La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947

Game 1, September 21, 1947: St. Joseph’s Prep 39 – La Salle 0

The Wisterian

Explorers Sunk By Hawks, 39-0 La Salle’s light and inexperienced football team took a sound 39-0 thumping at the hands of St. Joseph’s in the initial contest of the season for both teams. It was St. Joe’s all the way with Bob (Jersey Joe) Doyle scoring four TD’s to highlight the day’s encounter. All four Doyle touchdowns came on the same play, a wide end sweep following a shuttle pass from the in the “T”. Poor Blocking Although the Blue and Gold also work from the “T”, their offense was by no means as effective as their opponents. The necessity of precision blocking was apparent as the Explorers, running with light backs, were having difficulties with Crim-Gray tacklers who broke up their plays repeatedly.

Game 2, September 28, 1947: La Salle 13 – St. Thomas More 6

The Wisterian

Little Explorers Score First Pigskin Victory La Salle High scored the first Catholic League football triumph of the year as it downed a favored St. Thomas More eleven, 13-6, at 44th and Parkside. The game, placed at times under a blanket of train soot and dust, saw five Explorers step into the starting lineup for their initial try at their respective first-team position. Tom Latronica, Mike Stapleton, and Joe Bevenour were new line performers replacing McCormick, Fox, and O’Brien. A new backfield of Saponaro, Palo, Adams, and McGrath seemed promising. Jim Adams and Tom McGrath drew their first starting assignments. Explorers Score The Blue and Gold scored their first touchdown of the season in the first period when the Explorers managed to bull over the goal with Lee Palo lugging from the seven. The extra point failed. The Tom-cats evened the score in the second stanza as they climaxed a drive of 42 yards with Russ Amen going over from the four. The play was set up by a pass, left half Finley to quarter McNeely. Thus the score stood throughout the third period as both squads surged back and forth with neither being able to cross the final white stripe. Latronica Recovers The second and decisive score for the Explorers came in the final period when end Tom Latronica pounced on a loose ball after it had skidded out of Frank McNeely’s grasp. This set the ball only eight yards from the Tommies’ goal. Wasting no time, Jim Adams plunged through the Bears’ line and went all the way to TD territory. Val “Reds” Wojtak accounted for the final point on a sweep around left end. Although this was a victory for the Explorers, the Blue and Gold paid dearly for it as left half Lee Palo was sidelined indefinitely with a bad shoulder injury.

1

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947

Game 3, October 5, 1947: North Catholic 26 – La Salle 0

The Wisterian

North Team Beats Blue And Gold North Catholic handed La Salle its second league defeat last Sunday before some 8,000 spectators at G Street and Erie Avenue. It was Harry Connor, a former La Salle student, who proved to be the outstanding performer as he raced 27, 60, and grabbed a 28 yard pass to lead the Falcons to a one- sided 26-0 score. The first counter came early in the initial period after the Explorer kickoff which Connor carried to the Blue and Gold 45. After short gains which brought the ball to the 27, Connor circled left end for the tally. The second six-pointer came after an interception of one of Dick Saponaro’s aerials. Frank Wissman, former La Salle High athlete, passed to Connor standing in the end zone. Another miscue, this time a fumble by Val Wojtak, set up the third score as Tom Grindler, Red and White guard, pounced on the loose ball. Connor went through the line for 60 yards. This ended the first half scoring. In the third period, both teams wage a scoreless battle. But in the last stanza, Bob Bechtel lateraled to Ed Samocki who traveled 49 yards for a touchdown. Tom Stafford converted the extra point by placement.

Chester Times, October 11, 1947

St. James Seeks Initial Victory The St. James Bulldogs, with a season’s record of three losses, fully expect to break into the win column on Sunday afternoon when they meet La Salle High. The game will be played on the La Salle College field, Twentieth and Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, at 2 PM. St. James played good ball despite their losses to Ridley Township, West Catholic, and Roman, and from now on should win most of their games. La Salle has won from St. Thomas More and lost to North Catholic and St. Joseph’s. Larry Pierce and Jim Ford will be the Bulldog ends; Vic Moretti and John Leary, tackles; Jim Lauginiger and Fran Lippolis, guards; Herm Sweeney, center; Dennis Manning, Pete Zarro, Tom Fannon, and Tony DiVito, backs. Quarterback Bob Feeley is still shaken up from the Roman game and will not start but may play later. Co-Captain Joe McLaughlin injured his knee against Roman Catholic and will not play unless the leg shows a marked improvement. The rest of the team is in good shape and rarin’ to go. Pete Zarro, former OLP track star, has won a starting assignment. His kicking has been exceptionally good in the early games. La Salle’s lineup will be: Marvel and McCormick, ends; Mulvaney and O’Brien, tackles; Menna and Taylor, guards; Fox, center; Palo, McGowan, Curran, and Saponaro, backs. The game will be televised over WFIL-TV. This is the first time any high school game has been made available to radio audience.

