Mount Saint Marys College - Eagle Yearbook (Orchard Lake, MI)

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HIIJTB LL 1955 Suburban Catholic League Champions The powerful edition of the 1955 Eaglets smashed through eight con- consecutive wins this year to become the finest football squad ever at St. Mary's. Playing hard and heads-up ball from start to finish under their new coach, Father John Rakoczy, the Eaglets compiled the first perfect record at St. Mary's and also brought the long-awaited Suburban Catholic League crown to Orchard Lake for the first time. The season started off on September 25 at the Lake against St. James of Ferndale. Although the Eaglet front wall did not function properly in the opener, halfback Paul Franckowiak and quarterback Ted Kopacki were just too much for the opponents to handle as they paced SMOL to a 25 to 7 victory. Franckowiak hit pay dirt twice and Kopacki threw two touch- down passes: to left end, Pete Madelans and to right end, Stan Majewski. A week later, October 2, the Shamrocks of St. Michael's High hosted the title-bound Eaglets at Pontiac's Wisner Stadium but the visitors trounced them, 25-0. Gerry Leszczynski, 188 pound fullback, scored two 'times on a 6 yard plunge and 25 yard run. Half Lenny Mallat also figured in the scoring with a 5 yard run off tackle and dynamic Ted Kopacki raced 63 yards for the final tally. On October 9, the Fighting Eaglets travelled to Hazel Park where they feasted themselves on the Vikings of St. Ritais, taking the contest easily, 31-6. Leszczynski opened the party with a three yard crack for the first score and Madelans converted. Kopacki, in the second period, uncorked a 50 yard pass to Stan Majewski in the end zone for TD number 2. After the intermission, Paul Franckowiak threw 28 yards to Madelans for another score, employing the faithful McAdoo Special. Len Mallat from 'two yards out and tackle Denis Mutrynowski with his 31 yard runback of a fumble completed the hectic day to give SMOL their third win. When Sunday, October 16, rolled around, so did the rain. But this didn't stop the determined Eaglets as they fought rain, mud, and the stub- born opposition of St. Clement's. With four minutes remaining in the first half and the Crusaders out in front, 6-0, Ted Kopacki swept his left end, outraced his interference, eluded several would-be tacklers and crossed the goal line 51 yards later. Leszczynski ran for the point. After the kickoff, Pete Madelans picked up a fumble on the first scrimmage play and ran 31 yards for a second score. One minute later, Leszczynski intercepted a pass and raced 37 yards down the sidelines unmolested for the third TD. Kopacki passed to Majewski for the extra point, the 20th St. Mary's had scored in Fu. JOHN Rncoczv Head Coach E- ' .ax . . ' ' ' lk.. 4 M. Maras, Asst. Coach, Fr. J. Rakoczy, Head Coach, and Rev. Mr. E. Wisniewski, Asst. Coach.

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the four minutes to give them a 20-6 halftime edge. Francko- Fr. .l. Rakoczy with Co-Captains Clem Otolski of South Bend, Indiana, and Gerry Leszcynski of Wyan- dotte, Michigan, look over the trophies copped by the Eaglet Football Champions in 1956. to the SCL title as they fell, 44-0, making this SMOLis wiak added one more in the third quarter on a 31 yard d5SlT.f th? dg'straight7'sh1 tout and fourth of the campaign. With this around end and then threw to Pete Krystek for the PAT. 'iSt ' Clement's scored in the final period but it didn't matter as 'ith' Eaglets already sewed up the 27-13 decision. Iif 1 On their way to their first title now, St. Mary's pulveriaeif the final three league opponents to wipe away any speckfjio doubt as to who the champions would be. Royal Oak St. had no chance against Gerry Leszczynski and company on 'ii' tober 22 at Orchard Lake as they were crunched, 39 tdffi,0. .