Bedford Football 1924 - 1925
Class of 2016
Upper Row: Lawrence Yont, Paul O’Shea, Francis Koontz, Edward Gardner, Richard Beam, Robert Arnold, Joseph Hughes.
Lower Row: John Lesh, Fred Gates, Claire Diehl, Kenneth Blackburn, William Harrison, Lester Rouzer, Dalton Van Ormer.
In looking through the records of past seasons of football, no-where is there found such a one as completed by the Bedford High School team of 1924. This was the only Bedford County team to have never been scored on.
The team played, in all, ten games, in none of which were they defeated or even scored upon. The boys were well trained in all parts of the game by our esteemed coach, J. R. K. Stauffer. The other great factor in their success was the fine school spirit and support of the team wherever they went. Every game, whether played at home or abroad, was well attended by the student body.
Bedford vs. Meyersdale, 9-0
This game, our first, was played away from home, and was the “breaking in” of what was to be a very successful and well-working team. In the first half of the game neither side scored, for it was very closely contested. We did, however, have a serious set-back in the loss of Lesh, who was seriously hurt in the first quarter. But in the beginning of the second half Beam went through the line for a touchdown. O’Shea kicked the goal, giving us seven points. Bedford then kicked the ball to Meyersdale and forced them back toward their own goal. Rouzer tackled one of their men on Meyersdale’s goal line for a safety. This made the score 9 to 0.
Bedford vs. Roaring Spring, 12-0
The team played its second game at Roaring Spring. In former years Roaring Spring had succeeded in defeating Bedford High, but this year the tide turned with a good score for our boys, showing the improvement of the team in the last year.
Bedford vs. New Enterprise, 32-0
This game proved easy for the boys, for they had expected some opposition.
Bedford vs. Everett, 39-0
Another easy game! The Bedford boys certainly showed their superiority over their neighboring rivals in sports. This brought ‘about much good feeling between the team and the townspeople.
Bedford vs. Saxton, 52-0
This was the highest score of the season. It certainly was a “walk-away” from the beginning. The boys took turns running through their lines and making goals.
Bedford vs. Roaring Spring, 39-0
In this, the second game and second defeat of Roaring Spring, the Bedford boys more than doubled their first score. At this period of the season the people of the town were getting very enthusiastic over the High School team. They were undoubtedly doing great work.
Bedford vs. Boswell, 0-0
This was the hardest game of the season, as is seen by the score. The Bedford boys certainly met their match in these hardy coal miners of Somerset County. Our boys had continually to put up a fight and were on the defensive most of the time. It is said by the players that the only thing which kept them from losing was the fine spirit displayed by the students present from Bedford.
Bedford vs. Hollidaysburg, 19-0
This was a very interesting game. It was well played and the Bedford boys had to work hard for what they got. The opposing team played a fine defensive game but were over-whelmed.
Bedford vs. New Enterprise, 27-0
The New Enterprise team showed a great improvement over their former playing. Bedford was hard pressed during the first part of the game, but later got into their old form of team-work and gave New Enterprise their second defeat.
Bedford vs. Defiance Independents, 3-0
This was the most exciting game of the whole football season. The opposing team was made up of men, a few of whom were former college players. They displayed a great aerial attack but none of their forward passes worked; they were broken up by our linemen. In the last quarter, O’Shea kicked a field goal and we won by a very close score. This closed a very successful football season. It also aroused great interest among the townspeople in athletics. It was the bringing about of a new era in sports for Bedford.
“THE TEAM WITH THE PERFECT SCORE”
The local High School gridders went through a season of ten games without a single defeat. Before the largest and most enthusiastic crowd of football fans ever assembled at this place, the Bedford High boys proved their prowess by defeating the Defiance Independents by the score of 3-0. The day was almost ideal for football and the fans gathered early. An improvised band and the fine cheering of the student body kept everyone’s spirit tingling for the great contest. The game was delayed a little on account of violations of the contract for the game.
The big boys from the Broad Top trotted out on the field, and in their muddy, white jerseys and with their superior weight caused a rumbling murmur thru the crowd. The much lighter Bedford boys were at the west end of the field and did not seem like a fair match for their opponents. The teams lined up, and the referee’s whistle gave the signal for the struggle. Defiance received the ball but did not advance it very far. The opponents used steam-roller methods to advance the ball but were soon forced to yield the pigskin to the Bedford boys. It was a bitter contest all through the first half of the game. The ball was seasawed in mid-field and toward the end of the half our boys, began to show superiority.
During the intermission between halves the Bedford supporters regained full confidence for victory. The training and organization of the team began to show. At the beginning of the second half the speedy Bedford boys advanced the ball by forward passed in rapid succession. Before the crowd realized it, Captain Beam’s men had placed the pigskin within a foot of the goal line. Everyone went wild with enthusiasm to such an extent that the eager followers of the game caused a 15-yard penalty to be inflicted on the Bedford team. This was a bitter disappointment, but in the next instant O’Shea booted a perfect drop-kick for a three pointer, the only score of the game.
During the remainder of the second half the Bedford boys had their opponents on the run and were playing in their territory most of the time. A second drop-kick went wide. Right at the end of the game Harrison kicked a beautiful goal, but it was an instant too late and could not be counted in the score.
