Out of the Past
1957: High school football is just now getting under way As of today, most high school football teams have already played three games, but that was not the case a few years ago.
Let’s really go awayyyyy back, to this week in 1957.
Weather reports said it was typical Indian Summer throughout the day, and the nights were cool but not cold when you could still sit on the front porch for a while in the evening. Good football weather.
The scholastic teams were into their first week. Back then, the emphasis was not on the WPIAL playoffs. Sure, you wanted to get into post-season play, but back then, the only way you could advance into the playoffs was to be undefeated. There were no “y’all come” affairs with three and four teams from every conference moving into the playoffs.
It all came down to just two teams, and they had to be undefeated. Under the old Gardner Point System, which determined post-season play, even a tie would knock you out of eligibility. If there was only one perfect team, they were the champions.
Naturally, everybody wanted to win. That’s why you play games. But there was also the quest to beat old rivals, stay on the plus side for the season.
And so it was that the scholastic football season finally got under way this week so long ago. The only team not playing that first week would be Connellsville, which had an open date, and would start the following week against Washington.
And by the way, how many of these coaches do you remember, who were listed as head coaches for opening night (some not mentioned, unfortunately).
Connellsville, Roger Speidel; Dunbar Twp., Norman Davis; Scottdale, Joe Gratson; Hurst, Dick Sherrbaum; East Huntingdon, Dick Bosnic; South Huntingdon, Jim Mason; Perry-Lower Tyrone, Don Mains; Uniontown, Bill Power; North Union, Nick Bubonovich; South Union, Park Glass; Turkeyfoot, Tom Simon; Rostraver Twp., Wade Bender; German Twp., Lou Rozzi; Point Marion, Harry Brownfield; Masontown, John Lozar; Georges Twp., John Adams; Fairchance, Joe Barkley; Redstone, Joe Bosnic; Monessen. Armand Niccolai; Bellmar, Bap Manzini; and Brownsville, Alex Barantovich.
Niccolai later became one of the most highly respected football and basketball officials in the state.
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In those opening games:
l Uniontown zipped German Twp., 26-0, in what could have been called an “Air Stephens” offense, as Sandy Stephens passed for three scores. Frank Platz started the scoring with a 1-yard plunge, and Stephens passed to Gene Chambers for the PAT (which was worth only one point then. Today they count two). Stephens and Chambers then hooked up on a 3-yard score in the second, Stephens 5-yards to Ken Fairfax counted in the third, and Stephens 23-yards to Joe Lukay closed scoring in the fourth.
l Brownsville scored in the fourth to nip Munhall, 14-13. Art Bentley got both BHS scores. In the first, Raleigh recovered a MHS fumble at the nine and Bentley scored from the one with Allen Sepsi running the PAT. In the fourth, BHS drove 74 yards to score, Bentley going in from the four, then running the PAT.
l Mapletown scored three times in the second half to down Georges, 20-7. In the first, Sylvester Wilson recovered a Maple fumble at the 17, and Bob Korona climaxed the short drive with a sneak from the one, then ran the PAT. Mapletown drove 61 yards to open the second half, Jordan scoring from the two. MHS moved to the lead on their second possession, Jordan scoring from the three. A 93-yard drive in the fourth closed scoring, Jordan scoring again from the nine, and Novak passed to Mikacy for the PAT.
l South Union scored 13 in the fourth to come from behind and beat Carmichaels, 20-12. Melvin Henderson ran 14 for SU in the first and Novak to Alan Bierer added the PAT. The Mikes scored in the second on Bob Mahle’s plunge from the one, and took the lead in the third on Mahle’s 28-yd. scamper. SU cam on the fourth as Novak threw 13 to Tom Brajdic, and added the clincher as Novak hit Tom Rae from the seven.
l Perry Lower-Tyrone belted Bellmar, 26-6. Chauncey Chambers scored in the first, and Ron Stover ran the PAT, to give P-LT a 7-0 halftime lead. Stover scored in the third, Paul Ceranska ran 60-yards, and in the fourth Bob Piersol ran 11 yards to close scoring.
l North Union scored in the fourth to nip Masontown, 13-7. NU got the ball back with 4-minutes to go in the game, and Steve Krevinko, Yauger, and Bill Swaney led the drive to score, Swaney passing 35 yards to Bob Krevinko for the TD, and Steve Krevinko adding the PAT. Masontown led 7-0 after Bill Elias passed to Don Smith for first down on the two, and Bob Brooks drove in from there, Larry Vignali adding the PAT. Steve Krevinko got the other Ram TD from the seven. The post-game report cited Tom Sankovich (NU) and Vignali for “outstanding defensive play for their respective teams.”
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Elsewhere that week:
l The Steelers gave new coach Buddy Parker a 20-14 welcoming win over his former team, the Detroit Lions. Fran Rogel (1-yd.), Dick Hughes (86 yard punt return), and Gary Glick (2 FG) scored for the Steelers.
-Football prospects at West Virginia University include FB Larry Krutko, Carmichaels; linemen Jim Hillen, Smock, Uniontown High; Chuck Billak, German Twp.; Dick Guseman, Brownsville; Paul Sharkady and Bill Ford, Centerville; center Tom Doman, Fredericktown and RB Mickey Trimarski, Burgettstown.
l The Pirates split with the Phillies, winning 6-2 and losing 7-4, to stand 54-84 in seventh place.
l A dedicatory program is slated for the monument at Virgin Run Lake by the Southwest Division of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, and the Fayette County Fish and Game Protective Assn. The monument honors the late Robert Cooper, of Connellsville, “an outstanding sportsman, wildlife enthusiast, and conservation leader” who was born about a half-mile from Virgin Run Lake. His activities included organizing the FGPA. Speaker will be Dr. John Lewis, member of the California State College faculty and former teacher at Connellsville High School, a long-time personal friend of Cooper.
l Joe Ozag, native of Boswell, and graduate of St. Francis College, has been name new head basketball coach at Connellsville Immaculate Conception High. He succeeds Aldo Prosperi, who has accepted a teaching position in Export.
l Lou Woods, Uniontown, scored a hole-in-one on No. 4 at Summit Golf Course, using a 4-wood, while playing in a threesome with Ralph (Pep) Butler and Sam Silver.
l Harry Mulligan repeated as champion at Uniontown Country Club, defeating Bill Martin, 4 and 3, in the 36-hole match to retain the title he won a year ago. Ralph Busan defeated Ted Kazmarsky, 1-up, in the first flight; and Dick Bates won the second flight, 5 and 4, over Ted Lima.
l The Pirates swept the Cubs, 4-1 on Bob Friend’s 6-hitter and home runs by Hank Foiles and Bob Skinner, and 2-1 as R.C. Smith worked a 4-hitter and Elroy Face came on for some strong relief in the ninth.
Jim Kriek is a Herald-Standard sports correspondent.