Hurricanes were in the news 50 years ago, too
How many times have you heard the old adage about lightning not striking twice in the same place, or that once something or other happens there is a slim chance that it will repeat? Have a couple examples to the contrary.
While thumbing through the old files for notes on this column, a headline on the sports page for this week in September of 1955 almost jumped out of the viewer.
Away back then, world heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano was getting ready to defend his title against Archie Moore, a worthwhile challenger if there ever was one and also one of the real nice people to interview. They were to meet in Yankee Stadium, but a banner headline streamed over a story indicated otherwise.
Does this sound just a little bit familiar to what has been going on this summer?
The story started off “Hurricane Ione, swirling north with a wallop that could flatten both champion Rocky Marciano and challenger Archie Moore, is threatening to postpone tomorrow night’s big heavyweight title fight at Yankee Stadium.”
The fight was postponed for 24 hours and when no real danger loomed, it went on a day late. The postponement merely delayed the inevitable. Marciano flattened him in the ninth round.
Closer to home, there was another case of lightning repeating, only in reverse.
Talk about fumbleitis, the previous weekend, Perry-Lower Tyrone set somewhat of a record for one day and, as far as anybody can remember, it still might be a county record. P-LT fumbled 12 times in the game and lost six of them, while bowing to Ellsworth, 20-13. The loss knocked P-LT from the list of WPIAL-B playoff-eligible teams. Ellsworth also had a touch of the dropsies, one of them picked up by George Bednar and returned 35-yards for the TD. Micoda to Jerry Matty for 25 yards added the second score and Matsko kicked the PAT.
But, in the following game, the giveaways were in reverse. P-LT intercepted five passes and recovered one fumble, while on the way to beating Point Marion, 20-6. Bob Benke ran 25 off tackle after a fumble recovery to start scoring, then ran the PAT. A pass theft in the second set up Matty’s run from the six on the option. PM took the second half kickoff and drove 72 yards for the score, Bill Dilliner getting the last yard. A third-period pass interception set up the final score, Benke going the last nine.
North Union got its second shutout win in a row, 8-0, over Carmichaels. Early in the fourth, the Mikes stopped NU inside the one and took over on downs. As QB Mike Krewasky tried to pass, the NU defenders rushed him, knocked the ball loose, and recovered in the end zone for the score. Late in the fourth, the Mikes were backed up again, and RB Don Whipkey was trapped in the end zone for a safety.
In other news that week:
– The undercut to a sports photo of a runner carrying the ball noted that “Ed Dugan, senior halfback from South Union, is the fastest back on the West Virginia University squad. Dugan’s 90-yard touchdown run against Waynesburg in 1952 is still the longest run in the WVU record book.”
– Another news item noted that “Jim Hillen, Uniontown High’s all-state tackle last season, and Bill Power, Uniontown football coach, are pictured in the current issue of Life Magazine, in a feature dealing with West Virginia University football. Hillen is one of two Fayette Countians slated to start for the Mountaineers on Thursday when the freshman team opens its season against Fairmont State. Chuck Billar, 200-pound German center, is the other.”
– Davey Sennett, age 9, son of Dr. and Mrs. David F. Sennett, of Uniontown, celebrated his birthday, and among the presents he received was a baseball autographed by his personal sports hero, Brooklyn Dodgers centerfielder Duke Snider.
– Recognition was paid to the Uniontown High football team of 1912, which posted a 7-1 record, under the coaching of Carl Sutter, losing only to Greensburg, 13-6. How many of these players can you remember – Bob Burd, J.P. Dunn, who later became an Alderman; Clyde Smith, John Stone, Leo Wood, Joe Dickson, Bill Beatty, Rickie Bierer, Sam Chamberlain, Tom Evans, Ed Whitley, Sniff Snyder, Pat Casey, Jim Darby, Lloyd Lancaster, Don Harrold, Bill Sturgeon, H. Vance Cottom, later a county judge; Frank Wyatt, Harry Coughanour, Luther Crawford, who later became Uniontown Mayor; Ed McShane, Bill Allen, Arthur Morss, Jesse McDowell, Bob Lincoln, Charles Jeffries, Earl Connor, and Sam Cohen.
