The Football Tradition of the Catholic League in
1962
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Jesuit Nips Holy Cross, 7 to 6 LANDRY'S TOE IS DIFFERENCE Unbeaten Jays Have to Come From Behind By N. CHARLES WICKER Copyright © 1962 The
Times-Picayune Gerald Landry's educated toe and Richard Tackaberry's quick thinking combined to give the Jesuit Blue Jays what they needed to down the Holy Cross Tigers 7-6 Saturday night at City Park Stadium to remain Louisiana's only undefeated and united triple A team. The victory moved the Jays in excellent position to capture the Catholic District crown. The largest crowd of the season and the top gathering in recent years - over 20,000 fans, were on hand to see the game, truly a rock 'em sock 'em affair. Jesuit has Redemptorist and De La Salle remaining. They play they play the Rams next Saturday night and De La Salle on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 25. The win was the eighth of the season for Ken Tarzetti's charges and the second district triumph. Landry, who booted a 26-yard field goal to give the Jays their victory over the defending state champion Istrouma Indians, calmly kicked the point after touchdown that broke the 6-6 deadline after Pete Schweigert scored. But it was Tackaberry who actually sparked the Jays to victory. It was he who moved the Jays into Holy Cross territory for the first time during the evening when standing in punt formation on a fourth-down punt situation at his 40-yard line. He chose to run with a high pass from center that he couldn't get off. Tackaberry galloped 30 yards down to the Holy Cross 30-yard line. Prior to that time the Jays were deep in their own territory. It was not until the final seconds of the first half that the Jays were able to register a first down and for a while it looked as if they would end the half a minus yardage rushing. While it was Landry and Tackaberry who furnished the main sparks, the Jesuit victory was truly a team victory. Every one of the Jays were terrific. The Jays were especially great on defense. Two times the Jays stopped the Tigers. Once with first and four from the ten, the Jays took over at the 13. They came back with first and goal from the two and stopped the Tigers in the second period. On the third threat, the Tigers scored with Gawain DiBetta tallying to run his season total to 104 and maintain his record of scoring in every game he's played this year. The try for the extra point was fumbled. The kicker, Ed Schulte, tried to run the ball without success. Once in the opening period Jesuit took the ball on downs from the Tigers, who moved the ball well rushing, but faltered passing. Schweigert scored the Jesuit touchdown from two yards out. The second half was the exact opposite of the first two periods. It was all Holy Cross offensively in the first half. In the second half it was all Jesuit. Defensively, both teams rocked and socked in the first and second period, but in the second half defensively, the Jays overshadowed the Tigers. They also had the best of things offensively. Statistically Holy Cross made nine first downs to Jesuit's six. The Tigers gained 185 yards rushing and passing to 158 for the Jays. On the ground the Jays 159 yards, most of them coming in the final 30 seconds of the second period and the second half. Prior to that time they showed a minus yardage rushing. (Editor: this does not agree with the table, below.) Holy Cross gained 125 yards rushing mostly all in the first half. Holy Cross gained 60 yards passing, completing three of nine. The Blue Jays threw but three passes, completing one for a minus one yard. Holy Cross had two passes intercepted.
EDITOR'S COMMENTS: We are disappointed with the Times Picayune's poor article on one of the greatest defensive football games in local prep history. It is apparent that writer Charlie Wicker was overdue for retirement. His interest waned after the first three paragraphs. He obviously dreaded having to write another football story when he just wanted to crawl into his bed on a Saturday night. You can see the pain he suffered. having to write each trite, repetitive paragraph. One can read between the lines that both of these schools fielded teams of excellent quality, particularly in the line play. Wicker had been a colorful writer and had been subject to both praise and criticism by his many readers for twenty years or more; however, the criticism had never been due to lack of enthusiasm - until this story. One only needs to view Jesuit's record of going undefeated and allowing only five touchdowns all year and a single extra point. We personally know that several of the players were among the finest in the state and would have been stalwarts on any team in any era. We are certain that there are many players for both Jesuit and Holy Cross that we should mention. We ask that any of our readers who have remembrance of that year (and a yearbook) send us an email and give us some of the highlights of that great game and season. We wish to publish more and it clearly cannot be gained from the local daily newspaper. Imagine - twenty thousand fans turn out for a Saturday night game and you get THIS!
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JESUIT SEASON RECORD |
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Ken Tarzetti, Coach |
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Opponent |
Score |
Comment |
Baton Rouge |
19-6 |
0 |
Terrebonne |
13-0 |
0 |
Istrouma |
3-0 |
0 |
Lafayette |
13-0 |
0 |
Pensacola |
21-0 |
0 |
Fortier |
35-0 |
0 |
St. Aloysius |
27-0 |
0 |
Holy Cross |
7-6 |
0 |
Redemptorist |
35-6 |
0 |
De La Salle |
7-6 |
0 |
La Grange |
7-7 |
State Playoff* |
TOTALS 10-0-1 (One of only six undefeated teams in Jesuit history.) |
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* La Grange won on first downs, 9-2. |
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