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The Football Tradition for the Prep League in
1929:

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The headline reads "1929....Louisiana Unites."  This refers to the fact that now the Catholic schools would compete in the state playoffs.  As we all recall, they have more than held their own for these many years in the LHSAA.  I wonder how many state titles the Catholic schools have actually won?  We might be able to run a statistic on that.  Let's see if we can.  I do know that Holy Cross and Jesuit have both won a few each.
 
By 1929, Warren Easton had adopted the nickname "Eagles" and a new entry in the Prep League was Commy High (S. J. Peters), known as the "Stenogs."
 
The Blue Jays were led by Junior running back Tom Daigle, who sported number 1 on his uniform.  At 6 feet and 180 pounds, and possessing great speed, he was the best back in the City.  three young linemen, Henry "Dunk" Beter, Al "Ut" Winters, and "Red" Berner joined veteran Page to give the Jays the best line anywhere that year.
 
Down on Dauphine Street, Johnny Lynch happily greeted his two quality backs, William " Buck" Seeber and Joe Beach.  He also had a pair of All Prep linemen in end Schloegel and tackle Booth.
 
But Commy High would be the surprise of the city.  They came up with some names of their own.  Their ace was their tailback, "Mighty" Casey, fast as lightning.  they also had young George Joint at quarterback and Ray Rizzo anchoring the line at guard alongside captain and center Joe Napoli.  Remember those names.  You'll hear them again.  
 
In the state of Michigan, Menominee defeated Kingsford by the score of 150-0.  They scored 23 touchdowns and 12 extra points, with their tailback, Tallen, scoring nine of the touchdowns on runs that averaged 66 yards.  Talk about poor tackling!  Lucky they didn't come to New Orleans to play.  In Louisiana, Baton Rouge defeated Reserve 89-6.
 
Lou Brownson, Jesuit's backup center (yes, the one and the same one that you know), had a chance to shine against Ponchatoula.  The Jays were beating up on the Greenies so badly, that Coach Erskine started switching his players to different positions and Brownson played fullback and caught a pass for a touchdown!
 
Commercial High scored a major upset by holding the mighty Blue Jays to a 6-6 tie.  The Jays averted embarrassment due to a clipping penalty on an 80-yard interception of "Mighty" Casey.  The outstanding play of George Joint and Ray Rizzo was not lost on Doc Erskine.  Only sophomores, and in a two-year high school, these talented youngsters would still have eligibility left after their Commy days were over.  To make a long story short, Doc had a talk with both of them and they ended up wearing Blue and White the next year.  How about that?
 
Now, the story as printed in the Times-Picayune:

(C) 1929, The New Orleans Times-Picayune Publishing Company

JESUITS BLUE JAYS DOWN HOLY CROSS

Blocked Kicks and Long Runs Bring Victory

Micks Carry Ball Close, But Fail. Make 12 First Downs to 4 

 

by Clifton Dreyfus
 
The Jesuits Blue Jays, as the result of a long run by Daigle and a blocked punt, downed the Holy Cross gridders 8 to 0 yesterday at Loyola Stadium.  The game was played on a water soaked field and frequent fumbles by both sides kept the spectators in constant suspense.
 
Holy Cross made 12 first downs to 4 by Jesuits, but one of the Jay first downs was a 47 yard run by Captain Tom Daigle, which brought the pigskin to the six-yard-line, from where Tommy took it across himself.
 
Cross would work the ball from deep in their own territory to within the Blue and White 20 yard line but then would fail to make another first down or would fumble and lose the ball.  Their scoring chances were all thrown to the winds in just such a manner.
 
After the Erskinites had scored their touchdown they played nothing but conservative and cautious football and resorted to the punting game.  Almost every time they received the ball, Captain Tom would boot it back into the Saints' territory.  Then when the oval was punted to them, they would let it roll to a stop rather than chance a fumble.  The strategy worked out for the best as they came out victorious.
 
Tom again was the bright light for Jesuits and even he was held many a time by the fine defensive play of the Holy Cross boys.  Robichaux of Jesuit stopped almost every man that got by the line of scrimmage.  It seemed that Roby was destined to get Captain D'Aquin every time he was able to circle the Jay end.  He would get around, but every time Roby would come in like a flash and no gain would be the result.
 

