The
year of 1944 proved to be a very successful season on the gridiron for
Sharpsville High. Coaches Robert Johnston
and John Cunningham produced a winning
combination that trampled all opposition that the Mercer County Class A
League could offer. The Blue Devils concluded the season’s work as
champions of the loop.
Coach
Red Johnston switched to a new style of
play, the T formation, and the boys took to it and proceeded to trim the
enemy.
The
school erected a lighting system at the local stadium, which was paid in
full at the close of the season.
Starting
training with a fair array of veterans, Coaches Johnston and Cunningham
soon molded them into a smooth-working grid machine.
The
Blue Devils tasted the fruits of victory first on September 9, when they
trimmed the Bessemer Owls, 25-0. Frankie Erme
and Stan Austin starred in this clash on
the local field. September 16 saw the Blue Devils hitting the road to
Titusville for a league tilt. The Blue Devils returned to home grounds
with a 31-0 triumph. Bill Parks and Mike
Magula starred in the conflict. On September 23. at the home
stadium under the newly-erected arcs, the Blue Devils turned back
Brookfield’s challenge by thoroughly slapping the Warriors with a 40-6
defeat. The Farrell Steelers invaded Sharpsville on September 30, and in
a nocturnal tilt went home sporting a 26-6 victory over the Blue Devils.
The Night Riders were valley champions in 1944. Mimi
Palombi played bang-up ball in this tilt as did the whole squad.
The
Blue Devils, on October 7, travelled to Girard, Ohio to paste the
Buckeye, 20-0. Bill Erme injured his wrist
in this game and was out of action until the Sharon clash. A week later,
on October 14, the Blue Devils journeyed to Bradford, Pennsylvania,
where they topped the Owls 21-0, with the line play of Captain Bill
Miller and Robert Palombi shining.
After a two-weeks absence from the home grounds, the Blue Devils
returned on October 21 and displayed their delight by whipping a big
Franklin eleven, 37-0. Mike Magula’s
passing was exceptional in this game, as was Frankie
Erme’s playing.
The
clash, the most important of the year, was played at Grove City on
October 28, where in a thrilling and hard-fought battle the Blue Devils
departed wearing the victory togs which we had earned by a 19-13
decision over the Eagles. The Blue Devil line rose to unpreceded heights
in the conflict. Frankie Erme’s defensive
and offensive skill paved the road to victory for Sharpsville High. Joseph
McDowell suffered a broken collar bone and Bill
Parks injured his knee in the contest. Joe and Bill were
first-team ends, and both were injured in the first quarter; but Dante
Bonaquest and Bill Lefes came
through splendidly, thus the Blue Devils marked another victory. Floyd
Flocco and Robert Palombi’s line
plays were especially above par in this game. A week later, on November
4, under the lights at the home field, the Blue Devils gained the league
championship by defeating the Greenville Trojans, 12-0, on a rain-soaked
gridiron. On Nov. 11, the Blue Devils dropped their second decision of
the year to the Sharon Tigers, 13-0, in a bitterly-played tussle. The
Sharon boys won the game in fact, but it was a moral victory for the
Blue Devils as they completely out played the Sharonites.
This
1944 season was one of the best for the Blue Devils in recent years. The
Blue Devil’s scoring of 211 points in contrast with the rivals’ 58,
proved their scoring ability to be unsurpassed.
From
The Blue and White, 1945
