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The Football Tradition for the Prep League in
1953 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

(Game was played on Friday, December 11, 1953)

Copyright © 1953, the Times-Picayune Publishing Co.

Jesuit Defeats Byrd High, 7-6, to Win State Football Championship

JAYS BATTLE BACK TO WIN

Fine Line Play Biggest Asset to Victors

BY N. CHARLES WICKER

Displaying their finest trait, their will to win and to come from behind, the Jesuit Blue Jays defeated Byrd High of Shreveport, 7-6, for the Louisiana double A football championship here Friday night.

Played on a soggy City Park Stadium turf, the thriller was witnessed by some 10,000 fans, an all day downpour keeping away many prep fans.  But those who did brave the elements were rewarded with one of the finest games seen on the local stadium.  

Getting superb line play and good blocking from guards Russell Carroll and Al Ecuyer and tackle Walter Frey, the Jays fought back to overcome the Yellow Jackets after the Shreveport team dominated the early parts of the game.  Jack Murphy, who moved up as a starter to replace injured Bobby Menard, and Charles Silva sparked the Jays on offense.

Without some spot running by Charlie Silva on the kickoff following the Byrd score, the Jays might not have run.  Silva took the kickoff and returned it 47 yards to the Jesuit 48 before Newton, Jacket safety man, brought him down.  Then, after one line play, he picked up 45 more yards to put the ball on the three.

All of the scoring took place in the first quarter.  Gene Newton and Mickey La Nasa, who were expected to engage in an individual duel, tallied the touchdowns.  But it was a line buck by Jack Murphy that provided the Jays with the margin of victory.

Newton scored for Byrd on a quarterback sneak to climax a 65-yard drive that required seven plays and was aided by three offside penalties.  A 24-yard run by Newton was the feature of the march.  

Mickey La Nasa scored on a plunge from the two on fourth down.  It came after Silva's two fine runs.

Byrd controlled the ball most of the time until the Jays took the ball with seven minutes and 35 seconds left and didn't give it up until 31 seconds remained in the game.  

Besides looking fine on offense, Carroll, Mickey La Nasa, Captain Will Billon and Frank Massa looked good on defense for the Jays.

Gene Newton, sensational Byrd quarterback, displayed some fine ball handling, but Corky Jones and Spanky McCoy showed up best carrying the mail.

Three times the Jays took the ball away from the Jackets on downs.  In the second period, they took the ball on the 13.  Again in the third period they stopped the (Jackets) inside the 20 yard line.  They stopped the Jackets at the ten when Mickey La Nasa stopped Corky Jones on fourth down just short of a first down.

Then in the fourth period, Byrd made a desperate attempt to make a first down on fourth down and failed and the Jays took over and held until 31 seconds remained.

Considering the conditions under which the game was played, it was a remarkable exhibition.  It was only a pity the two teams could not have met under better conditions.

Statistics favored the Jackets.  Byrd reeled off 15 first downs and Jesuit 8, Byrd gained 221 yards running and 12 passing for a total of 233.  Jesuit gained 167 yards and didn't throw a pass.  

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