Pleasant Grove High School - Valkyrie Yearbook (Pleasant Grove, UT)

Page 56 text:

Vikings Defeat Eagles 21-0, Gain Spot in Finals Those amazing Vikings from Pleasant Grove High School-a Cinderella football team if there ever was one-did it again! Despite the predictions of experts throughout the state, they exploded with dramatic suddenness three times to defeat Millard High School-an aggre- gation steeped in football tra- dition-by a 21-O score. The aame, played on the Pleasant Grove field, proved to be a sensational exhibition of running on the part of Paul Allen, speedy Vikina back. But it was more than a vic- tory for Alleng it was a triumph for Hal Lewis, who did some running himself in addition to his more than adeauate defen- sive work: and a glorious win for co-captain Jay Johnson, heady little Quarterback, Jim Thornton, blocking back, and Gene Carson, who stopped a Millard rally cold with a sensa- tional interception on his own one yard line. lt was a wonderful victory for Paul Anderson, guard and co-captain-as fine a linesman and place kicker as you miaht run across in high school any- where. lt was a triumph for his fel- low linesman, Clark Ostergaard, Richard Peterson, John Richins, Dan Buckner, Bill Trimble, and Jerry Harmer. lt was a happy win for the rest of the boys of the Viking squad-those who played and those who warmed the bench. lt became a satisfying win for Ned Alger, a coach in his second year, and Don Crump, his as- sistant, only one year older in the coaching game. Best of all the win gave the Vikings a chance to enter the state football finalsethe first time in the history of the school. So finally it became a Pleasant Grove High School victory. The Vikings gained their first touchdown when quarterback Johnson pitched out to Allen on the Eaqle 27, and the speedy back thrilled the crowd with a sprint down the sidelines for the score. Anderson placed the ball between the uprights for the extra point. The aame ended with the hall on the Viking l2-yard marker after Stevens carried the piaskin for 45 vards after a short flat pass from Palmer. Just as the qun went off the sun came from out of the day- lona overcast to shine on a swirlina mob of haoov P. G. students who rushed out on the field to greet their victorious team. Pleasant Grove Wins State Class B Football Championship SALT LAKE CITY - Nyle Shumway, Pleasant Grove tackle, had his moment of glory in the University of Utah Stadium Sat- urday when he scooped up a loose ball on the North Summit 20-yard line and scooted for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 6-2 victory and the 1955 Utah State B Foot- ball Championship. Shumway scored in the thlrdi quarter soon after the P.G. grid-, tiers gave two points to the North Summit Braves on a safety, mak-K ine each team's score unusual-i The play which netted the Braves the 2 points started on the Viking 1 yard line. Pleasant Grove had been penalized to that? point for holding during a run- back of a North Summlt punt., Dan Buckner, Viking end, made an attempt to kick on first down,i but the ball struck the back of a teammate and was deflected into' the end zone where one of thel P.G. gridders fell on it for the' North Summit safety. The Braves built their defense around the idea of stopping Paul Allen. -Speedy Sophomore P.G. back and they had some measure of success-Allen did find it hard to S01 Hwly for many long runs, but the other P.G. backs, Jay Johnson, Hal Lewis, and Jim Thornton did shake loose. Lewis, Qspeclilly ran with the pigskin' like a scared jackrabbit. The V i kin g s threatened to score on the first series of plays after Dick Saxton, North Summit quarter, kicked off to start the game. Bill Trimble, P.G. end,l took the ball on his own 32 and returned to the 42.

Page 55 text:

Pleasant Grove Rolls to 21-0 Victory Over Pioneers ln a game filled with penal- ties and fumbles on both sides, the Pleasant Grove Vikings took the measure of a promising Lehi team 21-0 Friday, September 30, 1955 to chalk up a first league victory. The margin of victory rested in the charging Viking line, the fast running of the P. G. backs--Hal Lewis, Paul Allen, and Jim Thornton-and the pass- ing of quarterback Jay John- son, who hit his man time after time for timely gains. Pleasant Grove Grid Team Defeats Wildcats, 26 to 6 The Pleasant Grove Vikings, paced bv the sensational run- ning of Paul Allen, romped to a one-sided victory over Brig- ham Young High Wildcats Wed- nesday October 12, 1955 in an official Division l clash on the BYU football field. Earlier in the season the Grovers showed their claws by beating Coach Grant Bushman's Wildcats 27 to 6 in a preseason practice encounter. Wednesday's game was a league affair and left the Vikings undefeated in prep school play to date. Vikings Down Cavemen 27-12, Near Division 1 Grid Championship Coach Ned Alger and his Pleasant Grove Vikings made football history Thursday, Oct- ober 20, as they downed Am- erican Fork Cavemen 27-12. The Grovers started their scoring antics so rapidly that it completely threw the Forkers off their stride and they failed to show anything of their tra- ditional prowress until late in the game when Coach Alger had permitted his Viking first string- ers to cool off. The game was played in per- fect football weather and a larae crowd of almost equally divided partisan spectators cheered their teams on in a hard fought and at times sensational battle between two teams keyed for the contest. The win for the Vikings pretty well sewed up the Division 1 title and put them in the fav- nrite role for the Region 3 Championship. They will play the top team of the Class B group in the Division 2 league with a fine chance of crowding their way into the state playoffs. Vikings Top Devils 13-0 To Grab Title A pair of 30 yard runs clos- ed the football season for Springville as Pleasant Grove took advantage of two Spring- ville defense lapses to grind our a 13-O win on a neutral Lehi gridiron, and earn the right to play Millard in the State Class B semifinals next week. Pleasant Grove ended the season as Division 1 champs and Springville emeraed Divi- sion 2 B school kingpin in the newly reorganized Region 3. during the reaular play. Pleasant Grove's first score came in the opening quarter by halfback Hal Lewis and Allen ran the other one over in the third period. The Horse showed Spring- ville that it had to do more than iust ride his neck before he would stop dodging, twisting and runnina over players. But if Allen was a show, he was iust the center of a three- ring circus, for at his sides were a couple of halfbacks who kept Springville auessing as to who had the ball. These were speedy Hal Lewis and Jim Thornton, powerful left' half, who alternated with Allen in plunging through the line.

Page 57 text:

'Thornton carried to the 'P.G 49, then on a pitchout Allex lugged it to the North Summh 24 around right end, for the initial Viking first down. Allen was held for no gain when he attempted to go through center on the next play. Then after an incomplete pass John? son hit Buckner on the 14 to score a second consecutive Viki ing first down. P.G. fumbled on the next play to end the scoringethreat. Braves Move The Braves then proceeded to score a couple of first downs, but their offensive thrust led by their great fullback, Eddie Jensen, and halfbacks, Don Judd and Garyf Jones, also bogged down. Thef Vikings took over on a punt ,onl their own 22. The P.G. team wasl able to move the ball only 3 yards on two running plays, then took to the air only to have the pass intercepted and run to the. 'P.G. 30. North Summit took over all what nearly amounted to a suc- cessful touchdown march. It was Jensen on nearly every play through the line. The Vikings, however showed their mettle and held on their own 5, Pleasant Grove again took over on their own 26 after North Summit failed to gain on four downs. Lewis 'slipped through left tackle to carry the plgskln to the Braves' 22 yard line. Trimble, on an ond around play then carried to the 14, but the gain was nullified by the P.G. penalty. Johnson made a pass attempt but was downed on the North Summit 46. Trimble tried a long pass which was intercepted by North Summit. The Braves kicked after fail- ing to gain. Lewis returned the ball to the Braves' 46-yard line. The Vikings gained 9 yards mf three plays but failed to pick up the extra yard when they tried to run on fourth down. l .l l The P.G. boys ran the ball back to their own 24 and punted just before the end of the first half. Paul Anderson, Pleasant Grove guard, kicked to the Braves' 25 yard line to begin the second, half. North Summit picked upg two first downs to take them tof the P.G. 44. They were thenl forced to .kick to Allen on the 5' yard marker. Allen returned toi the 11. The ball was placed oni the Viking 1 yard line after al penalty and here Buckner made? his ill-fated punt which resulted! in the 2 points for the Northl Summit School. Anderson kicked to the Bravesgg 20. The North Summit quarter- back, Ferris Lynn, tried a pass which was intercepted by Lewis. P. G. elected to kick on third down. Thee ball was returned from the Summit 20 to the 27. On first down Lynn was then hit hard by a host of P.G. line- men on an attempted pass. Thef pigskin squirted through his fin- gers, Shumway grabbed it and was over for the T.D. before the astonished fans and players could understand what had happened. Anderson's try for conversion failed. Braves Pass North Summit took to the air during the latter part of the fourth quarter in a desperate attempt to pull the game out of the fire. However, the P.G. team came up with a fine defense to stop the Braves passing attempts., The game ended with the Vik. ings in possession at midfield. NAMED TO All-STAR TEAMS WERE: Region 3 Poul Allen Fullbock Clork Ostergciord Tackle Poul Anderson Guard Second Team Richard Peterson Tackle Hol Lewis Holfbock Region all-star team Bill Trimble End Poul Anderson Guard Joy Johnson Bock Hol Lewis Bock Poul Allen Bock Second Team Don Buckner End First All-State Team Poul Anderson Guord Poul Allen Bock Second Team Bill Trimble End Hol Lewis Bock 53