Game 4, October 12, 1947: St. James 26 – La Salle 13

The Wisterian 2

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947

At McCarthy Stadium, despite a second-half rally, the Explorers bowed to a strong St. James’ eleven 26- 13 on Sunday, October 12, before a crowd of 4,000. St. James’ victory was spearheaded by three touchdowns in the second quarter, while La Salle’s scores came in the last two stanzas. Dennis Manning sprinted 69 yards on the second for the Bulldogs’ first counter. Early in the second period, St. James drove 51 yards to the La Salle 7, where DiVito passed to Pierce for the score. Frank Hodgson recovered Charlie Curran’s fumble on the La Salle 19 to set up the next tally. DiVito threw 11 yards to Greto, who went over from the 5-yard stripe. Tom Mack kicked the extra point. Following the kickoff, La Salle tried a on fourth down deep in their own territory. It failed to gain, and St. James took over on the 15. Although a back-in-motion penalty nullified one score, a 20- yard pass, DiVito to Greto again, paid off. Mack again converted. After Jim Adams and Val Wojtak drove for first downs on the 25 and 41-yard lines, Tom McGrath scampered 50 yards to climax an 85-yard La Salle scoring drive late in the third quarter. In the final period Jules Sullivan, taking a short pass from Dick Saponaro, went 41 yards to the four. McGrath went off right end for his second score of the day. Saponaro converted and the score remained 26-13.

Chester Times

DiVito Tosses Touchdown Passes As St. James Wins From La Salle High, 26-13 Led by “Tossing Tony” DiVito, who rifled three touchdown passes, the Bulldogs of St. James High ripped out a 26-13 victory over La Salle High Sunday afternoon on the La Salle gridiron for their first Catholic League win of the season. A crowd of over 4,000 – a large part composed of loyal St. James rooters – looked on in amazement as the Jimmies piled up a 26-0 lead at halftime, then coasted in triumphant. The fans were hardly seated when the first St. James score came. On the second play from scrimmage, Dennis Manning, fleet Bulldog halfback, scampered 69 yards through the entire La Salle team for a touchdown. Manning’s path to the end zone was paved with spectacular downfield blocking which all but eliminated the La Salle secondary. A pass play for the extra point, DiVito-to-Manning-to Bob Feely, was nullified by an offside penalty. Early in the second period, the St. James aerial circus opened up. Taking the ball on their own 32 yard line, the Jimmies, blending a ground-and-air attack, moved to the enemy ten yard line. At this point, DiVito faked a buck into the line, jumped and tossed to end Larry Pierce who caught it just over the goal line. Bill Mack’s kick for the extra point was wide. A few minutes later, the Bulldogs, playing wide-awake football, recovered a La Salle fumble on the La Salle 19. Sam Greto, who had been ineligible until last week against Roman Catholic, tore over for the third St. James touchdown but the play was called back because St. James had been offside. But on the very next play, DiVito connected again, this time with Greto, standing in the promised land. Bill Mack’s kick for the point was good and the Bulldogs led, 19-0. Unsatisfied, the Bulldogs again came back strong. La Salle gambled on its own 15, failed to gain on fourth down, and the ball went over to St. James. On the second play, Manning picked up a DiVito fumble and raced over. Undaunted, the next play saw DiVito wind up and hurl his third touchdown pass, again to Greto. Mack again kicked the point and that was the scoring for the half. The Jimmies led, 26- 0.

