Jersey Township High School

pantherfb.org update
While doing research on the origin of football at Jersey Township High School, I have discovered that the 1924 season was most likely a practice season for the Jay's. The following is an article as it was originally published in the "Jerseyville Republican" newspaper on October 2, 1924.

"Jersey Township High School lost its first practice game of the season Saturday, when Coach Norris' squad of gridiron colts met the White Hall High School eleven. The game was on White Hall's field and resulted in a score of 10-0.
Coach Norris took nineteen of the locals to White Hall for the scrimmage game, using eighteen of the candidates for the team. Most of the boys made a good showing considering that it was their first participation and Coach Norris is optimistic over the prospects for a winning team.
Carrollton High School will send its team down to Jerseyville Friday, for a scrimmage game with the locals."

Football 1924 - '25

This was Jerseyville's first year of football. Although they didn't make a brilliant showing, they must be given much credit. It takes a year to learn football rules and the fundamental principles of the game. Coach Norris worked faithfully every day at teaching football to those who wished to learn the game. He deserves much credit on the showing of our football team. Mr. Bayless and Mr. Kimes also came out in suit at different times to help out. They got crippled up every now and then, but they didn't mind this because they wanted to see a football team in Jerseyville. Coach Norris has been trying to get a football team here ever since he started coaching in Jerseyville and he has now accomplished it.

The first game of the season was with White Hall on Friday morning, October 3, 1924. This was the first game that any of our team had ever played and therefore were shaky at the knees. This proved to be a closer game than any one thought it would be. Our team played well for the first time and showed promises of improvement. The final score was J.T.H.S., 0; W.H.S., 18. Not so bad for the first time?

The next game was with Edwardsville on Friday afternoon, October 10, 1924. Edwardsville had an experienced team, because most of the players had played together for two or three years. Our team was somewhat tired from the ride, but they played their best and showed improvement over the first game. The final score was J.T.H.S., 0; E.H.S., 27.

The third game of the season was with Carrollton Alumni on October 13. This was getting out of our class, but games were hard to get so we played with whomever we could match a game. Everyone expected the game to be very much one-sided on the fact that Carrollton had three and four-year letter men on their team. Some of them were from the Carrollton High School and the others were Alumni. Our team showed great improvement and held the score rather low for this kind of team. They thought we had a good team for first year. The final score was J.T.H.S., 0; Carrollton Alumni, 25.

The next game was with Carrollton High School on Thursday afternoon, October 16, 1924. Carrollton hadn't been defeated so far and wasn't expecting to meet defeat here. They were all experienced men and knew the tricks of football. They had one player on the team, when he got the ball and got away it was all off because you couldn't catch him. We got the worst beating of the season in this game. The final score was J.T.H.S., 0; C.H.S., 52.

The Fifth game of the season was with Carrollton High School on Friday afternoon, October 31. The team was out for revenge, that is to hold Carrollton to a lower score and they did. Our team displayed some good football in this game and the result was that Carrollton was held down. This showed the team had improved a great deal. The final score was J.T.H.S., 0; C.H.S., 13. Not so bad.

Then came the final game of the season with Troy on Saturday, November 16, and the climax of Jerseyville's football team for 1924. The team went to Troy in cars and all arrived safe and sound. Up to now you could not have said any one played better than the other, and in this game no one played better than the other., but all of them played better than before. The game started in a whirl and we had just got possession of the ball and soon started down the field to our line with the fellow carrying the ball having good interference. Before Troy was aware what was going on, we were about ready to cross their goal line. They tried to resist but on the next play Jerome Aderton carried the ball across for a touchdown, which was our first touchdown and the first score of the season, The quarter ended, J.T.H.S., 6; Troy, 0. The next quarter was played more evenly till toward the end of the half when our warriors started down the field again. The whistle blew just before the next play and we were on Troy's two or three yard line. The score was J.T.H.S., 6; Troy, 0.

The next half was more exciting because both teams were fighting hard. The third quarter ended with the same score as the half.

The fourth quarter was the most exciting of all because Troy had gotten new life. They started for our goal and our team stopped them on about the five yard line and we got the possession of the ball. Sing backed up to punt out of danger, but the excitement was so high and the center made a bad pass and Sing fumbled the ball, but fell on it, giving them a safety which counted three points. The score was now J.T.H.S., 6; Troy, 3. The ball went out to twenty yard line and they had possession of the ball and started another drive. Our team now could see victory and weren't going to be deprived of it in first or last quarter. Troy got on our ten yard line and just about the time he thought he had succeeded he was catapaulted back about ten feet. Sing had gotten revenge for the safety they made of him and put a stop to Troy's hopes of making a touchdown. They tried again but in vain for the game soon ended. The final score was; J.T.H.S., 6, Troy, 3. Greene, Aderton, Carr, Sidewell and some more played their best football of the season, so we had reached our goal.