Gilbert, Winters Star:

 
Of the forward wallers, Gilbert and Winters played the best ball.  Larry Gilbert looks like he is determined to shift honors of his family from the baseball field to the gridiron.  Ut Winters, a mighty big man, proved himself to be exceptionally fast on his feet as time and again he would be down under punts to down the receivers.
 
Cross's line again proved to be extremely strong and the play of Booth was exceptional.  This man was in every play that came anywhere near him.  Wooton also played a nice game at end.  Of the backs, Beach again was outstanding because of his speed on off tackle dashes.  Seeber showed versatility in his play by passing, kicking and running.  He performed well in all of them.
 
Booth returned the opening kickoff on his 38 yard line and a march down the field followed.  Beach went for 11 yards in two tries and after D'Aquin failed to make any yardage, Beach again went for 11 yards off right tackle.  After suffering a penalty D'Aquin and Beach again ran the ball up to the 14 yard line after several thrusts and had first down to go.
 
Each member of the backfield carried the ball once and, after four downs they only made eight yards and the ball went over to the Jays.
 

Daigle Counters

 
An exchange of punts followed with Daigle having a slight advantage over Seeber.  Finally, after Cross had tried to get another first down and failed, the ball again went over to the Jays.  Schuering smacked center for two yards and then fumbled the ball and lost the same amount back.  then up stepped Tommy and, after catching the pigskin, proceeded to over tackle for 47 yards.  The safety man brought him down but only after Tom had advanced the ball to the six yard line.  Then, after gaining about a yard at left tackle, he cut over right tackle for the remaining five yards and a touchdown.  On the attempt for the extra point, Daigle fumbled a high pass from center and was down before he could get started.
 
The rest of the first half was featured by an exchange of kicks because neither club could get much yardage because of the wet and muddy ball.
 
The entire third quarter was a repetition of Cross going for a first down and being held.  then, when the Jays would receive the ball on downs, Daigle would kick on the first play.  Only one time did a near break come and that was when Daigle's kick was blocked and he himself recovered it on the three yard line.  It was on first down and he again punted out of danger on the next play.  If he hadn't recovered, there might be a different story to tell.
 
During the last few minutes, Daigle made a safety possible by making a beautiful kick which went out of bounds at the Cross one-foot line.  Seeber kicked out to the 35-yard line, but the Jays were off sides.  Cross took the five yard penalty instead of the kick and, on the next play, Seeber's kick was blocked and the ball rolled behind the goal.  Ouellette recovered for Cross but he was behind the line and a safety was scored for the Blue and White.  Cross attempted valiantly to score with two long passes in the last seconds, but then the whistle blew to end the game.
 
The starters were, for Jesuit:  Carey, Winters, Daigre, Sloo, Donelon, Page, Beter, Schering, Robichaux. Daigle (c) and D'Angelo. 
 
For Holy Cross: Schloegel, L. Favret, Rankin, Stragum, Patterson, Booth, Wooton, Seeber, D'Aquin (c) Beach, LaCroix.
 
********************************
 

The series record to date:
1922, Jesuit 32-0 (inaugural game)
1923, Jesuit 40-0
1924, Jesuit 48-0
1925, Holy Cross 45-0
1926, tie 7-7
1927, Jesuit 72-0
1928, Jesuit 13-6
1929, Jesuit 8-0

 Series Record to date: Jesuit is ahead 6-1-1.

 

The Lineups:

 

 

Jesuit

Pos.

Holy Cross

 

L.E.

 

 

L.T

 

 

L.G

 

 

C.

 

 

R.G

 

 

R.T

 

 

R.E

 

 

Q.B

 

 

RHB

 

 

LHB

 

 

FB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSTITUTES

 

Jesuit

 

 

 

Holy Cross

 

 

GAME STATISTICS

Jesuit

Holy Cross

Yards Rushing

 

 

Yards Passing

 

 

Total Yards

 

 

First Downs

 

 

Penalties-Yards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEASON RECORD

Jesuit

Opponent

 

JESUIT

 

 

 

Doc Erskine, Coach

 

 

 

St. Aloysius

26

0

 

Hammond

13

6

 

Angie

63

7

 

St. Stanislaus

7

14

Loss

Commercial

6

6

Tie

Holy Cross 

8

0

 

Spring Hill

13

7

 

Warren Easton

0

27

Loss

Totals 5-2-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEASON RECORD

Holy Cross

Opponent

 

HOLY CROSS

 

 

 

, Coach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals 0-0-0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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