1929 Bedford Undefeated Football Team
Class of 2014
The quiet little town of Bedford, whose greatest claim to distinction and fame had formerly rested on the beauty and health-giving qualities of its natural resources, has entered another bid for special recognition. A squad of fighting mountaineers has emerged untamed and unscathed from one of the hardest campaigns ever attempted by a local school, not only was the team unbeaten, but also untied, and in the ten games played only one opponent was able to cross the local's goal line and that was once. An enviable record for any school, but when it is considered that many of these games were with teams representing much larger student bodies, then it becomes of even greater significance. Success of this kind could come only from the cooperation of three strong factors - an excellent coach, a great bunch of boys, and the enthusiastic support of the entire community; and in none of these was the school lacking.
The long list of victories over heavier teams necessarily brought into prominence many stars, but few or no heroes. The unique styles of play distributed the responsibility as well as the work, making a readily discernible division of honors. However, the effect of certain individual abilities cannot be overlooked. Captain McLaughlin is without doubt the most capable center ever developed here and easily outclassed every opponent to face him. His qualities for leadership made him the outstanding man on the field in all contests. James, at quarterback, Whiting and Harris at the halves, and Elliott at full made up a light but unusually fast set of backs. Hudson, a sophomore tackle, was put into the backfield late in the season and rapidly developed into a hard-hitting plunger and a great defensive back.
Bedford's powerful line was an outstanding factor in every game. No team was able to penetrate it appreciably, yet it contained three inexperienced boys playing their first season - Fisher, tackle; Riggs, guard; and Greenland, end - lost little time, however, and soon proved themselves capable running mates for such sterling veterans as Smith, tackle; Shaffer, an excellent guard, and Burkett, end. These men were well supported by a group whose special abilities made them so valuable on numerous occasions that they may not be listed as "sub". They were as follows: end White, quarterback Clapper, guards Moreland and Hershberger, tackle Karns.
Good fortune aided an extremely strict system of training to keep all of these men but one in the best of condition throughout the year. It was this condition that enabled the team, light as it was, to wrestle the second place cup given by the Western Division of the C.P.I.A.A. Conference from such husky opponents as Windber, Tyrone, Hollidaysburg and Mt. Union. Usually outweighed, but never out played, it will go down in school history as one of the finest ever to grace the local gridiron.
For the first three games only the scores were found.
Game #1 Bedford 6 South Fork 0
Game #2 Bedford 22 Mt. Union 0
Game #3 Bedford 26 Saxton 0
Game #4 Bedford 6 Hollidaysburg 0
A blocked punt in the first quarter gave Bedford the ball on the Hollidaysburg 12 yard line from where Whiting scored.
Bedford 6 0 0 0 6 touchdown - Whiting
Hollidaysburg 0 0 0 0 0
Game #5 Bedford 12 Replogle 0
Bedford 6 6 0 0 12 touchdowns - James and Whiting
Replogle 0 0 0 0 0
Game #6 Bedford 18 Williamsburg 0
Bedford 0 6 6 6 18 touchdowns - Whiting 2 and James 1
Williamsburg 0 0 0 0 0
Game #7 Bedford 53 Roaring Spring 0
The second team started the game and played the first half with score 6-0 at the half. The first team started the second half and played until the third team played the last 5 minutes.
Scoring - Touchdowns - Whiting 3, James 2, Hudson 2, Clapper 1 Extra Points - Whiting 3, 2 missing
Game #8 Bedford 7 Windber 6
After losing to Windber in the first three games played 16-7, 20-0 and 40-0, Bedford played Windber in the eighth game. Windber scored first but missed the extra point on a drop kick attempt. Bedford took the ensuing kick-off and advanced the ball to the Windber 30. From there Bill James threw a pass to the speedy Don Harris for the touchdown. Elliott, who was to be suspended for the game, came off the bench to kick the deciding extra point and a 7-6 lead at the half. There was no scoring in the second half and Bedford won their eighth straight game, 7-6.
Game #9 Bedford 19 Tyrone 0
Before a record crowd at Tyrone, Bedford blocked two punts which led to two Bedford touchdowns in the first half. James scored on a short run and Harris on a pass from James. In the fourth quarter Whiting broke loose on a 65 touchdown run.
Bedford 6 7 0 6 19 Touchdowns - James, Harris pass from James, Whiting 65 yard run
Windber 0 0 0 0 0 Bedford - Extra Point - Elliott kick
Game #10 Bedford 50 Everett 0
Bedford finished undefeated for the second time in school history with a 50-0 win over Everett. Bedford finished second to Altoona in the Western Conference.
