Crowd of 8,000 Watched Ludlowe Tigers Defeat Warde Crimson Eagles on Gridiron 44 Years Ago Today

The overcast sky forced Ludlowe to leave its wings in the hangar, but it certainly didn't affect its ground game as Emil Taft's Flying Tigers ripped Warde, 40-8, in the FCIAC Eastern Division feature contest at the Eagles' field before an estimated crowd of 8,000 fans on this date, Saturday, October 11, 1969.

The powerful legs of Ben Jacobellis, who scored a pair of touchdowns, Kevin Prendergast, and Chris Brown, offset a phenomenal passing exhibition by Warde's Chico Rodriguez as the state's second-ranked team toppled the Eagles from the unbeaten ranks to move into an Eastern Division first-place tie with New Canaan at 3-0. Ludlowe improved to 4-0 overall, while Coach Fern Tetreau's Crimson Eagles fell to 2-1 in conference play and 3-1 overall.

Ludlowe quarterback Mike Tetreau, the current first selectman of Fairfield and the son of the Warde coach, took control immediately after the opening kickoff and marched his team 56 yards in seven plays, capped by Prendergast's scoring run, to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead on their way to a 27-0 halftime cushion.

The high-scoring Tiger eleven, having already racked up 198 points in four successive romps, took advantage of a pair of Warde fumbles to notch two first-half touchdowns. Following the first Tiger score, the hosts fumbled on their 37-yard line, and Ludlowe's Scott Webster fell on the loose pigskin. Six plays later, Jacobellis ran for a 10-yard score. The first of four placement boots by Dave Seres gave Ludlowe a 14-0 edge.

Another Warde fumble paved the way for an eight-yard touchdown pass from Tetreau to senior end Hal Stone, who also played brilliantly on defense, as the Taftmen carved out a 20-0 advantage. The final six-pointer of the half was a nine-yard dash by Brown to close out the blitz.

The Eagles' lone trip to paydirt came early in the second half with Rodriguez hitting Steve Duboys on a 28-yard scoring aerial. Rodriguez added the PAT on a quarterback keeper.

Despite the fact that the Eagles' ground attack bogged down for most of the game, Coach Tetreau received a fine performance from Doug Forstrom, who was converted to fullback after starter Tim Carthens was injured two weeks earlier. Forstrom gained 68 yards, many of which were the result of sheer desire on his part.

Rodriguez enjoyed a banner day as he completed 23-of-40 passes for 277 yards, but two costly interceptions on the Ludlowe goal line by Marc Shaw and Seres neutralized his effectiveness.

The Ludlowe squad struck for two second-half scores as the fog lifted, allowing the younger Tetreau to become airbound once again by connecting with Seres on a 35-yard scoring strike. Jacobellis added his other touchdown on a five-yard scamper through the middle of the Warde line.

Paul