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

AWHS Class of 1983 to Hold 30-Year Reunion at Gaelic-American Club Saturday, October 19

The Andrew Warde High School Class of 1983 is planning its 30-year reunion. The event is planned for Saturday, October 19, 2013, at the Gaelic-American Club, 74 Beach Road, in Fairfield. For more information, click the image above to access the class Web site.

Paul

AWHS Class of 1973 to Hold 40-Year Reunion Tomorrow at Testo's Restaurant in Bridgeport

Andrew Warde High School's Class of 1973 will hold its 40-year reunion, tomorrow, August 10, 2013, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Testo's Restaurant, 1775 Madison Avenue, in Bridgeport. That's the word from reunion chair Terri-Lynn Backer, who told me that 300 of the 450 students from the class have been contacted. Visit the reunion Web site by clicking the image below.

According to the reunion Web site, "It's hard to believe that it's been 40 years since we walked the halls of Barlow, Mason, Smedley and Wolcott. Now it's time to come together once again to reacquaint, reminisce and celebrate.

"We, your planning committee, have worked long and hard to make this our best reunion ever! If you have never been to one of our reunions, you don't want to miss this one!

"So come and renew old friendships, catch up on the past 40 years, and celebrate where we've been, who we are, and where we're going from here."

Paul

Warde's Legendary Football Coach Saved Man from Drowning at Mouth of Ash Creek 45 Years Ago Today

Andrew Warde High School's Hall of Fame football coach came to the rescue of a man who appeared to be drowning in the strong current at the mouth of Ash Creek in Fairfield 45 years ago today, Tuesday, July 30, 1968.

The man, who was about 30 years of age, was saved by Fern Tetreau, the coach of the Warde Eagles' gridders, who happened to be attending a cookout nearby, according to a front-page story in The Bridgeport Telegram. Tetreau, Warde's first football coach, led the team to an undefeated 9-0 campaign in 1959, just three years after the school opened.

Attracted by shouts for help off the jetty at the end of Jennings Beach and opposite St. Mary's by the Sea, Tetreau outraced three fellow physical education instructors in the Fairfield school system and swam to the aid of the man, who was being held by a woman companion. Both the man and woman were about to be swept away by the current toward Long Island Sound.

A short time later, a boat from the Ash Creek boat basin picked up the man while the woman companion swam back to St. Mary's. After being taken to the boat basin, the woman friend drove the man home.

The man told Tetreau he was wading at St. Mary's when he was swept into the water by the strong current. His woman companion managed to keep him afloat until Mr. Tetreau arrived on the scene.

Tetreau was attending a cookout at a cottage at the east end of Jennings Beach as a guest of Robert Seirup, a physical education instructor who conducted swimming classes there in the Summer.

Also present were Emil Taft, the Roger Ludlowe High School football coach, and Bob Jackson, director of physical education in the Fairfield school system.

Paul

Swim Marathon to Benefit Warde & Ludlowe Swim Teams Held 42 Years Ago This Weekend

Swim team members and alumni from Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools swam for their proverbial lives in a 30-hour marathon 42 years ago this weekend. The marathon, which raised $4,000 to help keep the swim teams at both schools afloat for the 1971-72 school year, set a national record of 100 miles.

The event, which was held at the Olympic-size Fairfield YMCA pool on Old Post Road, began at noon on Saturday, July 3, 1971, and ended Sunday evening, July 4, at 6 p.m., according to a front-page story which appeared in The Bridgeport Telegram, Monday, July 5, 1971 (see below).

More than 60 swimmers participated, completing the 100 miles in 28 hours and one minute. Encouraged by financial backing from townsfolk who pledged one dollar for every completed lap, the participants continued after setting the record to log 30 hours of uninterrupted swimming.

George Ford, a parent of one of the swim team members, announced at the conclusion of the event that $4,000 had been raised. However, he emphaszied that another $4,000 was needed to support the activities for the swim teams at both high schools.

"If the Board of Education approves a request for a $2,000 allocation for the program, the swim teams will be able to continue their activities in the new school year," Ford stated. As a result of sharp budget cuts, the Board of Education eliminated funds previously provided for the swim team programs.

Rather than let the program die, members of the swim teams at both high schools started the ball rolling for a fund-raising event. The marathon was the first endeavor, and other plans for raising the needed funds were in the works.

The marathon was supervised by Edward Quinn, the Ludlowe swim coach, his assistant, William Babcock, and George Reed of Warde. Mike Tierney and Bob Wilk, Ludlowe's co-captains, and Dan Ford and Mike Cardone of Warde helped organize the marathon.

Paul