Rodriguez & Malec Led Crimson Eagles' Gridders to Season-Opening 28-6 Victory Over Cadets of St. Joseph in Trumbull on This Date in 1968

Senior halfback John Malec scored one touchdown and rushed for a two-point conversion while Chico Rodriguez threw two touchdown passes to lead Andrew Warde High School to a 28-6 opening day victory over a young and inexperienced St. Joseph squad at Trumbull High School 42 years ago today.

The Crimson Eagles, who scored once in every quarter, played opportunistic football as they converted a pair of blocked punts and a recovered fumble into touchdowns during the Saturday, September 14, 1968 contest.

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

Malec, who was the game's leading rusher with 96 yards on 17 carries, ran three times for 14 yards. Rodriguez, the sophomore signal-caller, passed 15 yards to Abraham for the Eagles' first score to give the guests a 6-0 lead.

Sophomore defensive halfback Tim Carthen gave Warde its second touchdown when he took a punt and raced 67 yards along the ride sideline to paydirt. Malec then scored his first conversion points as he went around right end to give Warde a 14-0 lead at the half.

Abraham blocked another Cadet punt in the third quarter, and John Rozgonyi recovered on the St. Joseph 21 yard line to set up the Warde's third score. Three plays later, Rodriguez rolled left and flipped an 11-yard scoring strike to fullback Ernie Tuska.

A Rodriguez to Doug Forstrom pass over the middle for the conversion points gave the Eagles a 22-0 cushion.

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

St. Joseph avoided a shutout late in the fourth quarter. The Cadets marched 56 yards with senior quarterback Lou Miklos passing 14 yards to junior wingback Rick Healy for the touchdown. The attempted rush for two points failed.

Paul