Bethel Park High School - Beacon Yearbook (Bethel Park, PA)

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The best football record ever achieved by a Bethel team was made by this year's squad. It was the first championship team since 1933 when Bethel took the sec- tion by forfeit. The following lettermen contributed much to the spirit and playing skill of the team. Larry Bognar-4 year man-played first string guard until a leg injury disabled him. Although his service was limited, he did an excellent job while in the game. James Cain-3 year man-Bud wasnit able to play dur- ing his junior year because of illness, but in his senior year he made a comeback to the first string, holding down the position of tackle. jack Clingan-3 year man-jack was another first-string man on this year s championship team. His hard tackling stopped many an opposing Harold Crowley-3 year m man on the Bethel team in performance as end. Earnest Eadson-manage working man on the team player from gaining ground. an- Shoesv could outrun any addition to turning in a good r-K'Hed,l was the hardest NVhether it was equipment or encouragement that was needed, Red was always Johnny on the spotf' Albert Freyvogel-2 year halfback. He knew every man-Al was a fleet-footed play backwards and even for- wards sometimes. lle was a swell guy and had lots of spirit. Robert Long-1 year man-Bob found a size 13 football shoe plenty large, but he certainly could make those feet move. Bob was a great inspiration to the team. Thomas Replogle-3 year man-Tom held the left ter- minal post. He was good both in receiving passes and in defensive play. Don Sehalch-3 year man-Don played on the first string as guard this year. His strong defensive play was felt by many an opponent. Iohn Sourbeer-4 year man-Jack was Co-Captain of the 1946 squads. He was a fine ground gained for the team during his football years. Peter St. Clair-4 year man-Pete was the Captain of the team his Senior year and was Co-Captain his junior year. He was the hard driving fullback of this yearis squad and a great asset to the team. lack Stemnock-43 year man-Jack was the half spinner for the team. His ability to back up the line was a great help to the squad and he also displayed ability in tack- ling. Morris VValsh-3 year man-Moe was one of the best pass receivers in recent years. As a defensive player he was tops. Allan Wissinger-1 year man-Allan came out for foot- ball his senior year. NVhat he lacked in experience he made up for in determination. VVhile these senior lettermen did a fine job, much of the success of the team resulted from the excellent playing of junior members of the squad. The underclass- men earning letters, were: Daniel Taylor, tackle, Paul Plocki, quarterback, Edward Bucks, guard, YVilliam Mur- doch, center, Larry Bognar, halfback, Charles Picard, end, Dale Custer, tackle, Donald Anderson, quarterback, and Charles Sekon, fullback. Left to right, Row 1-Smith, Wissinger, Josephi, Britton, Young, Heplogle, Ned, Arthurs, Gray, Fife, Sekon. Row 2-Eadson, man- ager, Racks, Schalch, Picard, Taylor, Replogle, Tom, St. Clair, Sourbeer, Murdoch, Cain, Bognar, Roger, Plocki, Cotton, assistant manager. Row 3-Mr. Strall, assistant coach, Holstein, assistant manager, Freyvogle, Carson, Peters, Walsh, Clingan, Crowley, Custer, Anderson, Bognar, lrarry, Schnabcl, Mr. Pearson, coat-li. Row 4-Long, Stoltz, Nicksic, Steen, Trapp, Seddon, Tcbbs, Hand- cock, McCracken. Beacon - 15

