1957 SEASON – A RETURN TO GLORY
In 1954 and 1955, Lower Merion spoiled Radnor unbeaten seasons in the final game. With the departure of such early-decade stalwarts as Ted Dean, 1956 was a down year for the Raiders, who could muster only one win and suffered their 12th straight defeat at the hands of Lower Merion. Then, early in the 1957 season, it was announced that the 60 year old Radnor -- Lower Merion rivalry would come to an end due to Suburban League realignment. At the same time Radnor High School, and surrounding schools, were stricken with a widespread flu epidemic that led to closures and multiple game postponements.
It was difficult to imagine that the team was in the midst of what, by any measure, would become the golden age of Radnor football. Coach Warren Lentz the bridge between the undefeated Radnor 1926 team and 1957.
Pre-Season Prognostication
Local football prognosticators were predicting a bridge year for the Raiders in 1957. Radnor was looked at as a “next season” team with eight juniors in the starting line up, including at times the entire backfield. Lentz, the former Radnor football star and Penn alum, downplayed (in typical fashion for Lentz) any chances the team had for the season. Dery Bennett of the Main Line Times recounted Lentz’s early season pessimism in his “Sidelines” column, reporting that Lentz “admitted very early that his Radnor football team would be little better than last year’s aggregation which managed to win only one game all season. . . . Lentz gazed forlornly at his squad, shook his head and cagily shifted the subject to surf fishing.”
The Main Line Times reported that while the Radnor coaches were satisfied with the first squad in a preseason game against Downingtown, they “echoed the cries of other mentors. ‘No reserves!’” In the practice game with Downingtown, Radnor went with Joe Iacone, Bob Mueller, Bob Grimes, and Paul Englebert in the backfield and Tom Hunter, Earl Blackwell, Bill Geary, John Barnett, Sam Virgilio, Bill Vogt and Dick Curley along the line. Larry Arnold, 145 pound junior guard, also received praise for his work with the second squad.
Matt Zabitka of the Chester Times, predicted in his “Another View” column that Radnor would finish 6th in the Suburban League’s Section II behind: 1. Swarthmore, 2. Springfield, 3. Marple-Newtown, 4. Nether Providence, and 5. Media. Meanwhile Zabitka went out on a limb and picked Lower Merion, in the midst of a decade of dominance and a 32-game undefeated streak that would end during the 1957 season, to win Section I and continue its dominance over Radnor. Even the home town Suburban and Wayne Times could muster little enthusiasm, writing “Radnor is an unknown quantity this year, which may show considerable improvement over last season’s eleven. With several letter winners returning, but weak in backfield speed, the Raiders may surprise their fans.”
Radnor 20 Nether-Providence 13
While the Suburban described Nether-Providence as a “weak rival,” they gave Radnor all it could handle in a sloppy opener that witnessed ten fumbles and a pass interception. A reported crowd of 1,000 at Nether attended a game that the Chester Times could only describe as “positively harrowing for rival coaches Ed Narcum and Warren Lentz.”
The game started with a bang for Radnor, on its first play from scrimmage of the season, after forcing a Nether punt that was downed at the Radnor 4-yard line, Bobby “Bugles” Greim burst through the entire Nether team for a 96 yard touchdown. Yet the Radnor back received little respect from the Chester Times which noted that the spectacular touchdown run “was all the more surprising because Greim is considered neither Radnor’s fastest nor shiftiest ball carrier. Last year, he was a sub for John Fenimore.” Moments later Radnor recovered a fumble, and six plays later a pass from Paul Englebert to Earl Blackwell (with Joe Iacone’s plunge for the extra point) gave Radnor a 13-0 lead. However, the Provvies struck back quickly, recovering a fumble on the Radnor 6-yard line and pounding it in two plays later. Late in the first half, Nether intercepted a Radnor pass and four plays later the score was knotted at 13-13.
Radnor would score the game’s final points in the third quarter. Radnor started the second half by kicking off to the Nether 25. Three plays later Blackwell recovered a fumble on the Nether 32. Iacone pounded the ball down to the 18, then the 17, then the 14, but Radnor lost the ball on a fumble. On the next play, Iacone recovered another fumble by Nether on the 12-yard line. After a run by Iacone to the 7-yard line, Greim ran the ball to the endzone for his second touchdown and the deciding score.
Yet the game was far from over, and Radnor’s inability to hold onto the ball forced defensive heroics. Radnor lost the ball twice on fumbles inside their own 20-yard line. The Main Line Times reported “One time N-P had the ball on the 17 but Englebert saved the day with a last-ditch tackle on the left sideline and Craig Curley later smashed a threat on the 20.” Nether took to the air late in the game, but The Suburban credited Pete Allen with knocking down several long passes.
Main Line Times “TIME OUT” notes: “Craig Curley subbing for brother Dick, might have earned himself a defensive assignment with his fine work near the end of the game . . . Iacone and Englebert stood out both ways along with speedster Greim . . . Blackwell made a wonderful play from his defensive end position in the third quarter, cutting down three blockers on a single wing power play to his side.”
