FOOTBALL 1927-'28

The first game of the season for Jerseyville gridders was with Granite City. The lengthy quarters, which had been agreed upon, proved to be an advantage to our team and they played an interesting game the first half. However, the opponents broke loose the last half and piled up an enormous score. Although our team was defeated, many new men lost some of their timidity.

The next game was with Edwardsville. This was more successful than the Granite City game because it was played at home. Ritter intercepted one of the Edwardsville passes and made the first touchdown of the season. This gave the team more fight, courage, and confidence.

The third game was with Alton on a Friday afternoon. Alton expected to win an easy victory, but Little Jersey proved more fatal than anticipated; thus Alton had to play their first eleven men the first three quarters of the game. The Jerseyville boys were defeated once more, but were not discouraged.

The next game was expected to be close, because it was with Belleville, thought to be about equal to Jerseyville in strength. However, Belleville, on their own field, and supported by ardent rooters, received all the odds and proved the more powerful. "Tiene" Frost received a fumble and ran thirty yards for the only touchdown of the game.

The fifth game was an easy victory for East St. Louis, on account of the condition of the field, and the heavy men on thier team. Coach Bostic, seeing the result, withdrew his first eleven men at the end of the third quarter and experienced his reserves.

Although Jerseyville had suffered defeats, the sixth game, which was with Collinsville, proved a success. The Jersey Camp got the old "do or die" spirit and played its best game of the season. Parsell scored Jerseyville's touchdown in the second quarter and Jersey retained the lead until Collinsville intercepted a short pass and made a touchdown that tied the score.

The spirit and fight was stronger than ever and on Thanksgiving Day Jersey played its final game with Woodriver. The condition of the field was in Woodriver's favor; therefore, the battle was an easy victory and the Jerseyville team was defeated. In this game, many of the first team men played their last game of football for old Jersey Township High School.

RARE PICTURES OF OUR HOME GAME VS EDWARDSVILLE 

Head Coach: Mr. A.C. Bostic Mr. Bostic, football and basketball coach, came to Jersey Township High School this year from Eldorado, Ill. Soon after school started Coach commenced the football men practicing. The result of several months of diligent work on their part was a more experienced and much improved team. We are indeed grateful to the coach, whose training in the past year has prepared them to gain future victories.

Principal: Mr. Frank H. Markman

FOOTBALL MEN

Francis Murphy (Captain)	Lewis Dodge	Paul Parsell	Eugene Ritter

Francis Worthey	Francis Wade	Ross Graner	Melvin Murray

Thurlow Frost	Russell Roach	Melvin Beckner	Max Downey

Charles Malloy	Paul Reddish	Ivan Heiderscheid	Harold Carpunkey

(No Photo)	(No Photo)		(No Photo)
Randle Erwin	William Harmon	Raymond Mitzel	Thomas Mortland

The men on our squad this year consisted mostly of experienced and hard-fighting men. Most of them were members of the Senior class. Dodge, Murray, Murphy, Worthey, Ritter, Graner, and Parsell were all Seniors; Mortland and Frost were Sophomores; Heiderscheid, our reliable and future quarter-back, was a Freshman who showed marvelous skill aside from inexperience.

All the men except three, Dodge, Heiderscheid and Ritter, were on the team from one to four years. Worthey, our center, has been on the J.T.H.S. squad for four consecutive years. He has ability and that "old fight" that it takes to make a football player. The backfield could always rely upon that pass that it takes to make a center the most important position on a team.

Dodge and Mortland filled the positions of the guard. Both of these were good men and did well. Dodge was an inexperienced man, but soon caught on and developed that surplus fight. If an opponent gave him the slip the first time, Dodge was sure to get him the second time. Mortland came from Calhoun, and was used to going to sleep, and rolling down the hill without any energy upon his part. He soon found out that our football fields were on the level, and awoke to the fact that a sleepy mind doesn't get anywhere on a football field. He sure came out of the kinks during the last part of the season.

We had real and experienced men for tackles- Murphy, and Murray. Murphy, left tackle, was captain, and his fighting courage led his men through many a tight pinch. When an opposing back saw the form of Murphy looming up, he might as well stop, because he would sooner or later. Murray, our right tackle, was an experienced man also. He played many a good game.

Ritter was also from Calhoun. It was his first year on our football field. He was fast and a quick thinker, and could be relied upon almost all the time for receiving a pass, which was required for a good right end. Graner played left end, and had that old "go get em" spirit that carried him across the line of scrimmage to tackle the foe.

All of our back-field men had played various positions on the team the past few years, but were all inexperienced in the back-field. Frost our right half, was fast when in motion, and when turned loose, would carry the pigskin for long gains. Our left half, Malloy, was death on line plunges. He was heavy and had the desire to go through when once he had his hands on the ball. He will be back next year and has been elected captain for the season of '28.

Our reliable quarterback was a Freshman. Heiderscheid filled this position the best of any man that tried out. He was light, but never gave up; he was a quick thinker, and called signals out that led his men out of tight places. He will be back with the squad next year, with more courage and fight.

One more man must be mentioned to complete the squad. Parsell played in most of the games and was a man that could be made eligible in any position. This is his last year with J.T.H.S.

The squad also included the following men:

M. Beckner, W. Shortal, L. Gilworth, R. Brown. J. Scott, R. Malloy, R. Roach, M. Cason, E. Heath, J. Lynn, H. Carpunky, R. Woolsey, H. Gubser.

The "J" of 1928