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A Doggie to the left Yea Team FIRST TEAM, Cleft to rightj Row 1-Picard, Taylor, Rucks, Murdoch, Schalch, Cain, Beplogle. Row 2--Bognar, Plocki, St. Clair, Sourbeer. fi 1- v? -3 4 .V fi . f V,-Q w In a season characterized by hard playing and plenty of action, Bethel turned in a record that topped that of any previous year. The boys were helped along the way by Mr. Victor Pearson, coach and Mr. Edward Strall, assistant coach. After being defeated by Baldwin 12-6 in the opening game, the team rallied for its string of Class B victories. First of these came when Bethel defeated East Washington 20-0. In the first home game, Bethel romped over Bridge- ville 25-6, and after coming out from behind in the second half, rolled up a 19-6 score over a determined Snowden team. The next game, with Chartiers, was the toughest of our season and Bethel just eked out a 7-6 score in the last m..,,,......t.t..,.-... .......,,...... .N.Mm.,..,,,N.t.,,.M.......M..Maww,.....,,...........t...,a.,.,.1......,,,.,s,.,..,a,...,,,....,......W..,...s..,M.........-..M...,.....W.,v,..a...w........,......,.-was . mf,-s,,.,.,....... ...W l N Q Bethel .....,.... ...... 6 2 Bethel ...i.., ...... 2 0 Q Bethel ,..... ,..... 2 5 L Bethel ....., ...... 1 9 , Bethel ,,..,. .,..,, 7 if Bethel ,.... ...... 2 6 t Bethel ...... ...... 2 0 4 Bethel ...,.. ,..... 3 2 5 Bethel ....... .. 7 - 5. moments of a hard fought game on the YVash- ington-Ieflerson field. After easily defeating North Fayette 26-0, the Bethel eleven fought a stubborn MacDonald team to take a 20-14 victory. In the final game of our schedule the team came through to trip Cecil 32-19 in a thrilling game on Bethelis home Held. The squad then had enough points for the Class B championship game at the Etna field against East Deer. After coming out from behind and then going out front, Bethel had the crucial touchdown called back, and East Deer marched to a fourth quarter touchdown to come out on top, 14-7. This concluded a season characterized by lots of hard playing and real spirit. 4 Baldwin .,.. ..,,..,.... ....,, 1 2 I' East NVashington .. 0 ' Bridgeville ...,.... 6 Snowden ,...... 6 Chartiers ...., . ... 6 f North Fayette 0 MacDonald ...., ...,.. 1 4 1 Cecil .,.....,, ..... .,..,. 1 9 f East Deer .... .. I4 , Beacon - 14 And a doggie to the right Fight, Fight, Fight

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Weifwl. M, W. Q.H.Ji W. The climax of the 1947 football season came when Bethel played the Class BD championship game against East Deer. The two teams met on the Etna field Saturday, November 23. Plenty of hard, fast playing ensued. Bethel won the toss and elected to receive. In the first six minutes of play there was little action from either side. Then midway in the first quarter on the muddy ground, St. Clairis punt rolled dead on the East Deer 19. The Buck team led hy Crossi put Bethel back on its own 22 with four consecutive first downs. After three downs Grossi ran off right tackle for 18 yards and the game's first touchdown. The extra point was added by Stoneburner. Paul Plocki then carried back East Deeris kickoff from our 10 to out of hounds at the 49 yard stripe. Sourbeer, on the next play, ran 28 yards to their 17 for a first down as the Hrst quar- ter ended. After St. Clair pounded the center of the line for another first down in the first play of the second quarter, Sourbeer and Roger Bognar brought the ball down to the two yard line. Then Sourbeer plowed through the center of the line for the tally. Charging hard through the center again, St. Clair tacked on the extra point to make the score 7-7. In the third quarter the ball moved back and forth across the mid-field stripe with neither team threatening until Sourheer made a sensational finger-tip, juggling catch of a long pass thrown by St. Clair and a moment later Plocki passed to Sourbeer for another first down on the East Deer 19. After St. Clair rolled up another first down on the nine, Plocki again passed to Sourheer who stepped over the goal for a touchdown, but it was nullified and a fifteen yard penalty for push- ing was inflicted This greatly lowered the spirit of the Bethel eleven, and failing to make another Iirst down, they lost the ball on downs, East Deer took the hall on their 19 and, after the fourth quarter opened, made five straight downs with Crossi again scoring from the one-yard line with Stoneburner making the placement. In the closing minutes of the game our team tried an air offensive but failed to make the yard- age and the game ended with the opponents in possession of the ball. ' - BETHEL SCORES AGAINST EAST DEER Beacon - 16