Warde Gridders Posted Second Straight Shutout in 16-0 Victory at Darien 53 Years Ago Today

The high-flying Crimson Eagles from Andrew Warde High School scored twice in the second period to nail down their second straight gridiron victory, 16-0, over previously untested Darien on this date, September 26, 1959. The game, which was played at the Blue Wave field, marked the second shutout in a row for the Eagles.

A Darien fumble early in the second quarter led to the first Warde score. Co-captain Jack Flanagan, Al Bennett, and Larry Gill ground out yardage as the Fern Tetreau-coached Eagles pushed deep into Darien territory. Quarterback Joe Vige passed to left end Jack Schneider for the first touchdown of the game. Gill added the two extra points with a plunge over right tackle.

Later in the second quarter, Darien quarterback Bob Spangenberg attempted a pass deep in his own territory which was intercepted by Ronnie Toth, who ran 20 yards unmolested for the second touchdown. Gill again added two extra points with a run up the middle.

Second half play was marked by two unsuccessful Warde drives, one of which was stopped on the Darien one-foot line, and the other halted when the Crimson Eagles lost the ball on downs.

Darien had one scoring opportunity in the final quarter when Spangenberg tossed to Jim Green on a 45-yard pass play that put the Blue Wave deep in Warde territory. However, the clock ran out on coach Johnny Maher's home team.

Paul

Crimson Eagles Posted First-Ever Gridiron Victory on New Home Field 55 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School football team, which was winless in its eight games in its first season a year earlier, came from behind with two quick fourth quarter touchdowns and defeated Bassick, 13-7, before a good-sized crowd at the new Warde field 55 years ago today, Friday, September 20, 1957.

Both of the Crimson Eagles' touchdowns, registered by fullback Jack Flanagan and left halfback Dick Kardos, followed recoveries of Bassick fumbles by Warde tackles Brian Shay and Dan Pisanelle. The Lions outplayed the Eagles through much of the first three quarters. Bassick jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Archie Holm caught a long forward pass from Tony Wiencko and ran 55 yards to complete a spectacular 79-yard scoring play.

In addition to losing the hard-fought battle, Bassick also lost the services of its two experienced co-captains, Helm, and regular quarterback Hank Cepero, for an indefinite period. Cepero was removed from action on the game's opening kickoff when he suffered what was feared to be a dislocated knee. Helm had to be assisted from the field late in the third quarter when he suffered a possible toe fracture.

The first Warde touchdown drive covered 35 yards and was highlighted by an 18-yard gain on a lateral pass play from Kardos to wingback Ray Figlar. Flanagan carried the ball twice from there into the end zone, but he was stopped in an attempt to rush for the extra point, leaving the Lions with a 7-6 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Helm was hit hard by two Warde tacklers and fumbled, with Pisanelle recovering for the Eagles at Bassick's 32 yard line. The fired-up Warde charges of coach Fern Tetreau covered the remaining distance to paydirt in four well-executed running plays, with Kardos, quarterback Ben Slesinsky, and Flanagan doing the ball carrying. Slesinsky took a forward handoff from Kardos and circled end for 19 yards and the longest gain. Slesinsky also added the extra point after Kardos registered the touchdown.

The turning point of the game came midway through the third quarter when Bassick fumbled away an almost sure touchdown after driving from its own 37 following the second half kickoff. The drive was engineered on the running of Helm, Johnny Gennette, and Paul Borgman. Substitute halfback Gus Hatzis bobbled the ball just short of the goal line, after a 13 yard run, and Warde end Fred Gates recovered in his own end zone for a touchback.

Paul

Late Rally Not Enough as Warde Gridders Dropped FCIAC Opener to Norwalk 35 Years Ago Today

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 in Gridiron Opener This Week in 1968

The Fairfield Warde Mustangs kick off their 2012 football season with a contest against Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk this evening at 7 o'clock. Warde is hoping for a successful season-opener on the gridiron, much like the one the Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles enjoyed on this very same date 44 years ago.

Senior halfback John Malec scored one touchdown and rushed for a two-point conversion while quarterback Chico Rodriguez threw two touchdown passes to lead Warde to a 28-6 opening day victory over a young and inexperienced St. Joseph team, 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

Andrew Warde High School's Quarterback Club Hosted an Annual September Carnival

How many of you remember the Andrew Warde High School Quarterback Club's annual carnival which took place in early September in the 1970s? I sure do. What I remember most is that it generally lasted for about a week.

While scanning through some old newspapers recently, I spotted an article about the carnival in the Bridgeport Telegram from Monday, September 12, 1977. It mentioned that the carnival was opening later that night and would continue through Saturday, September 17, from 6 to 11 p.m. each evening.

The carnival, which was held on the school grounds, featured games, rides, food, and refreshments, according to the article. The proceeds from the event benefited the Warde football team.

Most carnivals today last for a few days, at most. The Warde carnival was a six-day affair for five hours each evening. What are your memories of the carnival? Do you have any old photos? I welcome your thoughts and photos.

Paul

Freshman Memories from 40 Years Ago

Forty years after I entered high school, I brought my son, Eric, to freshman orientation at Warde High School last Wednesday. The ninth-graders began the year one day early to become acclimated to the high school and their new classmates. The morning session ended with a freshman picnic in the courtyard. 

It was a strange feeling escorting my younger son to the high school which I attended more than a generation ago, especially since my older son graduated from Ludlowe High School this past June.

Forty years ago, in September of 1972, members of the Class of 1976 entered Andrew Warde High School for the first time, too. Tony Procaccini, a regular contributor to this site, thought it would be a good idea to share memories of what it was like for him and his classmates during their first day at Warde. 

Tony Procaccini wrote:

I can vaguely remember what I wore on that first day of high school. Light blue over a purplish pair of pants, not a great match. I was a freshman, after all. It was a warm day, no precipitation. I walked up Cornell Road by myself, along Brooklawn Country Club. Very soon after, I would be walking every day with my great friend and classmate Joe O'Brien, who lived very close to my parents' house.

Things like lockers and a huge gym were new to me, since I went to a Catholic grammar school. I was in the big leagues now! Academically, I kept my nose to the grindstone, and didn't participate in any sports. (That would start in sophomore year).

Some of my freshman teachers were Mr. Robert Anderson (English), Mrs. Krala (Social Studies) and Mr. Duncavage (Introductory Physical Sciences, or IPS). I was also in Concert Band, playing string bass. I still have the case for the bow used for playing bass, which was concocted from a shower curtain, among other materials. I had to explain the bow's case ("What is that?") to dozens of classmates, because I needed to carry it around on days with Band in the schedule.

Most importantly, I started making a lot of new friends who would last all the way to the present day.

Scott Patterson wrote:

Boy, this is really blowing the dust off of my memory, at least what's left of it. I remember that some of my homeroom classmates from FWJHS were in my homeroom in Barlow. I liked having Mr. Buzak as home room teacher. He was a great guy, funny. (He) reminded me of Charles Nelson Reilly. 

Mr. B asked us our birthday month, as he had a cake each month to celebrate our birthdays accordingly. I remember from my seat, you could see the girl's lavatory across the hall, so you could check them out going in and out the door. And (I remember) seeing John Niesyn in a comatose state each morning. I thought that he was a werewolf after a night's long howl. 

Of course, the homeroom was loaded with theatrical stuff, so on occasion, one could do some live improv before classes started. (It) was nice to recall that long ago day, and (I) found myself with a smile. Happy, carefree times.