaff, McDonald, as well as Bobby Walston, an end who doubled as the placekicker. On that same day, Sunday October 16, La Salle ran their record to 4-0-1 with a whitewash of the Bulldogs of St. James, 14-0. It was their third consecutive shutout, and fourth in five games, reminiscent of the great defensive team of 1955. Harry Heinzl and Clarence Peaks Harry Heinzl was a fullback who had a great 1959 season, and was expected to carry quite a load in 1960. But an early- season injury limited Heinzl’s availability, and other backs like Ed Brennan and Bob Biggans had to step up to fill the void.