Warde Eagles Posted Second Straight Shutout in 16-0 Victory Over Darien 54 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, 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

Aerial View of Original Andrew Warde High School Illustrates Innovative House Plan

Andrew Warde High School opened in the Fall of 1956 and was lauded for its innovative original house plan, which included Wolcott, Smedley, Barlow, and Mason houses. It wasn't until the early 1970s that the Fitts/Hale house was constructed on the East side of the campus adjacent to Melville Avenue.

This is an aerial view of Andrew Warde High School as it appeared in the 1960 Flame yearbook. Click the photo to see a full-screen view. According to the yearbook, "Andrew Warde is a pacesetter. Like the modern thruway, it is the tangible, practical result of progressive thinking. The unique house plan, dividing the school into four smaller units, provides an intimate atmosphere in which close relationships among pupils and teachers can thrive.

"Through personal association with pupils, the purposes of the high school --- instruction, supervision, guidance, and administration --- are more easily achieved while, at the same time, the student becomes an individual, not just a tab on a seating chart. Yet, because certain facilities and equipment are shared, each house enjoys the advantages of a big school. Thus, as a stop on the road to tomorrow, the house plan is entirely our journey."

Paul

Daniel B. Fitts Was First Headmaster of Andrew Warde High School

It is no longer Andrew Warde High School. In fact, even the mascot has changed from the Crimson Eagle to the Mustang. Barlow and Wolcott houses no longer exist, supplanted by Pequot and Townshend houses, respectively. There is, however, one constant which links Fairfield Warde High School to its all-but-forgotten predecessor over a generation ago: Fitts House.

The Fitts/Hale House, which was built in the early 1970s as a response to the growing high school population on the East side of Fairfield, was named in honor of Andrew Warde High School's first headmaster, Daniel B. Fitts, who is credited with implementing the house plan for high schools at Warde. I wonder how many of today's students, teachers, and administrators know that. The 1958 Flame yearbook was dedicated to Mr. Fitts.

Prior to his tenure as headmaster at Warde, Mr. Fitts previously served as principal of Roger Ludlowe High School for four years. Other administrative posts he filled in the system were vice principal of Ludlowe from 1943 to 1952; principal of McKinley School; and head of the business education department at Ludlowe. Before coming to Fairfield, Mr. Fitts was head of the business education department and director of guidance at East Haven High School from 1936 to 1943.

Mr. Fitts received his bachelor and master degrees from Boston University and advanced graduate work at the University of Connecticut and the University of Bridgeport. He was secretary of the Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools and appeared on nationwide panels of the Secondary School Principals' Association describing the house plan for high schools.

Were you a student at Andrew Warde High School in the late 1950s? If so, what do you remember about Mr. Fitts? Perhaps today's students should know more about the first headmaster of their school and the man for whom one of the houses is named. My son's homeroom is located in Fitts house. I'll ask him to tell his friends about Mr. Fitts.

Paul

Crimson Eagles' Gridders Posted First-Ever Victory on New Home Field 56 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 56 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 36 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, 28-6, in Gridiron Opener on This Date 45 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 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

Andrew Warde High School's Quarterback Club Hosted 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