- Leszczynski hit paydirt four times in the game to account for 'one of his best performances, scoring on runs of 32, 22, 4.5 and 90 yards. Franckowiak's 33 yard pass to Kopacki was 5 score as was Franckowiakis one yard plunge. Peteiy eagl- wln can o lCla recognition of the Eaglets as the champions. Leszci, ff ,ski was the whole show for OL, scoring on runs of 8, 20 andQ'15 yards. Mallat crossed the St. Fred goal from five yardsi.-ov t, Kopacki threw 20 yards to end John Nelson, Clarence Charkojx ski ran 144 yards around end, Stan Smolinski rambled 32 yardsf -.:1 th a fumble and Paul Franckowiak converted twice to complet' the scoring. 11, Nioyfzm er- ',', 2 at Hamtramckis Keyworth Stadium, the an- nial Moms'-1-an., Dads' Homecoming Game was held with the E! glets facing-N 1. Florian's in a non-league tilt. The Lancers bbed an earl 12-0 lead, but saw it cut to 12-7 at the half 'iw en Lennie ,llat crashed over from the six yard stripe. and Franckowiak kicked the extra points. if sqm., big 'F anckowiak co. verted. The next victim was St. Benedict's on October a 'gh- ii V' Orchard La e came back strong in the third period and land Park. They had the pants beaten right off them Father sc, red the winn ng touchdown on a 45 yard pass play from Rakoczyis squad won, 52 to 0. Kopacki scored firs from the? 'K packi to Maj ski. Franckowiak passed to Madelans for the one yard line, Franckowiak converting. Madelans ca 2 t a 3. 1 p int after touc down. St. Florian's started a drive late in yard pass from Kopacki for the second tally and ,.,A' avi' fit' al quarterzbu linebacker Sam Piaseczny's tremendous one- joined in the fun with a 78 yard romp. The second f-lj. h' nd interceptio of a pass stopped the threat and preserved Franckowiak crossing over from four yards away a ,f ol d , win. packi-Madelans combination clicking again, this time Y a, f g ground gainers for the season were Ted Kopacki to give OL a 31-0 lead at intermission. The fbi '-,' fair -',' N with 4-13 yards in 35 carries and an 11.8 average and Gerry mercy as they scored three more times before the t ' ended' l ilseszczynski with 750 yards in 69 carries for a 10.8 average. the massacre. Majewski ran back a punt 57 yard Goisd- ig ' 'The top scorer was Leszczynski with 73 points. Thus ended the Zinski lumbered 35 yards, Kopacki raced 83 y glorious football season ever witnessed at Orchard Lake. wiak converted after each touchdown. 1.-'13 f 'f Hi37 '1-Y... :li assistant coaches were Rev. Mr. Ed Wisniewski and November 6 was the big day for which iiSt.21VlaWlg waited a long time. St. Frederick's proved to be safe stepping stones Michael Maras. Clement Otolski and Gerry Leszczynski served as co-captains. 4' V li 3 ' ' x x .1 .. .2 ' ff X V 5? . li ff H fs 'I 1 - i. if f '-' 1- A -w Q, 1 1 V F 4 ' ,qenfr VA , ,vt Ns, ,W 'S :VK l ....-ft:-as up .1 , fx 1,0-V, my X .-4 - -,J gl PF-. .-42-5,3139 ' 1i1a i,i:':,l 'bl . 1 ,- A- -pei, 5 -1 . 4 ,,,. , ,, ,. J ass-riff'-1 .' f.--, '-f' 1 1 lag-gy u.-9-'cf .---62--e-2-I --Ravi - -ew ,e 'Y' QEJKHJ-:Q , , , 'P '- , 6' -..'1E'Ff 37'ff,:i if-at-i'552,: A 'l ' ' ' f 'i,,ffilTY'.,y: ' .- H - ' -iMU7'f3': -L-3 -FT' fi.. -. . f iw:-f: Q-'.':.-str... 4 .:T.-T- WA 1i'?f L--'Nu wg..-1-I fTz..'.r:- .J-0123:- sa gt t igi A -1-1':.u nfl -ue., ss' fig. 'fe 'fwrizf'-.: r' -.mfr-. ,. .1 ,a-f,fi.,. g4g.f':az1-iw-34 1- .1 .dm w . f!'k,,11+1pg,.-kgs 3, 'f'.,-51-rf'-1,1 mm- gt-7-f,..3f k i. B. Masztakowski 126 J. Nelson S. Piaseczny S. Smolinski C. Leszczynski