3

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947

La Salle fought back after intermission, held the Bulldogs scoreless, and racked up two futile touchdowns. Tom McGrath, La Salle halfback, burst through the St. James line early in the third period and went 50 yards to score. In the final period, McGrath carried the ball over from the four, after Jules Sullivan had brought the ball 41 yards to the shadows of the goal posts. St. James rooters were surprised at the power displayed yesterday by the minions of Coach Bean Brennan. The back ran hard, and Sam Greto ran hardest of all. DiVito was superb as he ran, passed, and played a magnificent defensive game. Joe McLaughlin, regular quarterback, and Herm Sweeney, first-string center, did not play because of injuries.

La Salle 0 0 6 7 13 St. James 6 20 0 0 26

St. James La Salle Pierce L.E. Marvel Morretti L.T. Mulvaney Shea L.G. Menna Greenhalgh C. Logue Lippolis R.G. Taylor Leary R.T. Pileggi Ford R.E. McCormick Feely Q.B. Saponaro Manning L.H. Latronica Greto R.H. Adams DiVito F.B. Curran

Touchdowns: La Salle: McGrath, 2. St. James: Manning, Pierce, Greto 2. Point After Touchdowns: La Salle: Saponaro (placement). St. James: Mack 2 (placements). Officials: Referee – Ebert, Duquesne. Umpire – Geiges, Temple. Head linesman – Kane, Loyola. Field Judge – Weller, Temple.

Game 5, October 19, 1947: West Catholic 26 – La Salle 0

The Wisterian

West Catholic’s forward wall highlighted their victory over La Salle’s eleven, 26 to 0, before 8,000 on Sunday, October 19 at McCarthy Stadium. The Burrs’ hard-plunging line pushed La Salle back on its heels as West scored a touchdown on the second play from scrimmage. La Salle took the opening kickoff on the 10-yard line, but failed to gain on two running plays. Sullivan punted to the 31. Noel Schmidt made seven yard, then Mike McMenamin knifed off left tackle for 24 yards and the initial score. La Salle threatened after the next kickoff. Two interference penalties gave the Explorers a first down on West’s 44-yard marker. Marion Zarenkiewicz passed to Tom Latronica on the 18, and Sullivan captured

4

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947 his next toss on the nine. This promising drive was halted as Schmidt intercepted in the end zone for a harmless . The Burrs took over on the 20 and went 80 yards for another first period score. Paul Pollakis scooted 48 yards to La Salle’s 28, and four plays later, Frank Conroy tallied on a quarterback sneak. Schmidt went 75 yards for an apparent score in the second quarter, but the ball was brought back due to a clipping penalty. Soon after, however, Schmidt passed 26 yards to Tom Henrick, who ran over from the 20. In the third period, John Burke recovered Saponaro’s wild on the 15. Schmidt passed to McMenamin for the final score of the day. John Walsh and Frank Conroy each converted an extra point. La Salle had a slight statistical edge, with seven first downs to West’s 6, but the payoff is in the scoring. The Explorers completed nine out of 22 passes tried, while the Burrs made three out of four, two of them for touchdowns. La Salle was penalized 30 yards against West’s 35.

La Salle 0 0 0 0 0 West Catholic 13 7 6 0 26

Game 6, October 26, 1947: Roman Catholic 38 – La Salle 7

The Wisterian

At McCarthy Stadium, Roman Catholic High’s powerhouse racked up its fifth straight Catholic League triumph when it conquered La Salle Sunday, October 26. Led by Frank Brill, the Cahillites tallied twice in the first period, once in the second, twice in the third, and once more in the fourth, while the Explorers’ score came in the final quarter. For the fourth straight week, La Salle was scored upon on the second play from scrimmage. La Salle took the kickoff and gained eight yards on the first play, a pass. The next toss was intercepted by Roman, and after one running play, Dick Weiss hot-footed it 27 yards to a score. Shortly thereafter, Brill sped 38 yards for his first touchdown as a part of a 50-yard drive. Weiss added the first of his two extra points by placement. In the second period, Larry Chiodetti plunged over from the two, capping a 55-yard advance. Brill dashed seven yards for his second scorer in the third period, ending a 35-yard march. After the ensuing kickoff, Zarenkiewicz tried to pass, but Franny Keel knocked the ball into Joe Tyrrell’s arms on the 15, and he sprinted the rest of the way to the goal. Joe Starr added the final Cahillite marker in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard run following a 40-yard drive. La Salle marched 40 yards to the Roman one in the fourth quarter. Dick Saponaro lunged across for the score and then place-kicked the extra point. For the statistical-minded, La Salle had seven first downs, three by rushing and four by passing, against Roman’s ten, none of which were made through the air. La Salle completed 11 out of 23 passes for a gain of 108 yards, while Romans’ aerial attack did not click, the Cahillites completing only one of six tried for a six-yard gain. The Explorers made 65 yards rushing, while Roman made 288 yards. The victors were severely penalized, as they lost 100 yards on eight penalties. La Salle was not penalized until late in the fourth quarter, when holding was called.