 

PERSONNEL   ASSISTANT COACH: MR. Guy N. Bayless HEAD COACH: MR. M.G. Norris   ASSISTANT COACH: MR. Herbert Kimes Football Men SINGLETON GREENE:  "Sing" filled this position without any trouble and played it fine. "Sing" made a good captain, because he didn"t lose his head in tight places. This is Sing's last year and it will be a big hole to fill up in the line. JEROME ADERTON:  "Bud" was the lucky man of the season because he made our only touchdown. Bud was fast and took advantage of an opening when he saw one. He graduates this year and will make another opening to fill. LORRING CARR:  Carr was laid up a good deal with a bad leg that he received in practice, but he got to play enough to get a letter. This is Carr's last year. RAYMOND LOFTON:  "Bud" got his ankle hurt at the first of the season and was put on the injured list for awhile. He played end at starting of the season, but Coach changed him to tackle. Bud will be back next year and has been elected captain. FORREST COCKRELL:  Forrest filled the position fine for first year and it is a hard position to play. His strong point was breaking through the opponent's line and getting the jump on the team. We lose him by graduation.     KENNETH SIDWELL:  "Kitten" was chosen as quarterback and did very well. He did most of the forward passing and was good for the first year. "Kitten" will be with us again. JOHN GILWORTH:  John made a good tackle because football is his game and he proved that it was. He played in most of the games and did well. He has another year.   THEODORE GIERS:  Giers made a good guard for his first year and ought to be better next year. He and Sing made a heavy pair of guards. He has another year and should improve. ROBERT FERRIS:  "Goat" played tackle most of the time and sometimes guard. He would manage to get through the line regardless of what opponents would do. "Goat" will be back next year and will be made a good player for our team. CURTIS WARREN:  "Curty" made a good fullback and did some good playing this year. He has two more years and ought to make a real football player.   JAMES BERRY:  Berry played both tackle and in the back field, but tackle mostly. He did some good playing this year. Berry has two more years.   HARVEY WOODS:  "Ripper" did well playing his first season of football. He could go around ends like lightning and go through the line between some one's legs if there was no other opening. He has two more years.   RUSSELL WEST  GILBERT ARNOLD LASSEL WADE CHARLES ERWIN   LOUIS POPE     ROBERT GLEDHILL JOE HURLEY DURWURD GRAHAM WILLIAM MCMAHON LESTER CRULL Francis Worthey The J of 1925"

Saturday November 16, 1924

Our first victory vs Troy H.S.

Mr. M.G. Norris   Coach Norris worked faithfully every day at teaching football to those who wished to learn the game. He deserves much credit on the showing of our football team. Coach Norris has been trying to get a football team here ever since he started coaching in Jerseyville and he has now accomplished it. Jerome Aderton     Jerome "Bud" Aderton was the lucky man of the season because he made our only touchdown. Bud was fast and took advantage of an opening when he saw one.   Singleton Greene First Team Captain     Singleton "Sing"  Greene filled this position without any trouble and played it fine. "Sing" made a good captain, because he didn"t lose his head in tight places. 1924 IN PRINT  (Click on any article to enlarge, then click on your browser's "go back" button to return to page) Jersey County Democrat October 2, 1924 Jay Annual Season Recap This was Jerseyville's first year of football. Although they didn't make a brilliant showing, they must be given much credit. It takes a year to learn football rules and the fundamental principles of the game. Coach Norris worked faithfully every day at teaching football to those who wished to learn the game. He deserves much credit on the showing of our football team. Mr. Bayless and Mr. Kimes also came out in suit at different times to help out. They got crippled up every now and then, but they didn't mind this because they wanted to see a football team in Jerseyville. Coach Norris has been trying to get a football team here ever since he started coaching in Jerseyville and he has now accomplished it.   GAME 1 WHITE HALL 19 JERSEYVILLE 0 Jerseyville Republican October 2, 1924 (Note the final score descrepency between the newspaper story and the High School Annual description) Jerseyville Republican October 2, 1924      Jay Annual Season Recap The first game of the season was with White Hall on Friday morning, October 3, 1924. This was the first game that any of our team had ever played and therefore were shaky at the knees. This proved to be a closer game than any one thought it would be. Our team played well for the first time and showed promises of improvement. The final score was J.T.H.S., 0; W.H.S., 18. Not so bad for the first time?     GAME 2 EDWARDSVILLE 27 JERSEYVILLE 0 Jersey County Democrat October 16, 1924       Jay Annual Season Recap The next game was with Edwardsville on Friday afternoon, October 10, 1924. Edwardsville had an experienced team, because most of the players had played together for two or three years. Our team was somewhat tired from the ride, but they played their best and showed improvement over the first game. The final score was J.T.H.S., 0; E.H.S., 27.