Abraham Lincoln High School - Crimson and Blue Yearbook (Council Bluffs, IA)

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rated Des Moines Dowling team. After a fierce struggle, the Lynx, spearheaded by the sharp passing of Gallagher and the nimble feet of Waters, forced the Des Moines boys to con- cede a 6-0 defeat. Creighton Prep stood next on the list for the boys in Crimson and Blue. ln an important lntercity League clash, an inspired Lynx team scored two touchdowns in the first half, com- pletely outplaying their opponents. But the tle- termined Prepsters stormed back into the game resolved to break the Abraham Lincoln victory string. The equally-determined Lynx beat off the intended rally and at the final gun the score stood Abraham Lincoln, 12, Creighton Prep, 6. The following week, with a six-game win- ning streak under their belts, Abe Lynx grid- men met a highly-favored Omaha Central team, who completely outplayed and outcharged A.L. during the first half and blasted their way to a half-time lead of I2-0. The Lynx revived in the second half and did all but run Central off the lield. The rally fell short, however, and the hill- toppers swallowed the first defeat of their record- breaking season. The boys from A.L. bounced back in their next contest, showing the spirit that Lynx teams always have by trouncing a surprisingly- stubborn Corning eleven, 13-0. The nifty ball- handlers rolled forward behind the alert line play of Mordeson, Pickerill, and Letner. In what proved to be the roughest game of the season, A.L. seniors suited up for the last Heading for the wide open spaces is Keith Rapalje, as Rod Letner CNQ. 413, Larry Burdick KNO. 423, and Louie Bendon do a good job of blocking. game of their high school careers. They played heads-up ball all the way to check a well-bal- anced Thomas jefferson team, 19-14. Sparked by Stucker's brilliant passing and running and the reliable effectiveness of the Crimson and Blue line, Vic Jennings' rugged gridders left the scene of their final clash the proud possessors of the best record compiled by an Abe Lynx team in thirty years - a final tally of eight wins and one loss. FIRST HAM M is f3'Tff et t , 'cste .4 ,f t 'tsc Q- or sw 3 3 'ft R 1 S f g WE 41.1 i 49 , ,....t c... L X i A ' Q an-maxim 9 A 9 6 'l ' ... at Q a N Q nik-Chit . Tirst Row: Letner, Kiger, Lane, Second Row: Mcllnrncy, Stoker, Burdick, Mordeson, Jensen. 1TlvinI Row: Henderson, Everson, Willian1s, Pickeiill.

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lllllllllll . , Mapping strategy for coming battles are Cap- tain Rod Letner and Coach Vic Jennings. Aided by ten lettermen, plus the help of a bril- liant array of juniors and sophomores, Abraham Lincoln enjoyed in 1951 its most successful foot- ball season since 1921. The backfield quartet of Gallagher, Waters, Stucker, and Bendon, sup- ported by Kiger, Rapalje, and Thomsen, had the fear and respect of all opponents. This backfield, together with a powerful line consisting of such FIRST lf M standouts as Burdick, Letner, Mordeson, and McBurney, marched through the season to win efght out of nine games. In the opener, Abraham Lincoln rolled past favored Shenandoah by a score of 13-0. Crum- bling Mustang defenses with vicious line play and hard-running backs, the Lynx completely dominated the game. The second victim for the relentless hilltop- pers was lntercity rival Omaha Tech. Once again the Lynx were the underdogs, but fought their way to the top side of a 6-O score. The next gridiron tangle found the scrappy eleven facing their old enemy, Thomas jefferson. Carried by the hard running of Stucker and Waters, they humbled the Yellow jackets to the tune of a 22-12 tally. When Abraham Lincoln met their new foe, Omaha Cathedral, the Class B team promptly showed the Lynx they were not to be slighted. Wading through the mud, the Omahans ran up a 12-0 first-quarter lead. But the undefeated boys from A.L. roared from behind to nip Cathedral 13-12 and rack up their fourth straight victory. The following week found Vic Jennings' boys on the road to meet a mistakenly-under- I v Tfrst Row: Thomsen, Stucker, O'Meara, Mann, Gallagher. Second Row: Ander- sen, Bendon, Dunlop, Sage, Cheyne. llbird Row: Innes, Waters, Crowl, Nimtz.

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SEEU Il HA First Raw Seibert, Maurer, Mclntosll, Reynolds, llill, Voss, Stapleton. Yewml 'Row McSorley, Rounds, Fitch, Hodge, O'Cunncr, Bclircnml .,, - ..... 1- g-.. ., first Raw: llerd, Swanger, Messerli, Petry, Christensen, Hays, Samui Row Burdick, Delung, Prather, Cambron, Rapaljc, Mclicuwn. 26 ,.xQ......-,...... lun aol-. natural- ...L li QP4 'FII