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The Football Tradition for the Prep League in
1925:

Here is the account of the 1925 game, as written in the Times-Picayune.  The game was played on Sunday, December 13, 1925.

Copyright © 1925, The Times-Picayune Publishing Co. 

HOLY CROSS DEFEATS BLUE-JAYS 45-0 IN CATHOLIC CLASSIC

JESUITS UNABLE TO STOP KEERS, M’GLINCHEY, MATES

Not to be outdone by Warren Easton, Holy Cross opened up with some fast football to pile up a 45 to 0 score against Jesuits at Loyola stadium yesterday afternoon.  Holy Cross incidentally won the Catholic classic of Louisiana prep football and a chance to fight it out with Warren Easton again for the Class A championship of the city.  Holy Cross gained three more points against the Blue-Jays than did High school, and one more touchdown.

Playing listlessly during the first three quarters, the Blue-Jays failed to stop the rambling runs of McGlinchey and the brilliant spurts of Keers.  McVitch and Burns, playing probably the best game of their careers, were open nearly unchecked as they tore down the field for good gains.  Holy Cross played a fast game in all departments and was superior throughout.

Jesuits hopes came only in flashes in the first three periods.  Only once during that time did the Jays come as far as the thirty-yard line.  In the first quarter they started a drive that ended when Holy Cross held for downs there.

In the fourth quarter the Blue-Jays assumed new life and, after seeing the Holy Cross go over for the last touchdown, they braced up.  From then until the end of the game, it was a different fray.  Jesuits opened up with a variety of plays and new strengths, gaining steadily and throwing Holy Cross backs more often.  Vigorous tackling by the Jays was a feature of the quarter, along with some fancy passing and running by Gannon.

A twenty-five yard run by Gannon started a Jay drive that brought Jesuits near enough to the goal line for bright hopes but not near enough to score.  Burns, with a hard tackle, brought down Gannon on the Cross thirty-one yard line.  Gannon’s pass was intercepted by McVitch, who fumbled.  Jesuits recovered on the Cross twenty-one yard line.  Burke gained four yards over center.  Three passes failed and there ended the Blue-Jay threat.  Holy Cross’ secondary defense was too alert.

Aside from that quarter, it was nearly all Holy Cross.  The Micks scored touchdowns on runs, bucks and passes.  McGlinchey was up to his usual form and accounted for four of the touchdowns.  Keers was his strongest rival in gaining, and many a fancy run he stepped off.  Burns, Gaillard and McVitch each made a touchdown.  Burns kicked for two extra points and McVitch for one.

McGlinchey bucked over for the first score of the game near the end of the first quarter when Holy Cross battered through Jesuits’ defense in a drive that ended at the goal.  Burns dropkicked the point.  The second score came in the beginning of the next quarter when Holy Cross pulled off a beautiful pass, Burns to McGlinchey, with no one around.  McGlinchey ran the remaining sixteen yards.  He met some opposition near the goal line but kept right on.  Burns repeated for another point.

The next score of that quarter started with a fourteen-yard pass from Keers to Delmore.  McGlinchey kept things going with a thirty-yard dash through tackle.  Keers gained five yards through tackle, bringing the ball to the seven-yard line.  Chowning went through the same place for five yards.  Jesuits then drew a penalty which brought the ball to the one-yard line.  The Blue-Jays made a valiant stand and held for two downs, but McGlinchey finally broke through for the score.  Lynch kicked for the point. 

Near the end of the half a Jay pass form Gannon to Toppino made twenty-four yards, but Cross broke up the budding threat.  In the third quarter Holy Cross scored three touchdowns and no extra points.  Burns scored the first on a thirty-yard run with Gaillard’s pass in his arms.  McGlinchey scored the second on a buck and Gaillard went for the third on a pass from Burns.

The last score of the game resulted from an intercepted pass from McVitch and the following forty-five run across the line.

Holy Cross was strong in line and backfield, heavier than the Jays and smoother.  Carroll, Messerole, Hall and Lynch were stout in the line.  They nipped many a promising gain by the Jay fast boys and played well on the offense.  The other linemen were nearly as good.

The Blue-Jays couldn’t get going right.  Burke, Gannon and Toppino each made several sensational runs, and each played strong defensively, but the smashing co-operation and smoothness that carried them along early in the season was not there.  Their plays were broken up when they hit the strong Cross wall, and the trick plays too often failed to fool.

Gannon led the forlorn hope for the Jays and put up a game battle.  His were the gains that gave Jesuits several of their first downs, and he hurled the passes that resulted in other gains.  Toppino played a speedy gain, but he had few chances to strut.  Burke was always able to pick up a few yards through the line.  More than once he came banging through carrying Cross men with him.

Blanchard, Vella and Hereford were the strong boys in the line.  Especially in the forth quarter with Wogen behind, they flung back the Micks with terrible jolts.

Thus ended the football season for Jesuits.  Playing against a heavier, stronger and better team, the Blue Jays fought gamely, played the best they could and went down with flags flying.

Holy Cross may or may not have another game.  If not, the Micks, too, have ended a most creditable season.  For the first time Holy Cross has become a force in city prep circles, and what a force it is.  If they play High school for the championship, they have other glory to look to.

Jesuit leads the series by 3-1-0

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