La Salle Academy - Maroon and White Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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Xlllllflfw N. Q Tl-l ONLlkAN TE K GD 4 ' ss . - .. . ,I if . the public high schools did not feel the necessity of our competitive efforts. A change came, however, through the untiring efforts of Brother Raymund and the public high school principals. With the abandonment of the old Interscholastic League, La Salle was recognized and given an equal chance with the best of them. As a result a great deal of keen interest was aroused among the football fans. How would La Salle measure up with the public high schools? Would they hold their own? Well, as Al Smith says, Let's look at the record: As the game with Hope High approached, it was rumored widely that the Maroon Juggernaut was set for a ride and a fall. Hope had the best eleven in yearsg a fast, snappy outfit that made the grade. But what happened? Merely this. An unbeaten blue wave from the precincts of Hope beat vainly against the formidable wall of the Maroon Juggernaut. Getting an early start we piled up the score in the hrst half and then rested. It was no easy game by any means. Hope had a fighting eleven, and a real sporting eleven, but, apparently we were a little better. The next feature on the program was the battle with Cranston High. For years the Green Thunderbolt had held the supremacy in the realm of football. There were no lean years in the history of Cranston's football record. This, too, was a contest that excited deep interest throughout the city. lt was generally . , conceded by the sport writers, that the Cranston eleven was the real obstacle in the football path of the Maroon and White team, and the boys on the team realized that too. Whatever confidence the team did possess was diminished somewhat by the news that the fast charging Tigger Lavin would be out of the linefup because of injuries. Undaunted, the Maroon Juggernaut entered the fray. Playing headups football for the four quarters, La Salle emerged the victors by the score of I4'O. It was a hardffought game, replete with thrills and uncerf Seventyffour

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wxuufffww Tl-lE ONLlxAN TE ll-dv candidates for these berths were: Ray Waldraff, Capt., and fullback, jaworsky, quarterf back, Mahoney, Maiani and Dolan, ends, Turbridy, Mangiante, johnson and Fitzgerald, guards, Perry and McMahon, centers, Shaw, Schnor, and Delaney, tackles, Durand, Cassidy, Mullen, Potera and Grady as utility men. Football was not new to these youths. All of them had acquired the Cronin system in the junior varsity squad or during the spring practice sessions. Some of them lacked experience it is true, but this deficiency was more than compensated for by a sportsmanf like aggressiveness that means a great deal in a football game. jack was not dismayed as this group approached. With his keen eye he saw many that were to become outstandf ing as the season wore on. In his own inimitable way, Jack, assisted by his brother Bill, soon had the club pepped up and ready for their schedule. And what a schedule had been prepared for them! In the history of La Salle and the scholastic circles of the state, the com' petition meted out to La Salle during the football season was the most difficult ever attempted. There were no setfups, no plums. From the initial whistle of the season to the one shrill blast that announced its end our plucky little team faced competitors that were always keyed up to challenge our supremacy. The schedule embraced teams in Rhode Island, Massa' chusetts and Connecticut. The record of the season reads as follows: Taunton, Mass. 6, La Salle IQ, Mount St. Charles o, La Salle 21, Central Browns o, La Salle 34, Bulkely, Conn., 6, La Salle 7, Hope o, La Salle IQ, Cranston o, La Salle 14, Pawtucket 2, La Salle 18, East Providence o, La Salle 13, Central Reds 6, La Salle 18. The season was particularly successful from more angles than one. Primarily, it was the first football season that gave La Salle a chance to show its supef riority over the public high schools of the state. In previous years, we were beyond the pale of Public High School competition. With their league well organized, Seventyfthree

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Xlllll1l1f THE MAROON AND VVHITE K CGD tainty. The fine passing attack of the Cranston team kept the stands in suspense and the Maroon boys on their toes. Defeating Cranston merely removed an obstacle to our claims for the state title. In fact it was merely the preparation for a contest with the Pawtucket eleven, upon the outcome of which the state title was staked. As the sport writers claimed it was a fight for state supremacy. The rec' ord of the Pawtucket Redfjackets, of seven clean straight vicf tories against La Salle's six was recommendation enough that the game would be closely contested. And it was. From the open' ing whistle to the last, it was a grilling contest. A heavy rain made the field soft and soggy, giving each team a good chance to capitalize the breaks. From this crucial conflict, the Maroon Juggernaut came out the victors to the tune of I8-2. A series of fast smashing and rugged line charges gave La Salle the points they needed. Capt. Waldraff went over for two scores and Gaffney tallied the third. It was the first game of the season in which Hank Soar the Pawtucket star was stopped and kept be' yond the danger zone. By the defeat of the Pawtucket eleven, La Salle earned the right to claim the state title, and this right was conceded by all the rival critics. Despite a lack of veteran material and handif capped by serious injuries at the beginning of the seaf son, the Maroon juggernaut took each team as it came its way and came out decidedly victorious. They had earned their third consecutive title as state champions. The factors contributing to the success of the season are many. Naturally, the members of the squad deserve a great deal of praise for their work. In many cases, they were outweighed, but they came through. As a team they had pluck, an aggressiveness that stopped at no obstacle, a unity that promoted and coordinated team Seventyffive