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The Football Tradition for the Prep League in
1954

Click the program cover to see special St. Aloysius section for the1952 and 1954 to 1956. (Many thanks to Sid Raymond)

In 1954, Jesuit, having graduated most of the 1953 state champions was struggling to hold its own in most of their games while Holy Cross was again riding high.  When the two teams met on Sunday, November 14, Holy Cross was a prohibitive favorite; however, Jesuit, aiming at this at their big game of the year, played over their heads and gave the Tigers all they wanted in an exciting matchup.  The Tigers won the prep title that year with an excellent and well-coached team.

Copyright © 1954 The Times Picayune

Bengals Edge Past Inspired Blue Jays in 21 to 19 Thriller

DAUTRIEVE'S TOE NETS WIN

Jesuit Aerials Almost Spell Defeat for Tigers

BY N. CHARLES WICKER

The educated toe of Leonard Dautrieve turned out to be the deciding factor Sunday afternoon as the Holy Cross Tigers defeated an inspired Jesuit four times beaten team, 21-19, in City Park stadium before a crowd of 12,000 fans.

The victory assured Holy Cross at least a tie for the 1954 prep championship.  The Bengals meet Nicholls next week and a win would cinch for them an undisputed title.  If they lose to the Rebels and Easton beats Jesuit the Tigers will share the crown with the Eagles.

Holy Cross had to come from behind twice to whip the Blue Jays in as thrilling a ball game as ever was played in City Park Stadium.

Two long (runs) by the Bengals' one-two punch, Earl Schneider, and Charley Cooper, plus a 10-yard up the middle jaunt by Ray Bianchini when the Jays were double-teaming Schneider and keeping Cooper well watched, gave the Tigers their touchdowns.  Leon Dautrieve converted three extra points.

Cooper raced 90 yards for his touchdown, the Tigers third of the afternoon.  Schneider ran 66 yards on his, which came on the first play from scrimmage in the opening period after Jesuit had gone in front.

Richie Petitbon, Billy Lander and Jack Murphy scored the Jay touchdowns.  Ladner converted on but one of three extra point tries.

Holy Cross, using the single wing offensive to great advantage as the season reached the halfway mark, threw that offense into discard at the start of the second half and used it only once during the entire second half.  The only time they used it was when Cooper ran 90 yards for his touchdown in the final period.

As was expected, Jesuit took to the air and gave the Tigers plenty of trouble.  Holy Cross' pass defense hasn't been too good all year.

The Blue Jays picked up 182 yards through the air and only 138 yards running.  They outgained the Tigers 320 to 270 and out first downed the Tigers 15-5.

One of the Jays' most effective passing combinations was Richie Petitbon to Bill Renaudin.  Every Petitbon to Renaudin pass was good and gained over 60 yards (total).  But the one that put the Jays back in the ball game was the pass from Petitbon to Bill Ladner that was good for 88 yards and the third Jesuit touchdown.*

Jesuit moved 64, 65 and 88 yards for its touchdowns and they were stopped at the Tiger 10-yard line once.  Then they got to the 20 following an onside kick which they recovered and started knocking at the door as the game was fast coming to an end.  Following the recovery of the onside kick at the Tiger 45-yard line, Petitbon passed to Ladner, who made a beautiful catch at the Holy Cross 20 and, as he fell to the ground, fumbled the ball but recovered it lying on the ground.

It was on the first play after the Tigers stopped the Jays at the 10-yard line that Holy Cross ran its only single wing play and Cooper went all the way.

Bill Ladner took the opening kickoff at the five, returned it to the 36 and the Jays didn't give up the ball until they had scored.  They moved 64 yards, passes from Petitbon to Renaudin, two of them gained 34 of the 64 yards.  Petitbon tallied from one but Ladner failed to convert.

Schneider on the first play from scrimmage following the kickoff after the Jesuit boys had scored, moved 66 yards for the Tigers' first touchdown.  Dautrieve converted to put the Tigers ahead 7-6.

Holy Cross kicked off to the Jays who got nowhere and punted.  The Jays punted to the Tigers who likewise ran into trouble.

It was after this exchange of punts that Jesuit got the ball on their 15 and moved 85 yards for their second touchdown.  Murphy scored on fourth down from the six-inch line.

As the third period began a Jay drive bogged down and they punted to the 15, from where Holy Cross moved to its second touchdown and to a 13-13 tie when Bianchini scored.

Jesuit got the ball following a punt at the 20 right before the third period ended, and moved straight down the field until they reached the Tiger 10.  They were stopped there and lost the ball on downs and on the first HC play Cooper scored.

Holy Cross kicked to the Jays and Ladner was tackled on the kickoff return at the 12-yard line from where the Jays took to the air and Petitbon passed to Ladner, who had gotten by the Holy Cross secondary and ran some 35 yards for the score.  That made the score 21-19 in favor of the Tigers as Ladner missed the extra point.

Jesuit's one hope was an on side kick and a recovery.  This they did but time ran out with the ball in their possession at the Holy Cross 34.  Petitbon lost 14 yards on the first play after he passed to Ladner to the 20 following recovery of the on side kick.  

* - The pass play described, from Petitbon to Ladner, is still the longest pass play in Jesuit football history.

Thanks to Warren Gravois for Holy Cross names and season  record

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