Central High School - Helios Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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lf T if i Q 23. .3 F2 a. - . .- From the Tech game. and greenness so often displayed in early season games. but that was to be expected. Although the team was new and inexperienced. the game was thrilling. and Central showed that it had some potential stars in its lineup. Central's traditional enemy. Ottawa. stormed Houseman Field on the following Saturday. and carried away a hard-earned 16-0 victory. For three quarters the game was hotly contested. but in the final period the experience and ability of the Indians weakened the Central defense. and the visitors put over two touchdowns. A safety was scored in the second quarter as a result of a blocked punt. The following week Central rooters had the novel experience of witnessing a game played at night. The contest was held at Lansing. against Lansing's Big Reds. The cool night air seemed to inspire Central to play a game worthy of a seasoned team. Neither side could get a suitable advantage. and it looked like a scoreless game. However. Lady Luck cast her lot with Lansing. and that team got the one and only real break of the game in the second period. What is more, they capitalized on it. and scored what proved to be the winning touchdown. tit was a tough game to lose. but it was also one that no one regretted having seen.l After the Lansing game. it seemed as if Central had started down the path to a rather successful season. It was because of this that the next game proved to be somewhat of a surprise and shock to Central rooters. Our opponent was Catholic Central. and the game was rated as a toss-up. but the Cougars upset the dope and scored the second victory it has ever made against Central. Catholic found it could not gain through the line with any success. and therefore resorted to passing which was unusually successful. and which brought about devastating results. Central seriously threatened to score in the last quarter. but lost the ball through a fumble. and the final score was 20-O. .lust as the Catholic game was bad in all respects. so the South game was good in all respects. except the score. which is. after all. the main issue. The team played good football throughout the entire first half. After South had thwarted Central at the 8 yard line, the team came back for what seemed a certain touchdown. However, One Hundred Ten

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First Row f lirnest Phillips, Robert Spr-lul. Victor Nlelrher, linell l'hm-lps. llernard Simi-tr, Darrell lJnw'nn1g, XYalIace Clow, ll--ward Koninu, Marcus llall. Tl'lE'lll'Il'E .-Xssznley, R--bert llarbcr. Second Row -XYiIbur XYarren, If-seph XYeiner. Donald Benton, Sanford Farrell, Charles llalhert, C--llins Clark. Carl Henriksen, Peter Labanow:-ki, llean Brown, Xlillarml llultnian, Jack Birse. Third R4-wihlr, Mathews, Assi-tant Cr-zach: Lyle llall, R--bert N-ltt, liekclal Buys, Jack Bas-fnnl, jack lYilson, XYesley Fr-x, Ll--yd Connors, Carr:-ll Fitch, Payne Bayes, Bob Switzer, Coach llarold U. Steele. Football East Grand Rapids .,.......... 0 Central ......,,.,,,.. l9 Ottawa ...................... 16 Central .............. fl Lansing ,..a.....,........... 6 Central .............. ll Catholic - . ................... 20 Central .............. ll South ...v...........,e...... 6 Central .............. U Tech ....................... 0 Central .............. 8 Creston .. ,.,.........,,..,... 13 Central .....,,....... 0 Union ...................... 2 Central .............. tl Muskegon ...............e... l I-3 Central .....,........ tl Opponents ...,...A........... Sl Central .............. 27 Games won ........... 2 Games lost ........... T HEN the Candidates for this yearis football team assembled at Houseman Field on the opening day of school. it was found that veterans from the previous team were scarce. In fact. there were but three regular varsity men to whom equip- ment was issued - Connors. Bassford. and Downey. As the days of practice passed. however. some new recruits out of the large number that turned out seemed to be developing into players worthy of upholding Central's name on the football field. Among these promising players were Melcher. Farrell. Wlilson. and Benton. After many trials and substitutions. Coach Steele at last had organized a team which was put to the first test of the season when it met East Grand Rapids. The result was not unsatisfactory, as Central won 19-0. Both teams showed the hesitancy I Y One llundred Nine

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-. ggsfcseff-W -- . I- H .1 -' Y xx. '. , ' Y -sz, if?-. 1.1-1 S49-R.. ' ' --:. f1iS:'?,3 Y. -A VN, 5. L, J, ,,., vi.. , , fb '-if K. - T ..f . fe 11 3eJ'Q4.3f- - -Hr ra- . ,4...v'i. ,J - f Q ILL- - i, 9'sQgr,,,Jr if 5 -. ,'. -'-f .- fi.. -if T P-f .'f'!,4Lrf From the Muskegon game. the gun at the end of the half left the hall stranded on about the 6-inch line. with plenty of downs to put it over. Encouraged by this good fortune. South braced in the second half. and Central had no more such golden opportunities. McGee of South provided the final blow by making a beautiful catch of a pass and running the remaining 30 yards for a score. The next Saturday. Central stepped out and won the first major game of their season. Davis Tech was their victim. Throughout the game our team showed itself superior to Tech. Central scored first in the opening quarter by recovering a fumble over Tech's goal line. At the half the score remained 2-0. but the team staged a steady march down the field to make a touchdown in the second half. making the final score 8-0. On the following Saturday Central met Creston. and found itself unable to cope with the visitor's hard-hitting team. Twice the Polar Bears crossed the line by their hard plunging. Central came near scoring in the opening half. but they could not put the ball over, with the result that Creston won 13-0. On a field that resembled a flooded swamp. Unionis heavy. star team barely edged out a 2-0 victory over Central's scrapping eleven. Our teamis defense was impregnable and Union had to be content with the two points acquired through a blocked punt. The teams played in a constant downpour, and in a few plays. both sides were covered with a mud that made the players unrecognizable. The ball was wet and soggy. which handicapped playing greatly. In spite of the disadvantages, Central played an excellent game and had Union considerably worried. The traditional Turkey Day game against Muskegon was played on the Satur- day before Thanksgiving this year. and the teams played under fair skies. During the first half Central 'Gdid themselves proud and three times came within a half of an ace of scoring. One of these attempts resulted in a lengthy debate between the officials as to whether or not a touchdown was made, but the decision went against Central. Muskegon, greatly relieved, set out to do a bit of threatening on their own part, and succeeded too well. Mainly through passes, the Muskies scored three touch- downs, and won, 18-0. bmi 4 iv' One Hundred Eleven