Crimson Eagles' Gridders Dropped Season Opener to Norwalk 34 Years Ago This Weekend

The Norwalk Bears scored two touchdowns in a penalty-riddled third quarter and held off a late rally by Andrew Warde to defeat the Crimson Eagles, 34-28, in Fairfield in the FCIAC opener for both teams, Saturday, September 17, 1977.

In a 55-minute third quarter that dragged the game out to three hours and 15 minutes, the Bears took advantage of two Warde turnovers to build a seemingly safe 34-12 lead.

However, the Eagles fought back, taking advantage of a Bob Crawford fumble recovery to drive 39 yards for a score. Ed Ayuso scrambled in from the two-yard line, and quarterback Tom Gaipa connected with Galbie Robinson for the conversion, making it 34-20.

Ayuso then made it a contest by chasing down Norwalk punter Tom Glynn and recovering his fumble in the end zone. Gaipa hit Robsinson again for two points to close the gap to 34-28. But Norwalk quarterback Mike Prescott ran out the clock by engineering a drive downfield.

Gaipa found early success through the air, hitting his huge receivers Robinson, Steve Skalski, and Gary Lane. The senior signal-caller passed for 131 yards in the first half. However, the Norwalk defense intercepted him four times, and mammoth defensive tackle Roosevelt Reede, just a sophomore, provided most of the Bears' pressure.

Warde opened the scoring when Gaipa threw for two passes down to the Norwalk 24-yard line. Ayuso swept to his right for a 14-yard gain, before he was hit and fumbled. However, the ball rolled into the end zone where an alert Gaipa fell on it for the score.

The Bears took command in the second quarter, scoring on a three-yard run by Prescott, another three-yard run by Steve Williams, and a beautiful 69-yard pass from Prescott to end Robin Beavers. Presoctt added a one-yard sneak in the third quarter, and Alvin Wilson added the final score on a 39-yard scamper to paydirt.

Paul

Warde Blasted St. Joseph, 28-6, in Gridiron Opener in Trumbull on This Date in 1968

Senior halfback John Malec scored one touchdown and rushed for a two-point conversion while quarterback Chico Rodriguez threw two touchdown passes to lead Andrew Warde to a 28-6 opening day victory over a young and inexperienced St. Joseph team on this date, Saturday, September 14, 1968, at the Trumbull High School field.

The Crimson Eagles, who scored once in every quarter, played opportunists as they converted a pair of blocked punts and a recovered fumble into touchdowns.

Warde took the opening kickoff and marched inside the St. Joseph 10-yard line before the Cadets' hard-nosed defense held. However, after three plays, the hosts were forced to punt and, when Dave Abraham broke through and partially blocked the kick, Warde took over on the Cadets' 29-yard line.

Malec, who was the game's leading rusher with 36 yards on 17 carries, rushed three times to advance the ball to the 15-yard line. Then, sophomore signal caller Rodriguez tossed a touchdown strike to Abraham. The extra point attempt was short, but the guests took a 6-0 lead.

Sophomore defensive back Tim Carthen gave Warde its second touchdown when he fielded a punt and raced 67 yards up the right side to paydirt. Malec scored his first conversion points as he went around right end to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead which they held at the half.

In the third quarter, Abraham blocked another Cadet punt and John Rozgonyi recovered on the St. Joseph 21-yard line to set up Warde's third score. Three plays later, Rodriguez rolled left and flipped an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ernie Tuska. A Rodriguez to Doug Forstrom pass over the middle gave the Eagles the conversion points and a 22-0 bulge.

A fumble recovery on the St. Joseph 31-yard line following an intercepted pass by Steve Duncan set up Warde's final score. Malec climaxed the drive when he raced around right end from two yards out. The attempted kick failed.

St. Joseph avoided the shutout late in the fourth quarter. The Cadets took over on their 44-yard line and marched 56 yards with senior quarterback Lou Miklos passing 14 yards to junior wingback Rick Healy for the touchdown. The attempted rush for the conversion points failed.

Paul