Valley Forge High School - Archive Yearbook (Parma Heights, OH)

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Although the paths of Valley Forge sports vary, all offer equal excitement and challenge to the participating athletes. Nine competitive activities plus a program of intramurals comprise the Valley Forge sports line-up. Five of these sports - football, tennis, basketball, baseball and bowling -- base their action on the skill of the entire team. Whether the objective be a touchdown, a basket, or a home run, cooperation and hard work are necessary for victory. The four remaining sports -- golf, cross country, wrestling and track - depend mainly upon individual talent. Determination and perserverance are the keys to success. Whichever sport is chosen, however, teamwork is essentialg it is only through united effort that the championship results characteristic of Valley Forge are achieved. PORTS

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And Having Perhaps The Better Claim. Then Took The Other, As Just As Fair,

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5 1 , 2 Q- sf' it With only four returning starters from the 1964 championship team, the '65 season proved to be a year of development for the football Patriots. The season began in a rather disappointing manner with the highly rated Patriots winning only one out of five games. However, after upsetting the Parma Redmen, the team's determination surged and they rampaged through the most demanding part of the season undefeated. The Patriots startled their arch-rivals, Parma, and the L.E.L. by white-washing the Redmen, 12-O. Mike Textoris and Bill McCleave scored touchdowns for the decisive victory. The following game, Dad's Night, the Forge defense completely smothered the Brush offensive effort for the Patriots second L.E.L. shutout. During the contest, the defensive team earned a two-point safety. Scoring eight points, the offensive attack was furnished by Joe Drago and Mike Textoris. Traveling to Shaw, the Patriots captured another L.E.L. victory by caging the Cardi- nals, 16-12. The action elicited superb defen- sive performances. Phil O'Toole and Bill McCleave scored for the Patriots. Mike Textoris shattered three school records and provided field position for the winning touchdown. Tension culminated as the Patriots pre- pared to contend Cleveland Hts. for the L.E.L. championship. Although both teams had several opportunities to score, the con- test ended in a 6-6 decision. The Patriot defense, holding Heights on down at the ten and the three yard lines, appeared to become a stone wall whenever the Tigers rammed the ball within ten yards of the goal line. The Tigers roared to a score the first time 114 they had the ball. Undaunted the Patriots by traveling '72 yards in 10 plays retaliated immediately. Bill McCleave passed to Phil O'Toole for a seven-yard touchdown. The disappointing tie permitted Cleveland Heights to reign in the L.E.L. Concluding the 1965 football season, the Patriots plodded to a scoreless deadlock with the Euclid Panthers on a rain-soaked field. Neither offense was able to operate effici- ently because of the weather conditions. The Patriot defense overran Euclid to earn its fourth shutout of the season. Behind driving interference, Joe Drago steps lively to escape the lunge of a Palma tackler.