Bedford offered to play Altoona at Mansion Park with the gate going to charity but Altoona declined.
Touchdowns: Whiting 2, Hudson 2, James 1, Snell 1, Harris 1, McLaughlin 1 - Extra Points: Elliott 2
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The long list of victories over heavier teams necessarily brought into prominence many stars, but few or no heroes. The unique styles of play distributed the responsibility as well as the work, making a readily discernible division of honors. However, the effect of certain individual abilities cannot be overlooked. Captain McLaughlin is without doubt the most capable center ever developed here and easily outclassed every opponent to face him. His qualities for leadership made him the outstanding man on the field in all contests. James, at quarterback, Whiting and Harris at the halves, and Elliott at full made up a light but unusually fast set of backs. Hudson, a sophomore tackle, was put into the backfield late in the season and rapidly developed into a hard-hitting plunger and a great defensive back.
Bedford's powerful line was an outstanding factor in every game. No team was able to penetrate it appreciably, yet it contained three inexperienced boys playing their first season - Fisher, tackle; Riggs, guard; and Greenland, end - lost little time, however, and soon proved themselves capable running mates for such sterling veterans as Smith, tackle; Shaffer, an excellent guard, and Burkett, end. These men were well supported by a group whose special abilities made them so valuable on numerous occasions that they may not be listed as "sub". They were as follows: end White, quarterback Clapper, guards Moreland and Hershberger, tackle Karns.
Good fortune aided an extremely strict system of training to keep all of these men but one in the best of condition throughout the year. It was this condition that enabled the team, light as it was, to wrestle the second place cup given by the Western Division of the C.P.I.A.A. Conference from such husky opponents as Windber, Tyrone, Hollidaysburg and Mt. Union. Usually outweighed, but never out played, it will go down in school history as one of the finest ever to grace the local gridiron.
For the first three games only the scores were found.
Game #1 Bedford 6 South Fork 0
Game #2 Bedford 22 Mt. Union 0
Game #3 Bedford 26 Saxton 0
Game #4 Bedford 6 Hollidaysburg 0
A blocked punt in the first quarter gave Bedford the ball on the Hollidaysburg 12 yard line from where Whiting scored.
Bedford 6 0 0 0 6 touchdown - Whiting
Hollidaysburg 0 0 0 0 0
Game #5 Bedford 12 Replogle 0
Bedford 6 6 0 0 12 touchdowns - James and Whiting
Replogle 0 0 0 0 0
Game #6 Bedford 18 Williamsburg 0
Bedford 0 6 6 6 18 touchdowns - Whiting 2 and James 1
Williamsburg 0 0 0 0 0
Game #7 Bedford 53 Roaring Spring 0
The second team started the game and played the first half with score 6-0 at the half. The first team started the second half and played until the third team played the last 5 minutes.
Scoring - Touchdowns - Whiting 3, James 2, Hudson 2, Clapper 1 Extra Points - Whiting 3, 2 missing
Game #8 Bedford 7 Windber 6
After losing to Windber in the first three games played 16-7, 20-0 and 40-0, Bedford played Windber in the eighth game. Windber scored first but missed the extra point on a drop kick attempt. Bedford took the ensuing kick-off and advanced the ball to the Windber 30. From there Bill James threw a pass to the speedy Don Harris for the touchdown. Elliott, who was to be suspended for the game, came off the bench to kick the deciding extra point and a 7-6 lead at the half. There was no scoring in the second half and Bedford won their eighth straight game, 7-6.
Game #9 Bedford 19 Tyrone 0
Before a record crowd at Tyrone, Bedford blocked two punts which led to two Bedford touchdowns in the first half. James scored on a short run and Harris on a pass from James. In the fourth quarter Whiting broke loose on a 65 touchdown run.
Bedford 6 7 0 6 19 Touchdowns - James, Harris pass from James, Whiting 65 yard run
Windber 0 0 0 0 0 Bedford - Extra Point - Elliott kick
Game #10 Bedford 50 Everett 0
Bedford finished undefeated for the second time in school history with a 50-0 win over Everett. Bedford finished second to Altoona in the Western Conference.
Bedford offered to play Altoona at Mansion Park with the gate going to charity but Altoona declined.
Touchdowns: Whiting 2, Hudson 2, James 1, Snell 1, Harris 1, McLaughlin 1 - Extra Points: Elliott 2
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Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania