Port Byron High School - Echo Yearbook (Port Byron, IL)

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1942 - FOOTBALL-- 1946 g '49 From humble beginnings back in 1941, Ciiip - Port Byron's six-man football team has gone a long way. That year a newly organized, inexperienced team .U winder Coach Nichael Waters was brave ff? enough to connete in the Two-Rivers Conference, playing a six-game sched- ule, winning one and losing five. ?ronhetstown won Conference honors that year with two squad members sec- uring berths on the All-State six- manyteam. COMDGtiUg teams were Anna- wan 'Tampicoo Probhetstown and Brie. 7 9 9 . On the team were Bob Dailey, quarter- backg Lewis Jigks, halfbackg Floyd Michaels, fullback, Joe Bull, center, Roy Kouski and Grant Orr, ends. Reserves power was furnished by Cyril Nhitesides, Bryce Frits, Lester Griffin, Vernon Ayers, Dick Keeley, Duane Irwin, Donald Smith, Ben Lamb, and Bill Earhart. Howard Winger, a Hfirst-stringn halfback, was barred from all season nlay because of a collarbone injury incurred in the first game and Floyd Vichaels, a fast halfback, was out of olay for awhile with a sprained ankle. A new Coach olus an inexnerienced team, extremely light in weight, made the going rather difficult for Port Byron but the Senior Year Book oublished this oronhecy, fulfilled in l946- NSome day the boys will be satisfied with nothing but a Conference Champion- y shin and maybe some All-State honors.H Thus do mighty oaks from little acorns grow, and cherish dreams become realities. In l942, records reveal two utter defeats for Port Byron at the hands of Hillsdale, both night games. NLights very disturbingn and one at the hands of Annawan, 34-13. The Echo football re- seme' of that year credits Hillsdale with Htoo much speedu and the ?ort Byron boys Ndisturbed by lightsn at both games on the Hillsdale field. Annawan was Ntoo good,H No Conference Champ- ionshio that year! Wo All-State honorsl But still the wish held out by the Year Book Staff was HBetter luck next yearln Coach Hoff had succeeded Michael Waters, With John J. Hinges succeeding Coach Hoff in 1943, Port Byron boys still comoeted for NAll-State honorsn winning four out of five skirmishes with Hillsdale, Atkinson, and Tampico, losing to Tamnico, 1?-32, in the first game but defeating her by a narrow margin, l4ful3,in the second. The Year Book reports: nTamnico here-our victory-weather fair-good cheering section

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- - v -.pn-:.T--ny:--mann f.,. with Marguerite Lamb CFritsJ, Barbara MathesCGaston7, Beverly Pannell and Marilyn Sidlinger cheerleading.u With John Nelson, Augustana student, pinch-hitting in the ath- letic department, the 1944 season opened late with little prac tice. First game with Atkinson resulted in utter defeat Cagainl 33-0. NCar trouble on the way over-we're jitteryu were offer- ed as excuses for NTaking it on the chin.N But the team Ntook itn again in the next skirmish with Atkinson, 33-O and in the next, 26-O. Must be Atkinson's good, eh? The team lost to Alpha, 42, 26. WToo bad you hurt your shoulder, Flip. Who hit you in the nose, Bennett?N Next we played Hillsdale-nThey beat us by a couple of touch-downs. Flip's afraid he'll hurt his shoulder-shucksl We could use him to bust up those end plays, Bill Earhart isn't doing so badly. Too bad he's got a rin in his pants! iWForget the pants and play, Bill,U says coach,D Lost to Alpha, too, In 1945, Paul Munson succeeded Nelson as Coach, Practice started early with twenty out. Out of five games, we lost three Still dreaming dreams of Conference Championship and All-State honorsl Competitors were Hillsdale, Annawan, and Atkinson. Our victories were over Annawan both on their field and at home. Football resume' for the season closed with WWe'll be stronger next yearln Came 1946 and Coach Hoff! All dreams came true, hopes became realities-the long quest ended-Championship: In a series of Conference games with Annawan, Prophetstown, and Hillsdale, our six-man football team scored six successive victories on the home field and out of town, becoming.NUndefeated Two-Rivers Conference Champsn and were presented with the conference Trophy given for the first time to a winning.team. Cheers! Congratulations, B oy we're proudi The Pep Club and G.A,A. jointly gave the boys a banquet,with proud Coack Hoff acting as toast master. More felicitationsi More congratulations! We found Nvictory sweet.n Muggs Warren had served as Captain of the squad, On the first team were Atkinson, quarter-back, Warren and Johnson, half-back, Sullivan, center, W, Bull, right endg Eckelberry, left end. D. Frits, Earhart, D. Wuehle, B. Frits, E. Bull, and Whitesides comprised the second team. Cas- ualities among the third team prevented active participation on the part of three members, Carlson suffered a collar bone injury, Wainwright found it necessary to protect his nose, in- jured previously, Nose had a broken shoulder. Hull and Peter- son were intact, however, but did little playing,-