La Salle 0 0 0 7 7 Roman Catholic 13 6 13 6 38 5

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947

Game 7, November 1, 1947: La Salle 19 – Salesianum 7

The Wisterian

In a Saturday night contest Dick Bedesem led the Explorers to their second victory of the season before a crowd of 1,800 in Wilmington Park. Bedesem ran roughshod over a hapless Salesianum eleven and scored all three touchdowns as La Salle won, 19-7. The first score came in the second period as Bedesem scampered 15 yards off tackle for the tally. After a Salesianum score, he took the kickoff on his 23-yard line and ran the rest of the way for a touchdown. With three minutes remaining, Bedesem scored again, this time from the five, climaxing an 80-yard drive.

Wilmington Sunday Morning Star – November 2, 1947

The mighty La Salle Catholic High School team of Philadelphia invaded Wilmington Park last night and handed Salesianum a 19-7 setback before 1,800 fans. It was the third loss of the season for the Gold and White eleven which has registered two wins and one tie. Stellar honors for the visitors went to Richard Bedesem, left halfback, who accounted for all three of the La Salle touchdowns. Billy Ford registered the lone 6-pointer for the locals on a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line. The play was set up by a steady Sals’ march from their own 33 including two passes, a penalty and some smart running plays. The first quarter went scoreless in a see-saw battle. As the first period ended Bedesem tossed a to Thomas Latronica. The ball was on the Sallies’ 15-yard line at the start of the second quarter and Bedesem carried the pigskin off tackle for the first score of the game. The try was blocked by Ray Schaal. Sullivan kicked off for La Salle and Joe Schofield returned the ball to the 34. Joe Talarowski’s pass to Denny Tryon moved it to La Salle’s 40. Ten runs and a pass from that point brought the ball to within half a yard of the goal line, and then came Ford’s quarterback sneak for the score. Eddie Brocke ran the ball to give the Sallies a 7-6 lead. However, Brocke kicked off and Bedesem, looking like a junior Glenn Davis, ran the ball from his own 23 for a touchdown. As the half ended, La Salle led, 12-7. A penalty set back La Salle’s lone third quarter touchdown threat. The Explorers carried the ball to the locals’ one-yard line, only to encounter a 15-yard penalty, and the Sals took over. The Gold and White eleven proceeded to take the ball to the La Salle 20, where the Explorers held, and took over. Charles Curran and Bedesem, the La Salle running combination, brought the ball to Sallies’ 5-yard stripe, and after 15 plays, Bedesem went over for the final tally of the day. Flynn’s pass to Mohr for the extra point was good, with only three minutes remaining on the clock and that ended the scoring.

Salesianum La Salle Gill L.E. Mohr Walsh L.T. Mulvaney Vicaro L.G. Menna 6

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947

Wenke C. Fox J. Stout R.G. Whinney Garyantes R.T. French Brocke R.E. Sullivan Ford Q.B. Flynn Schofield L.H. Bedesem Selvaggi R.H. Adams Hall F.B. McGowan

LA SALLE 0 12 0 7 19 SALESIANUM 0 7 0 0 7

Touchdowns: La Salle: Bedesem, 3. Salesianum: Ford. Point After Touchdowns: La Salle: Mohr. Salesianum: Brocke. Substitutes: La Salle: McCormick, Curran, O’Brien, Latronica, Rankin, Ortman, Hattman. Salesianum: Schaal, Maida, J. Galvin, Farren, Bader, Tryon, Gemmell, Morole, Gears, Gostwicki, Tollin.

