The Debut of 6-Man Football at Coeymans High School [CHS] & Ravena High School [RHS] Seasons 1938 - 1943 Prepared by: Chuck Friday September 2008 Dedication Claude B. Friday Coeymans High School Class of 1927 The Debut of 6-Man Football Prologue The introduction of high school football in this community began in 1934 when the Coeymans High School fielded an 11-man team. One year later, Ravena High School [less than 1 mile away from Coeymans High School] introduced its 11-man football squad. Both high schools continued to play 11-man football until the 1938 season. Beginning in 1938 both Coeymans and Ravena high schools converted to the 6-man football format. Each high school had an independent football squad and the rivalry between the two schools was intense. In 1944 Coeymans and Ravena merged their school districts and fielded a single 6-man football team. Local high school football continued using the 6-man format until the 1958 season, when 8-man football was introduced. In the 1963 season 11-man football was, once again, reinstated. This paper attempts to capture some of the early history of 6-man football from the perspective of those years that Coeymans and Ravena competed against each other (i.e., the 1938-1943 seasons). The first three years of competition between these two schools (1938-1940) was captured by a young sports journalist named Fred (Doc) Martino. Shortly after the 1940 football season Fred left his journalist position and enlisted in the military. The last three seasons (1941-1943) that Coeymans and Ravena fielded separate teams are sparsely covered by the local newspaper. The organization of this paper follows these early years of 6-man football by segregating each season into independent sections. For each section (season) articles have been transcribed (unedited) from the News Herald. Following the News Herald articles are the write-ups found in each school‟s yearbook for that season. Images of the football teams are also included. These team pictures were reproduced from the pages of the high school yearbooks. Unfortunately, the editors of the yearbooks elected not to include the names of the football players along with the photographs. The content in the appendix to this paper is taken largely from the 1938 book written by the putative father of 6-man football – Stephen Epler. The photographs in the appendix are not pictures of any local players. Chuck Friday September 2008 1 The Debut of 6-Man Football 1938 Season 2 The Debut of 6-Man Football September 16, 1938 “Schedule For School Football League Announced” The Central Hudson Valley Football League had unanimously adopted the newest form of football for the coming season. The league has approved the names of officials for the coming season and adopted a system for selecting the winner of the League. Two points will be given for a win, one point for a tie, and no points for a defeat. The team having the greatest number of points at the end of the season under this system will be declared the League Champions. This is the very wide-spreading and popular 6-man brand of football. The game itself has been more extensively played in the West within the past few years and now many of the eastern high schools are following their example. The game is governed by Eleven Man Football Rules but for a few exceptions. The league this year has been enlarged to include Cambridge and Castleton. These schedule released this week by F. R. Furlong of Coeymans, President of the League is as follows: SEPTEMBER 24 Ravena at Roeliff Jansen (Hillsdale) Cambridge at Coeymans Roessleville at Coxsackie OCTOBER 1 Coeymans at Roessleville Castleton at Ravena Roeliff Jansen at Cambridge OCTOBER 8 Coeymans at Roeliff Jansen Cambridge at Coxsackie Roessleville at Castleton OCTOBER 15 Cambridge at Ravena Coxsackie at Coeymans Castleton at Roeliff Jansen OCTOBER 22 Coeymans at Castleton Coxsackie at Ravena Roeliff Jansen at Roessleville 3 The Debut of 6-Man Football OCTOBER 29 Ravena at Coeymans Coxsackie at Castleton Roessleville at Cambridge NOVEMBER 5 Ravena at Roessleville Roeliff Jansen at Cambridge Castleton at Cambridge September 16, 1938 “Coach Kunz Calls Practice for Gridders” By Fred Martino “Git up,” Git up,” “Git up,” “Come on stop grunting,” etc, goes the voice of Coach Tommy Kunz of the Coeymans Orange and Maroon gridders. Approximately 30 lads reported for an early practice on the first day of school to represent the Coeymans High School, which stands proudly on the banks of the Hudson, facing its great smiling waters. The boys have been put through stiff exercises to [loosen] them up and put them in pink of condition. “Skully” Kunz is working on the problem of making up for his last year‟s stars. He has lost Capt. John Romano, Center, Rudolph Frese, guard, Edward Mulligan, backfield, Elliott Vanderhyden, backfield, Joseph