In other scholastic action, Fairchance edged St. Francis of Morgantown, 13-12. Fairchance trailed 12-0 at the half, then came back in the fourth to win. Larry Balok ran eight yards with a pitchout for the first score and Hoover passed to Don Kessler for the PAT. Then, with one minute to go, Hoover passed 20 yards to Rock Walton for the clincher.
Dunbar Township got its third win, and 11th in a row over two seasons, 20-2 over German Township before a home crowd of 4,500. The Mules led 7-0 at the half, moving 65 yards in 13 plays for the score, Jerry Doyle the last three on a quarterback sneak on the last play of the half. John Meegan ran the PAT. In the third, Alf Soberdash recovered a Uhlan fumble at the 45 and Meegan led the drive from there to the G-7, from where Doyle passed to Nick Steich for the TD. But the play was nullified by a motion penalty. Meegan then ran 10 with a pitchout and John Sanzone added the PAT. Sanzone passed 29 yards to Ron Harshman for the final score in the fourth. Late in the game, the Mules stopped GT on the one-foot line and when they tried to run out the clock, Meegan was trapped in the end zone for a safety.
John Kemp ran 99 yards to give Uniontown a 6-0 lead, but Monessen came back with two scores in the second half to win, 13-6.
Mapletown and Ellsworth battled to a 7-7 tie. Mapletown scored in the second on Don Wilson’s 12-yard run, and George Lewis kicked the PAT. Ellsworth came back to tie before the half ended.
Connellsville scored 19 in the first quarter and went on to whip South High of Pittsburgh, 32-7. Sonny Robertucci ran 26 yards, Eddie Stout 23 and Jim Cunningham 11 to get the win started. Gene Cavalier (six yards) and Cunningham again (15) added the other scores. The Cokers fumbled seven times, losing six, but still outgained South, 292-68.
Waynesburg moved out early and handed North Union its first loss, 24-7. Harold McClure passed 40 yards to Gerry Milliken, Jim Bernard plunged one yard and Jim Bernaducci ran 88 yards to get an 18-0 halftime lead. Ben Garrow scored for NU in the third when he blocked a WHS punt and recovered in the end zone, with Bob Painley running the PAT. Bill Swan ran nine for the other WHS score in the fourth.
South Union and Georges played to a 6-6 tie in the rain. On the first scrimmage play of the game, Tony Watkins ran 52 yards to give SU the lead, and Georges tied in the second on Wilbur West’s 88-yard run. The only real threat to score after that was in the fourth when the Runners moved to the SU-8 and fumbled.
Carmichaels led 7-6 at the half, then moved in the second half to trip Masontown, 19-6. CHS got the early lead with a fumble recovery that set up Mike Krewasky’s 30-yarder to Don Whipkey, and Carl Gdovka’s kick. Masontown moved 56 yards in the second, John Salopek scoring from the two. Ellsworth (eight yards) and Krewasky (15) got second half scores.
California and Rostraver tied, 7-7. RHS led 7-0 after Jim Weightman scored from the six and Ralph Sullenberger added the PAT. Cal came back to tie before halftime, moving 61 yards, Joe Sepesy plunging the last one, and Bell kicked the PAT.
Turkeyfoot went ahead 13-0 at the half, but Conemaugh Township came back in the fourth to tie, 13-13. Dexter Holliday got the first Ram score, returning a pass theft 80 yards. Ralph Smith ran five for the other score and passed to Ed Cunningham for the PAT.
– The Steelers opened with a 14-7 win over the Chicago Cardinals.
, driving 70 yards for the clincher in the third.
– And the Pirates? Well, they lost the season’s final game to Brooklyn, 4-0, and finished last, 39 games behind the champion Dodgers, then fired manager Fred Haney. However, they kept GM Branch Rickey, who continued the era of the “Rickey dinks.”
To those old enough to remember, does the latter expression evoke memories of what is happening today?
– Remember?