Onarga Township High School - Onarquois Yearbook (Onarga, IL)

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□ THE '45 ONARQUOIS □ FORREST The Onarga Township High School started its 1944 football campaign with a partially inexperienced eleven. They suffered their first defeat at the hands of a fairly well-seasoned team from Forrest. The visitors started off with a bang by driving deep into Onarga’s territory on a sleeper play. Another pass found the ball still deeper in the Indians’ reservation. With Onarga in the shadow of their own goal posts the Forrest quarterback threw a pass into the end zone for a touch down. They converted and the score read Forrest 7 - Onarga 0 at the end of the first quarter. Onarga was again scored upon in the second quarter. Later in the quarter the braves pushed deep into Forrest’s territory, but a penalty cost them the pigskin. Because of inexperience and some fumbling the Indians were held back; however, in the third period Onarga perked up and staged a 55 yard drive only to be climaxed by a fumble. During the fourth quarter Forrest scored twice on pass interceptions; the first, a flat pass from Thorne to Sterrenberg— the second on a basketball pass from Wright to Thorne. Forrest was successful on both conversions, making the final score 27-0, favoring Forrest. Although the Indians lost their first game the experience they gained was very valuable. SAUNEMIN After a week of intensive training, stressing the football fundamentals, the Onarga eleven took the field to avenge a defeat the week before. Onarga, playing host to Saunemin, kicked to the east goal. Saunemin returned the ball back up the field to the 40 yard stripe. The game see-sawed back and forth, until Saunemin drove deep into the Indian’s territory on passes. With only a few minutes remaining in the first quarter, the visitors scored on a pass into the end zone. Onarga had possession of the ball when the second quarter began. They did not relinquish control of the ball until Harris plunged across from the 5 yard line to make the score 6-6 at the half. When the Redskins took the field the second half, they were determined to win a ball game. Saunemin kicked and the Indians brought the oval back up to the 45 yard marker. The first play was a quick opener which netted 5 yards. Then Walters’ boys uncorked a pass from Thorne to Sterrenberg on the 40. Captain Ken bucked downfield to the ten yard line, before being stopped. Harris drove for 5 yards and set up the second score, as Hockersmith crossed into pay-dirt on the next play. Harris plunged the extra point. Again in the fourth quarter Onarga put on a touchdown drive but was stopped by a fumble. The game ended with Onarga on top 13-6.

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□ THE ' 4 5 ONARQUOIS □ First row, left to right: Sterrenberg, Mitchell, W. Peters, Keever, R. Peters, Kanosky, D. Brantley. Second row: Cox, Fryer, Hockersmith, M. Harris, Thorne, Wright, Siebert, Myers, Coach Walters. Third row: Managers, Krause and Lee, Pierce, Ficklin, Schmohe, B. Brantley, Legan, Orr, B. Harris, McFadden,

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□ THE '45 ONARQUOIS □ CHATS WORTH After four weeks of football practice, the Onarga Indians journeyed to Chatsworth to play their first game on a rival field in the '44 campaign. With one win and one loss on the ledger, the improved Onarga eleven took the field against a team which had one year of playing experience together. Co-captains, Sterrenberg and Schnurr lost the toss and Chatsworth chose to receive. Ken S. kicked a long one to the ten yard marker. It was carried back to the 35 yard stripe and downed. Chatsworth kicked and Onarga took over on the 50. The Indians drove to the 15 but lost the ball on downs. Chatsworth, again took over, but was stopped on their own 25 yard line. The Indians were again in scoring territory, but couldn’t produce. Thus the first quarter ended 0-0. When the second frame began Onarga still wasn’t able to score. Again they lost the ball to Chatsworth deep in the rival’s territory. This improved the morale of the opponents and they carried the ball for two successive first downs, but were forced to kick after the Indian’s line tightened up. The ball bounced out of bounds on Onarga’s 49 yard line, and there the Indians took over. A first down wai netted and on the next play Harris plunged over center on a quick opener and with good downfield blocking, raced 50 yards for the first score of the game. The point after touchdown was plunged over by Wright. After the kickoff, time soon ran out and the half ended with Onarga ahead, 7-0. Onarga kicked off to open the second half and Chatsworth was stopped on the 20. After three unsuccessful plays Chatsworth tried to kick but the center-pass was over the kicker’s head. Before he could retrieve it Ken and Leo had him behind the uprights. This netted the Indians another 2 points, putting them ahead 9-0. On the first play after the kick-off, Onarga lost the ball and Chatsworth began a passing attack. Onarga recovered a fumble as the third quarter ended. Both teams played on even terms the fourth quarter with Onarga having a slight edge as the ball was in play mostly on Chatsworth’s 30 yard line. In the closing minutes Onarga started her final drive. A series of line smashes placed the ball on the 20 yard marker. With a minute remaining Thorne threw a pass to Sterrenberg, who scampered across the goal. Harris plunged the extra point. At this point Coach Walters substituted the Frosh-Soph reserves. The game ended in our favor 16-0. RANTOUL The fourth game of the season pitted the Indians against Rantoul. Action quickly started for the second play Rantoul raced 49 yards for their first score., Rantoul soon scored again after a downfield march and the quarter ended 12-0. The second quarter was an even match with the Indians tightening their defense and holding Rantoul to an 18-0 lead. The whole third quarter was dominated by the Indians. A 65 yard march almost resulted in a score for Onarga, but deep in enemy territory the ball was lost on a fumble. The third quarter ended with Rantoul in possession of the ball. The last frame started with Rantoul scoring on a pass on the first play. The attempt for the extra point failed. Onarga held the ball for three plays and then kicked. Rantoul made two consecutive first downs on end runs and made their final score on a 30 yard pass; again the conversion failed. The game ended with an incomplete pass by Onarga, Rantoul winning by a score of 30-0.