Lower Row: John Lesh, Fred Gates, Claire Diehl, Kenneth Blackburn, William Harrison, Lester Rouzer, Dalton Van Ormer.
In looking through the records of past seasons of football, no-where is there found such a one as completed by the Bedford High School team of 1924. This was the only Bedford County team to have never been scored on.
The team played, in all, ten games, in none of which were they defeated or even scored upon. The boys were well trained in all parts of the game by our esteemed coach, J. R. K. Stauffer. The other great factor in their success was the fine school spirit and support of the team wherever they went. Every game, whether played at home or abroad, was well attended by the student body.
Bedford vs. Meyersdale, 9-0
This game, our first, was played away from home, and was the “breaking in” of what was to be a very successful and well-working team. In the first half of the game neither side scored, for it was very closely contested. We did, however, have a serious set-back in the loss of Lesh, who was seriously hurt in the first quarter. But in the beginning of the second half Beam went through the line for a touchdown. O’Shea kicked the goal, giving us seven points. Bedford then kicked the ball to Meyersdale and forced them back toward their own goal. Rouzer tackled one of their men on Meyersdale’s goal line for a safety. This made the score 9 to 0.
Bedford vs. Roaring Spring, 12-0
The team played its second game at Roaring Spring. In former years Roaring Spring had succeeded in defeating Bedford High, but this year the tide turned with a good score for our boys, showing the improvement of the team in the last year.
Bedford vs. New Enterprise, 32-0
This game proved easy for the boys, for they had expected some opposition.
Bedford vs. Everett, 39-0
Another easy game! The Bedford boys certainly showed their superiority over their neighboring rivals in sports. This brought ‘about much good feeling between the team and the townspeople.
Bedford vs. Saxton, 52-0
This was the highest score of the season. It certainly was a “walk-away” from the beginning. The boys took turns running through their lines and making goals.
Bedford vs. Roaring Spring, 39-0
In this, the second game and second defeat of Roaring Spring, the Bedford boys more than doubled their first score. At this period of the season the people of the town were getting very enthusiastic over the High School team. They were undoubtedly doing great work.
Bedford vs. Boswell, 0-0
This was the hardest game of the season, as is seen by the score. The Bedford boys certainly met their match in these hardy coal miners of Somerset County. Our boys had continually to put up a fight and were on the defensive most of the time. It is said by the players that the only thing which kept them from losing was the fine spirit displayed by the students present from Bedford.
Bedford vs. Hollidaysburg, 19-0
This was a very interesting game. It was well played and the Bedford boys had to work hard for what they got. The opposing team played a fine defensive game but were over-whelmed.
Bedford vs. New Enterprise, 27-0
The New Enterprise team showed a great improvement over their former playing. Bedford was hard pressed during the first part of the game, but later got into their old form of team-work and gave New Enterprise their second defeat.
Bedford vs. Defiance Independents, 3-0
This was the most exciting game of the whole football season. The opposing team was made up of men, a few of whom were former college players. They displayed a great aerial attack but none of their forward passes worked; they were broken up by our linemen. In the last quarter, O’Shea kicked a field goal and we won by a very close score. This closed a very successful football season. It also aroused great interest among the townspeople in athletics. It was the bringing about of a new era in sports for Bedford.
“THE TEAM WITH THE PERFECT SCORE”
The local High School gridders went through a season of ten games without a single defeat. Before the largest and most enthusiastic crowd of football fans ever assembled at this place, the Bedford High boys proved their prowess by defeating the Defiance Independents by the score of 3-0. The day was almost ideal for football and the fans gathered early. An improvised band and the fine cheering of the student body kept everyone’s spirit tingling for the great contest. The game was delayed a little on account of violations of the contract for the game.
The big boys from the Broad Top trotted out on the field, and in their muddy, white jerseys and with their superior weight caused a rumbling murmur thru the crowd. The much lighter Bedford boys were at the west end of the field and did not seem like a fair match for their opponents. The teams lined up, and the referee’s whistle gave the signal for the struggle. Defiance received the ball but did not advance it very far. The opponents used steam-roller methods to advance the ball but were soon forced to yield the pigskin to the Bedford boys. It was a bitter contest all through the first half of the game. The ball was seasawed in mid-field and toward the end of the half our boys, began to show superiority.
During the intermission between halves the Bedford supporters regained full confidence for victory. The training and organization of the team began to show. At the beginning of the second half the speedy Bedford boys advanced the ball by forward passed in rapid succession. Before the crowd realized it, Captain Beam’s men had placed the pigskin within a foot of the goal line. Everyone went wild with enthusiasm to such an extent that the eager followers of the game caused a 15-yard penalty to be inflicted on the Bedford team. This was a bitter disappointment, but in the next instant O’Shea booted a perfect drop-kick for a three pointer, the only score of the game.
During the remainder of the second half the Bedford boys had their opponents on the run and were playing in their territory most of the time. A second drop-kick went wide. Right at the end of the game Harrison kicked a beautiful goal, but it was an instant too late and could not be counted in the score.
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Class of 2016