Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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SEPT. 29 Mr. “Jinx” and a natural “letdown” accompanied the Paxton warriors to Oilman on the following Friday evening where they encountered their first and only defeat at the hands of the Oilman Owls by the margin of one touchdown. OCT. 6 TheP. C. H. S. gridders had little trouble in disposing of the Ran-toul Eagles by a score of 18 to 0. OCT. 13 A real test was given the home eleven as they invaded the Iroquois County seat to throttle Watseka’s chance for a Wauseca League Championship. Paxton’s alert defense stopped the Watseka speed merchants as the ball game ended in a scoreless tie. OCT. 20 Onarga failed to give the McCarty men much opposition in the next home game, although Paxton was content with a 20 to 14 victory. Coach McCarty gave bis reserves a chance to perform in the final half, thus accounting for Onarga’s two touchdowns. OCT. 28 Although outweighed about 30 pounds to the man, Paxton neatly scored upon the lloopeston aggregation in the second quarter. However, the latter’s power began to tell in the final period as they hammered across the goal line: Paxton 7, lloopeston 7. NOV. 3 Paxton again defeated Coach Lynn Oibbs’ boys from Rantoul on their own field to the tune of a 12 to 0 count. NOV. 11 By far the hardest fought and most exciting game on the 1939 bill was the annual Armistice Day game with our rivals from the west, Gibson City. Bob Froyd was the hero of the day as he converted a field goal from the 20-yard line in the second quarter to give Paxton a 3 to 0 decision. This was indeed a perfect climax for a season which saw a spirited team stand up against almost overwhelming odds.

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QootUM,. . . I11 turning the spotlight on the 1939 football campaign, Paxton’s fans had dim hopes for what proved to be one of the finest elevens ever produced in P. C. H. S. Faced with the problem of defending the Wauseca League Championship, our new mentor, Bill McCarty, was severely handicapped by the graduation of ten lettermen. After two weeks of diligent practice, Coach McCarty led his recruits against a veteran Drummer eleven who were favored to trounce Paxton. The game ended in a 7 to 7 tie, a moral victory conceded to the home eleven. This was a mere sample of the 1939 season as Paxton proceeded to win five of their nine contests, dropping but one, three ending in a deadlock. Paxton’s reserves likewise had a successful season as they won six, tied two and lost three. SEPT. 22 Milford fell victim to Paxton’s first win by a score of 20 to 0. The “Swedes’ ” power proved too strong for their opponents, as the score indicates.

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Qa hethcdl . . . 1939-40 Paxton’s 1939-40 basketball five again upheld a tradition—that of having a successful season. Although they won 18 games in 28 starts, this team will undoubtedly he remembered for its grand climax, which featured a Regional Championship and a trip to the Sectional Finals. With only three returning lettermen to form the nucleus of the squad, Coach McCarty’s boys had their ups and downs, never winning or losing more than two games in a row prior to the State Tournament play. After losing the County Championship to Melvin, the local cagers retaliated by scoring several major upsets. Some of the high spots of the year were victories over the following champs: Watseka, of tin Wauseca League; Urbana, Big Twelve stars; Piper City, of the East Central League; Hoopeston, Vermilion Valley winners; and Danville, the Vermilion County title holder.