Owen High School Athletics

 

(Page 33)

 

Seated: D. Phillips, K. Doege, E. Johnson, B. Mattson, L. Phillips.

 

Standing:  Mr. Peterson, P. Devine, F. Hoeper, D. Southworth, F. Samek, A. Lindner, G. Parkinson.

 

 

(Page 34)

 

Virgie Lott, S. McMillan, Verla Lott, B. L. O’Dell

 

 

(Pages 30-32)

 

Bottom Row, Left to Right:  L. Parve, E. Johnson, E. Gay, Capt. Parkinson, F. Hoeper, B. Devine, B. Maurina, A. Fritz. 

 

Second Row, Left to Right:  B. King, D. Phillips, B. Mattson, R. Garfield, G. Southworth, F. Samek, P. Devine.

 

Third Row, Left to Right:  K. Welker, E. Gay, E. Sluzewski, P. Stasek, J. Riley, D. Hull, Mr. Peterson.

 

 

 

Football practice began on Tuesday, September 3, the first day of school. Thirty able-bodied men reported for practice to Coach Peterson the first night. After a week or two the number decreased to twenty or twenty-five. Practice was slowed down because the shoes which had been sent away for repairs, were delayed. They finally arrived about thirty minutes before the opening at Neillsville.

 

Friday, September 20, Owen traveled to the county seat for their opening game with the Neillsville Warriors. This was also the Warriors first game. Gay ran around left end for 15 yards in the first quarter to start the scoring. Bob Devine’s conversion for the extra point was no good. Hoeper scored in the third quarter on a short plunge over left center. He also converted the extra point. Neillsville scored in the last quarter with a final burst of energy.

 

Cadott, the team which was at the bottom last year, came up with a surprisingly good eleven that threw a scare into the Peterson men. Although Owen won, it was a moral victory for Cadott. Gay and Hoeper contributed the touchdowns for Owen. Bob Devine converted the winning point; Cadott’s main offense was its passing attack. One of their touchdowns was made on a long pass, the other on a pass interception.

 

Owen gridders traveled to thorp where a hard fought but scoreless game was played. Although Owen out gained and out played Thorp. They failed to score. Hoeper broke loose for a seventy yard run that would have been a touchdown except for a wildly dispute foul call against one of Owens men that brought the ball back. Gay almost duplicated the feat by racing along the sidelines to inside Thorp’s ten yard line. The ball was brought back to the fifty because the referee ruled that the play was out of bounds. This fact was also disputed by many Owen rooters who were standing along the side lines near the fifty. Owen got within Thorp’s ten yard line twice but was held by Thorp’s forward wall. 

 

Owen romped over Greenwood to keep their lead in the Cloverbelt League intact. Owens serial attack, much to the surprise of their coach and fans, was successful.  Quarterback Johnson and fullback Frank Hoeper were responsible for heaving the touchdown passes. These were caught by Pete Devine, two when he was playing and the other when he was playing half.  Bob Divine made on and Gay made one. The extra points were converted by Bob Devine and Bob Mattson (Owens iron man center who, with the closing of this year’s season has played a full forty-eight minutes in all the games for two years.)

 

The Purgolders of Owen upset Cornell’s homecoming game by a score of 7 – 0. The game was hard fought and cleanly played. The sole touchdown was made by Pete Devine who started on an end run but cut back over tackle and scampered to the goal line, crossing it standing up. Frank Hoeper converted the extra point. The ball was momentarily lost in the brush on the other side of the goal posts. Cornell threatened to score once or twice by was stopped completely by brilliant defensive line work.

 

The championship game was played on the local gridiron. This was our Homecoming and last game. The field was rather wet and muddy. The scoring was led by quarterback Johnson who scored two touchdowns. Owens breaks started early in the game when Parkinson recovered a fumble on Withee’s thirty yard line. Three plays brought the ball down to the one yard line where a quarterback sneak netted the firs touchdown. Withee came back with a threat on a brilliant play which scored Withee’s lone touchdown. Withee also made their extra point. Score at the end of the firs quarter, Withee 7, Owen 6. Pete Devine, in the second quarter, recovered a fumble which set up another touchdown. A pass, Frank Hoeper to Fred Hoeper, was good for a touchdown. Johnson intercepted a pass and ran untouched thirty years for the last touchdown of the game. Although Withee out gained Owen on the ground and in the air, Owen’s capitalization on fumbles and penalties was the conclusive factor in winning the game. 

 

 

Galen Parkinson – Guard – Senior – Captain; A good guard, an outstanding leader and a real champion

 

Russell Garfield – Tackle – Senior; Gave the team his best and could be relied upon to hold up his side of the line.

 

Allen Fritz – End – Senior; A regular demon on defense, they didn’t get around his end.

 

Earl Johnson – Quarterback – Senior; He didn’t call a wrong play throughout the season. It will be hard to replace him next year.

 

LeRoy Parve – Guard – Senior; Calm and cool at all times, had just what it takes! Will be missed much next year.

 

Bill Maurina – Tackle – Senior; Was an all-conference tackle for two years. The line will not be the same next year without him.

 

Fred Hoeper – End – Junior; A veteran, Fred gave his all in his last year of competition.

 

John Schommer – Guard – Junior; Another veteran who returned with plenty of drive for his last year of competition. 

 

Peter Devine – End – Sophomore; Thorp can have their all-state end; we’ll take Pete, an outstanding pass snatcher.

 

Robert Devine – Halfback – Junior; The fastest back in the conference who knew just when to cut back. He put everything into getting another yard.

 

Robert Mattson – Center – Junior; Iron man who ahs played every minute of every game with top notch spirit for the past two years.

 

Frank Hoeper – Fullback – Junior; A triple threat back who put his heart into everything he did.

 

Ernest Gay – Halfback – Junior; The best open field runner in the conference. An all- conference halfback who will better his mark next year.

 

Duane Phillips – End – Junior; Started football this year and played as if he has been a regular since he was a freshman.

 

Robert King – Fullback – Freshman; Played good ball and should develop into one of Owens outstanding athletes.

 

  

(Page 34)

 

Seated, Left to Right:  A. Fritz, L. Phillips, R. Mattson, F. Hoeper, G. Parkinson, Fred Hoeper, R. Garfield, D. Phillips.

 

Standing, Left to Right:  Mr. Peterson, P. Devine, L. Parve, B. Devine, R. King, E. Johnson, E. Gay, B. Maurina, F. Neibacher.

 

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