Game 8, November 9, 1947: La Salle 12 – St. John’s 6

The Wisterian

The “Little Explorers”, aided by Marion Zarenkiewicz’s passing and Johnny Wojtak’s running, staged long touchdown marches in the second and third quarters to defeat Saint John’s, 12-6. La Salle scored in the second period on Dick Saponaro’s quarterback sneak and in the third period on Charlie Curran’s line plunge. Skippy Wilson tallied in the fourth period to climax a fifty yard drive by Saint John’s. In the first quarter, Marion Zarenkiewicz’s twenty yard heave to Jimmy Adams was carried twenty-eight yards to the Saint John’s twelve. On the next play, Zarenkiewicz passed to Tom McGrath on the three. Three line bucks failed and Dick Saponaro’s fourth down lunge gave the Explorers a first down o the four-inch line. Two plays later Saponaro went over for six points. In the third quarter, Johnny Wojtak’s sprints of twenty-two, fourteen, and eleven yards featured a twelve-play march which put the ball on the opponent’s three. An offsides penalty moved it halfway to the goal. Charlie Curran scored on the next scrimmage. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Skippy Wilson started Saint John’s rolling with a twenty yard sprint to the La Salle thirty on an . Six plays later the same play was good for a touchdown from the eight.

Game 9, November 16, 1947: South Catholic 14 – La Salle 0

The Wisterian

Pirates Sink Explorers Pete Campagna sprinted eleven yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter and Al Bartolomeo added another on a twenty-nine yard jaunt in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter at Southeast Catholic High School’s football team defeated La Salle, 14-0. Guard Ed Garstkiewicz put Southeast on the scoring road when he recovered Tom McGrath’s fumble on the Pirates’ forty-nine. South drove to the Explorers’ eleven in two first downs and Campagna went over 7

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947 for the score. With only minutes remaining in the final period, South again drove forty-five yards with Bartolomeo doing most of the running. Bartolomeo went the last twenty-nine yards for the second touchdown. Between the South touchdowns, La Salle marched to within the Pirates’ twenty yard line four times but failed to generate sufficient scoring punch. Marion Zarenkiewicz’s aerials paced the Little Explorers in a sixty-five yard advance to South’s eleven but again the team didn’t have the last punch.

Game 10, November 27, 1947: Germantown 6 – La Salle 0 (Thanksgiving)

The Wisterian

Last Game Proves To Be Best Of All Although La Salle played its best game of the season, Germantown scored in the last two minutes of the battle to beat La Salle, 6-0, on Thanksgiving Day. The strong defensive line play of the La Salle forwards and the running of Dick Bedesem and Tom McGrath spearheaded our attack deep into Germantown territory twice during the game. Germantown threatened in every quarter, but it was the last minute running spurts that put over their touchdown. Johnny Humphries made the Bears’ tally in the last period after a goal-line stand by La Salle. The contest was a seesaw battle during the four quarters between an overrated Germantown team and an inspired Little Explorer eleven. Bill Lewin, John Humphries, Mole Lorenzo, Bob Flood, Dave Harr, Joe LaGreca, Gus Suflas, Jack Grimner, Milt Tendler, and Ralph Civitillo played well for Germantown, while Lee French, Dick Bedesem, Jim Adams, Frank McCormick, Sal Palo, Tom McGrath, Ed Marvel, Ford Anderson, Dum-Dum Taylor, Jules Sullivan, and Charlie Curran shone for La Salle.

The Wisterian

JV Eleven Wins Fifteen La Salle’s Junior Varsity football team, by defeating the Pirates of South Catholic High School with a score of 12-6, claimed the Catholic Junior Varsity League Championship and possibly the coveted Pennsylvania State Junior Varsity title. The Junior Varsity Club has won fifteen games while losing only one. This solitary defeat was the result of West Catholic’s 14-12 victory over our squad. The Little Explorers’ triumph over the Pirates was very dramatic. Bedesem scored for La Salle during the early portion of the first quarter; however, South Catholic soon tied the game 6-6. With only a few minutes to play in the final quarter Gola (editor’s note: Tom Gola!) caught a desperation pass in the end zone winning the contest. Our hard-charging line deserves much credit for limiting the opposition to one touchdown. In view of the splendid record achieved by the team on the gridiron this year, Coach Harrigan stated, “They are a fine bunch of boys. They’ve gained two years’ experience this fall by playing sixteen hard- fought games.” On Thanksgiving, five of the JV’s – Bedesem, Flynn, French, Moylan, and Sal Palo – were counted among the Varsity Squad when they engaged Germantown.

8

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1947

9