Bolivar Central School - Gusher Yearbook (Bolivar, NY)

Page 22 text:

20 BOLIVAR HIGH SCHOOL BLIZZARD' Eldred High 12—B. H. S. 7. This was the most bitterly fought game that was played during the season. Although Bolivar outplayed their opponents during the first half, they were on the small end of a 6-0 score. However, early in the second half, Kroh intercepted a forward pass and raced for a touchdown. McKee drop-kicked the ball betwreen the posts for the extra point. The score remained thus until about two minutes before the final whistle when Eldred completed a long forward pass that resulted in the winning touchdown. It is needless to say that it was a hard game to lose, and it was the one game of the season which we should have won. Cuba High 19—B. H. S. 7 Playing their poorest game of the season, B. H. S. was easy prey for the Cuba team. The B. H. S. squad seemed to lack the old pep and fight, and at no time of the game did they seem able to really start an offensive. Cuba was able to shoot their backs through the line and around the ends for long gains. Alfred Frosh 34—B. H. S. 0. The Alfred Freshman team was the strongest team that B. H. S. encountered throughout the season. In fact, it was the only team that was really out of high school class. Nothing much can be said of the game except that B. H. S. fought hard, but were powerless to withstand the attack of the sturdy freshmen. Belmont High 0—B. H. S. 39. Plaving the best game of the season, B .H. S. easily defeated Belmont. After a series of disappointing games. B. H. S. finally seemed to come into its own. Belmont was not able to stop the crashing attack of Brigham and Dougiierty who tore off long gains time after time. At no time during the game was Belmont able to pierce Bolivar’s defense. Hornell High Reserves 0. B. H. S. 63. The light, inexperienced Homeli team was no match for the B. H. S. squad. Every member of the B. H. S. squad took part in the game and it was only a question of how large a score could be accumulated. No doubt if the team which took the field at the beginning had remained throughout a much higher score would have resulted. Belmont High 10—B. H. S. 25. In a weird game B. H. S. emerged triumphant over Belmont. During the first half, B. H. S. showed the spectators the poorest brand of football it had played all season with the result that Bolivar was on the short end of a 7-6 score, our touchdown being gained by a pretty 70 yard run by Root. In the second half the team regained all their old pep and fight. Beginning this half, Brigham received the ball on the kick-off and raced through the entire Belmont team for a touchdown. From this time on Belmont never had a chance, and two more touchdowns were scored. In the last five minutes of plav Ackerman, Belmont’s star halfback, kicked a beautiful field goal from the 35 yard line. Alumni 0—B. H. S. 12. Playing this game on a muddy iainsoaked field, fast football was out of the question. The Alumni showed lack of practice and it was cnlv a question of how long they could last. As they knew the B. H. S. signals, they were able to hold

Page 21 text:

BOLIVAR HIGH SCHOOL “BLIZZARD” 19 Football 1923 George Bliss, Captain and Manager Line-up: Left end—Harry Sackett. Left tackle—Duncan MacEwan. Left guard—Wilkins Newell (captain elect) Fay Thomson. Center—Murray Potter, Francis Ward. Right guard—John Sawyer, Robert Wightman. Right tackle—George Bliss (captain ). Right end—John Kroli. Quarterback—Lyman Root, El-wyn Swarthout. Right half—Charles Mead, Harold McKee. Left half—James Dougherty. Fullback —Marlie Brigham. Substitutes: Nelson Shavalier, Melvin H. VanCuren, Earl Harrington, Cerell Schram, Raymond Burdick, William Osgood. Letter Men: Sackett, MacEwan, Newell, Potter, Sawyer, Bliss, Ivroli, Root, Swarthout, Mead, Dougherty, Brigham, McKee, VanCuren, Thomson, Wightman. Review of Season. The football season of 1923 was not a wonderful success. Out of a schedule of ten games, B. H. S. won four, lost five and tied one. But viewing the season from the interest manifested by the student body, it was the most successful that we have enjoyed. More than twenty-five fellows came out for football and sixteen of these earned their letters. The team did not seem to strike its stride until the middle of the season but once they gained confidence they played a winning game. In the last few games of the season the B. H. S. machine looked like a real team. Olean High 19—B. H. S. 6. Playing the first game of the year with only a week of practice B. H. S. held the strong Olean eleven to a 19-6 score. Lack of practice was shown in loose handling of the ball and in weak tackling. It took the entire first half for the team to recover from its “stage fright.” In the second half the team played a much better game, taking the ball in the first five minutes to the Olean ten yard line by means of line plunges and short forward passes. From this point “Lon” McKee hit right tackle for our lone touchdown. B. II. S. was able to gain consistently throughout the last half when the ball fluctuated about the center of the field. Lack of the final scoring punch prevented another touchdown. Wellsville High 0—B. H. S. 0. Bolivar upset the dope when they held the more experienced Wellsville squad to a scoreless tie on the latter’s iield. At the very beginning of the game, B. H. S. fumbled on their own ten yard line, but with their characteristic fight, they held W. H. S. for downs and recovered the ball, Brigham punting' out of danger. From this time on the Bolivar goal line was never seriously threatened. Outside of a long run by Brigham when he nearly eluded the W. H. S. tacklers for a touchdown, the contest was devoid of features. The B. II. S. team still lacked the punch that is necessary to win football games.