Tiberia, backfield, Dom Biscone, guard, Floyd McMillan, end. Due to the fact that six man football has been organized, the line up will not be as greatly affected as if 11 man football still continued. Kunz has a fast, light and snappy team to depend on this year. Younger brothers of former players to participate are: Eugene Mulligan, Carl Tiberia, Francis Lyons, Christopher Biscone, Vincent Lyons, George Romano. Last years players also are Eugene Leigh, Henry Johnson, Giles Wagoner and Walter Lyons. September 16, 1938 Twenty-seven boys are participating under Coach Robert Kingsbury in preparation for the opening football game with Hillsdale [Roeliff Jansen] on Friday the twenty-third. The boys are fast mastering the fundamentals of the six-man [variety] of the game, and should go far in Central Hudson Valley competition. The following comprise the squad: Carmen Albano, Henry Blenis, Jerome Buckley, John Cary, Kenneth Cary, Harold Conrad, Robert Gallagher, Milo Houck, Walter Jackson, Kenneth Klenk, George Marcella, James Marcella, Louis Montelone, James Pebler, Theodore Pebler, Earl Phillips, Dale Setford, 4 The Debut of 6-Man Football Carmen Sgroi, Robert Shutter, Barney Reynolds, Donald Richter, William Shutter, Kenneth Storr, George Swartz, Harold Wells, Elwood Van Alstyne. September 23, 1938 “Six Man Football Gets Underway” By Fred Martino The Central Judson Valley football league will give the local fans a glimpse of the newest form of football, six man team, this Saturday when Coeymans plays Cambridge. Ravena, however, will have the opportunity to initiate the sport first. Saturday they will journey to Hillsdale [Roeliff Jansen]. Word comes from Hillsdale that the boys are in good condition and are anxious to play the first football game ever played for Hillsdale. Coach Kingsbury, Ravena, has an exceptionally good lot to pick from. He had Red Van Alstyne, Jim Pebler and Carman Albano for his line, while in the backfield his choice of 3 men will be in Ken Carey, Carmen Sgroi, Jim Brandow, Robert Shutter, Barney Reynolds, George Swartz and Don Richter. Tomorrow Coeymans will play the first game of six man football in this locality when they face the strong Cambridge Sextet. Kunz has only a few of his last years‟ championship team and therefore centers his hopes around Eugene Mulligan, Carl Tiberia, Giles Wagoner, Walter Lyons, Rudolph Frese, Eugene Leigh, Vincent Lyons, Henry Johnson, Clem Rivers, Christopher Biscone. Many fans were disappointed when it was rumored that six man football would be adopted. Since watching the local teams in scrimmage many have commented on it. The game is faster, interesting, open and becoming popular. It gives all athletes a chance as many substitutions must be made. Get behind your favorite in town and cheer them into victory. September 30, 1938 “Gridiron Punts” by Fred Martino Coeymans‟ Orange and Maroon sextet nosed out Cambridge in the last quarter after 3 hard fought and scoreless quarters in a 6 man football game at Coeymans on Friday, Sept. 23rd. Husky John Barber, left halfback, plowed through right end to gallop over the goal line for the one tally. Outstanding highlights of the game were the 165 yards gained by Eugene Mulligan, Coeymans, and the blocking of Veski, of Cambridge. Both teams played gallant football. From the opening kickoff to the last second of play, it was either schools game until a lone touchdown meant victory for Coeymans and defeat for Cambridge. 5 The Debut of 6-Man Football TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN! Yelled the frenzied crowd of spectators, who were about to witness the first game of football to be played for Roeliff Jansen and touchdowns did the enthusiastic players give them. They won a first victory over Ravena 20-14. A short stocky player, Hermans, who played left half, amazed fans with his beautiful blocking, tackling, alertness and broken field running. He scored 2 of three tallies. Sharretts, right half, carried over another tally as Dingman‟s conversion for 2 points was good. All this scoring was performed in the first half. In the second half, however, a more inspired and determined Ravena sextet came on the field. This fighting spirit enabled them to score 2 touchdowns, 2 [extra] points and hold the Roe Jan sextet scoreless for this half. Van Alstyne‟s 40 yard run around right end and Shutter‟s plunge through center accounted for the tallies as Marcella and Shutter both ran easily over for extra points. Idealistic sport music was furnished by the Roe Jan High School Band. Standing of League to date: W L Pts Coeymans 1 0 2 Roe Jan 1 0 2 Roessleville 1 0 2 Castleton 0 0 0 Cambridge 0 0 0 Coxsackie 0 0 0 Ravena 0 0 0 The players: Coeymans POS Cambridge Leigh LE Blatchley Frese C Burch Wagoner RE Clark Mulligan QB Robinson Barber LH Veski Tiberia RH Severgon Subs for Coeymans: L.