Christian Brothers High School - Chronicle Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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FROSH FOOTBALL m left to right: Row 1-A. Depperschmidt, l. McCormick, 1. Heavy, B. Weaver, 1. Havis, 1. Moran, D. Parsels, P. Robin , B. Odom. Row 2-J. Adams, J. Robinson, C. Ketchmark, C. Folk, B. Cummings, C. Dunn, A. Palazola, D. Bain, P. ce, F. Grisanti. Row 3-T. Stone, S. Leary, l. Mitchell, R. Wolbreck, C. Presley, B. Balton, J. Tankersley, R. Aquadro lill, D. Apple,M. H0uston.Row 4-Coach Brantley,l. Williamson, M. Orians,T. Garbuzinski, D. Wardlaw, l. Werkhoven ch Crone. THE REGULAR SEASON The 1977 season began on an exciting note, a 7-6 triumph over Grenada. The key play of the game turned out to be a defen- sive stand on a Grenada 2-point conversion attempt. This year's victory avenged last year's loss. The Brothers then travelled to Melrose and defeated them easily on their home field. The following three games demonstrated the Brothers' football prowess as the rolled over Kingsbury, Central, and Overton. The Purple Wave, now boasting a 5-O record, began to prepare for the meat of their schedule: Raleigh Egypt, Hamilton, and Woodale. These three games would deter- mine the league's representative to the state playoffs. In a game that was built-up to be a close contest, the Bro slaughtered Raleigh Egypt 28-0. The next encounter matched the 5th ranked Brothers against the 4th ranked Hamilton Wildcats. The game was so widely publicized, that it was decided that the site for the contest would be Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. ln the game, the Brothers dominated the first half and led by the score of 12-0 when the horn sounded. The second half was a different story though, as the Wildcats turned our mental errors and turnovers into 13 points, which led to a heartbreaking 13-12 defeat. The Brothers had lost a game in which they had clearly outplayed the opponent. With Hamilton on probation, the spot in the playoffs boiled down to CBHS vs. Woodale. The Brothers won a thriller with Wigley redeeming himself, by booting a tough field goal with only seconds to play. The margin ot victory was only one point, 22-21, Brothers. The game after Woodale was anti- climactic, as the Brothers thrashed hapless Craigmont. The Purple Wave finished the regular season with an 8-1 mark, and they had obtained the experience necessary to be STATE CHAMPIONS. T05

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4 ROLL ..... TIDE ROLL! Mike Dion struggles for a first down against Southside, due fo a great second effort. Pat Steepleton's hard hit typifies the Brothers' defe sive strength all season.

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THE STATE With the opening of school, long-time observers of Purple Wave football expected good things and hoped for great things. Built around a nucleus of seniors who gave us a perfect record as freshmen and who had contributed greatly to teams as sophomores and juniors, the team had a firm foundation of gutty young men who wanted to win. They wanted to notch Coach Nix's two-hundredth victory during this season and bring home a state championship to a school already neck-deep in football tradition. lt proved to be a team somewhat different from other legendary teams at C.B.H.S. Talented, but lacking the super-gifted in- dividuals that gave the Brothers so much success during the sixtiesg they knew that their ability to win would have to depend on a total school and team effort. The four playoff games exemplified the total effort completely. The first two 6-0 wins over Southside and Brownsville gave the defensive unit the chance to make its contribution. The semi-final game against Father Ryan saw the defense shutting down the most potent passing attack in the state and the offense giving the Fighting lrish a lesson in how the game is played. The Dec. 2. contest against Chattanooga Baylor can only be described as a classic. For those who were in attendance, little has to be recorded in this Chronicle-for decades, the game will remain in their memory as though played yesterday. For the record, the Purple Wave relied on its most successful pass receiver, as quarterback Ronnie Skinner gathered in a Mike Pruett pass in the end zone for his first and last reception with 23 seconds left. The play gave C.B.H.S. a 22-19 victory and the State Championship. All photographs on this page courtesy of the Memphis Press-Scimitar and Commercial Appeal. Top: Walton cuts across the grain for big gainer. Upper left: Skinner i lustrates the thrill ot a state charr pionship. Upper right: Coach Nix has dream come true. Lower left: Skinneu lunges for a T.D.