Page 23 text:

BOLIVAR HIGH SCHOOL BLIZZARD 21 the high school team to two touchdowns, both scored by Dougherty. The game was entirely lacking in thrills. This encounter served as good practice for the Wellsville game which came two weeks later. Wellsville High 14—B. H. S. 0. As a result of this victory Wellsville High emerged as champions of the Allegany county high schools. The score does not really show how evenly matched the two teams were. W. II. S. recovered a fumble on the B. H. S. ten yard line, and on the second play a halfback circled right end for their first touchdown. From this time on neither team was able to gain consistently by plunging tactics. In the last quarter, W. H. S. completed a forward pass, the only one which they completed during the game. This took them to the B. H. S. two yard line. From here they took the ball over by means of line plunges. Both teams showed a strong defense with little offensive power. Wellsville’s running attack was better than that of B. H. S. but the blue and white excelled in an aerial attack. Eight letter men, Capt. Bliss, Dougherty, Swarthout, Thomson. McKee, MacEwan, Brigham and Root will be lost to the 1924 team. The first four mentioned graduate in June. The others either have departed from or will leave school. The nucleus for 1924 will consist of Capt. Newell, Sackett, Potter, Sawyer, Kroh, Mead, ard, Wight man and VanCuren. There is some promising new material that may serve to bolster the veterans through the tough schedule which faces the team. Hornell, Port Allegany, Alfred Freshmen, Olean, Cuba, Belmont, and Wellsville are all scheduled to meet the blue and white in what is probably the heaviest schedule attempted by a team representing B. H. S. Of the men who are leaving, special mention should be given to Capt. Bliss who was a tower of strength to the B. H. S. team throughout the season. Always possessed of plenty of pep and fight and a defensive player of extraordinary ability, the gap that “Pete” leaves at right tackle will be hard to fill. He certainly should be successful on the collegiate gridiron. Brigham at fullback was a powerful offensive player, and was responsible for many long gains. A fast man for his weight, a good punter and passer, Brigham was easily the best fullback in the section. Swarthout began the season at fullback, was shifted to half when Brigham entered school, played several games in the line when an injury prevented his working in the backfield, and finally, after Root had become ineligible, accepted the post at quarterback. “Stub” was an experienced plaver and could be used in any position. He played bis best game in the Thanksgiving Day contest at Wellsville, running the team capably and efficiently. Thomson was new to football this year, but he showed plenty of fight and determination in the games that he entered. With more weight and experience he should be able to secure a berth on a small college varsity. McKee played a consistent game at half until he left school after the Alfred Freshmen game. He scored the B. H. S. touchdown against Olean, and his drop kicking ability was never doubted. “Lon” leaves us for the oil fields. “.Tim” Dougherty was a substitute lineman at the beginning of the season. Shifted to the back-field. his speed and dash soon won