Joliet Central High School - Steelmen Yearbook (Joliet, IL)

Page 21 text:

, . ,Mg .,-.. Q.---A.-. Buds kt-iv jim Downing, Walt NX'ilIiams, l.ou Verchimak, Conrad Wirth, Tony Bertucci, Gale Voight, Bob Bisching, Patil lfrautis Bob Linder, Perry Curanson, Line Coach. to he the Steelmen's downfall as the Maroons scored twice more, to down Joliet 36-27. Joliet next journeyed to East Aurora to down the stubborn Tomcats 13-6. At this stage of the season the Steelmen Hfoundu themselves. The defeat of the Tom- cats coupled with the tying: of mighty East Rockford i9-I9 started the ball rolling. After defeating the Tomcats loliet met West Aurora at loliet. The host cluh made it rough on the invading Blackhawks from XVest Aurora by walloping them to the tune of '27-O! The potential power of the ,loliet team was now be- ginning to show for the first time. Cary X ismara, Bob Endress and Bob Sims trap johns of Elgin. Elgin won 36-27.

Page 20 text:

..l.... Trim! Row Jim Stukel, Benny Sims, Bob Sims, Ed Riley, Butch Dobbs, Carry Vismara, Bill Rickhoff, Gene Hahn, Tom Turner, Avery Cordon, Sherald Cordon fecond Row Bob Shixe manager, Bob Oram Bob R' 'ht ls B b L l -5' sk it arts 0 ntrf. s, Jae' Pellegvlni, A rt Wolz, Bob Petersen, Wes Haas, Dennis Bazzoni Dave Woodman, Percx Barnett . Chuck Kurtz. By Jim Stukel Joliet started slowly at the beginning of the 1953 football season, just as it had the two previous seasons, but showed potential power in downing a fair Moline team 18-7. The Steelmen's joy was short-lived, however, be- cause the following week in a hotly-contested battle the Steelmen lost a heartbreaker to Joliet Catholic 21-19. The opening of the rough Big Eight conference against the powerful Wfest Rockford club was next on the agenda. The Steelmen played great ball in the first half, holding a 12-7 lead, but fate was against them. The Steelmen were dealt their fatal blow midway in the fourth quarter when they fumbled deep in their -is - own territory. A Rockford man scooped up the ball and returned it to the Joliet 11 yard-line, after which the Warriors scored. With five and one-half minutes remaining in the game, Joliet had advanced to its own 39 where a Joliet pass was intercepted. As a result of these bad breaks in the second half Joliet was on the short end of the 19-12 final score. Joliet's bad luck continued in their next game against the Maroons from Elgin. Elgin stunned Joliet by scor- ing three quick touchdowns in succession. Joliet came back in whirlwind fashion to go ahead ofthe Maroons 20-18. The speedy Elgin club, not to be outdone, scored again to forge into the lead 2-1-20. Joliet again came back to go ahead 27-24. The final period again proved

Page 22 text:

Bob Sums IT s All conference Xll state and Honorable men hon All Amerncan Halfback Also wlth the sound of the gun enclmg the LaSalle Peru game came the end of the season for the Steelmen The Steelmen, many people thought, could have easlly repeated as conference kmg 1f they had played as out standmg all season as they played agamst LaSalle Peru As xt was the Steelmen closed thelr season m a tle for thnrd place m the conference mth a record of four v1c tornes, two defeats, and a tue Thelr overall season record was flve vlctorles three defeats and a tue 18 Next came Freeport There was no joy to be seen xn Freeport th1s mght for the mvadmg Steelmen un leashed thelr second best offenslve and defens1ve effort of the season by smashmg the Pretzels 33 0 Thls vlctory set the stage for the fmals of the sea son Thus fmale bemg the game wlth the hlghly touted LaSalle Peru La Salle Peru, coached by former JT graduate jum Valek came mto Memorlal Stadlum ranked as a favornte m the Bug Elght conference tltle race jolxet, hom ever had other plans for them The but the outcome was never m doubt after the flrst quarter The Steelmen, playmg thelr greatest game of the season, completely outplayed and outclassed the Cavallers from LaSalle Peru At the sound of the fmal gun johet had mhltewashed the Cavallers 35 6 Bob E dress lu ges for Weerts of LaSalle Peru jolxet won 35-6 , , 7 . W y . l . . . V V . I V I . P game was a rough one from the beginning to the end , - , - I - Q V . . 'n n - . ' . , . I . . . . V. . - . . . l I , A