Radnor 32 Yeadon 0
“All of a sudden, nobody’s selling those Radnor High Raiders short. The lightly-regarded Radnorites – at the beginning of the season, that is – showed unexpected class in a 32-0 win over Yeadon . . . .” The Suburban 10/4/1957
In the second game of the season, Radnor established, in no uncertain terms, its identity as a power running team prepared to pound the opposition into submission. Sticking almost exclusively to the ground, Radnor ran for 284 yards and attempted only six passes completing two. Guard Sam Virgilio, one of the team’s Captains, opened the scoring by intercepting a batted Yeadon pass and returning it 45 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Following a Yeadon punt, Joe Iacone plowed through the Eagles’ line and ran the ball in from 45 yards for the second score of the quarter.
Radnor’s next drive, in the second quarter, took 12 plays and consisted of Paul Englebert and Iacone alternating runs until the final play where Englebert faked a jump pass and then pitched out to Iacone who ran in for a 6-yard score. Just before the half, Yeadon drove the ball to the Radnor 5-yard line but Bob Mueller intercepted a pass to end the threat.
In the second half, Radnor imposed its will on Yeadon with a 16-play drive that culminated in an Englebert 2-yard run for the score. Craig Curley dominated the second half with several “blistering tackles” from his linebacker position and “seemed to be wherever he was needed on defense,” while Bill Vogt burst through the line to take a Yeadon punt in the chest. Main Line Times 10/3/1957. Ultimately Yeadon would cross midfield only twice with interceptions halting both drives. A Craig Curley interception set up the final Radnor scoring drive. Over the 11-play drive Howard Hopson, Pete Allen and Englebert all contributed with Bobby Greim carrying the ball the final three times for the score, the quartet of backs dubbed the “Fearsome Four” by the Main Line Times.
“A small lad astride a bike at 5 p.m. Friday evening in Wayne was heard to remark ‘We can beat Lower Merion this year.’” Main Line Times 10/3/1957
Radnor-Upper Merion postponed Due to “Flu”
The week following the Yeadon game saw Radnor hard hit by respiratory infections with almost 50% of the student body absent from classes. At its peak, 500 Radnor students called out sick. Despite this attrition Radnor schools remained open, but the October 4thgame against Upper Merion was postponed. The Suburban reported that the entire Radnor starting eleven came down with the bug and by the following Monday “four of the regulars, Bob Mueller, Paul Englebert, Tom Hunter and Dave Conover were still unable to come out for practice, although the others had donned suits and were taking light workouts. Only Pete Allen and John Barnett, among those who see regular action, turned out for practice sessions every day last week.”
Radnor-Lower Merion and Radnor-Conestoga Series to End
“A Lower Merion fan summed up the news: ‘it won’t seem right not painting ‘Beat Radnor’ on stone walls – I wonder how you spell ‘Plymouth-Whitemarsh’.’” Main Line Times 10/10/1957
On October 10th, the Main Line Times reported that 1957 would mark the final game between Radnor and Lower Merion “according to well-informed sources close to school organizational meetings held Monday and Tuesday of this week.” The news was also carried in the Philadelphia Inquirer based on “reliable sources.” Termination of the 60-year old rivalry would come as the result of realignment in the Suburban League Sections I and II as well as the Ches-mont League. A new Lower Merion school (later named Harriton), as well as the addition of Penncrest to Section II, were predicted not only to force the end of the Lower Merion game but also the annual tilt with Conestoga that dated to the beginning of the century.
“When Radnor High and Conestoga meet tonight, it will be the last game in one of the longest football rivalries in this section. Old-time grads, remembering the days of great and bitter battles between the two foes, will watch this one with more than the usual feeling of rivalry. For an era passes, as one by one the storied opponents of yesteryear are dropped from the schedule to make room for league rivals.” Suburban 10/11/1957
Radnor 20 Conestoga 0
With Radnor still recovering from the flu, the Suburban downplayed the possible result against undefeated 3-0 Conestoga noting of Radnor: “the group showed solid improvement in its first two games but will sorely miss the extra experience which it could have gained in the cancelled Upper Merion contest last week. Also with practice sessions set back because of illness, no one can predict their effectiveness. . . . Conestoga, on the other hand, is healthy and rarin’ to go in this last annual clash. Their coach, Bill Paolantonio [a former Radnor star], is eagerly seeking a win over Warren Lentz’s Raiders.”
Lentz in turn was working motivational magic on his players, telling the Suburban that “three or four of last year’s regular players have only a shaky hold on their jobs, as they have not lived up to pre-season expectations.” Hard to believe given that the team was undefeated and coming off a 32-0 win. While the students could not hold a pep rally, they came to the school at 6:00 to form an alley through which the team ran, sending them off to the 8:00 game at Conestoga’s Teamer Field under the lights.
Overcoming flu and rust Radnor beat the Pioneers 21-0. Joe Iacone, at one time a promising player at Berwyn Junior High and described by the Main Line Times as “chunky bundle of power,” pounded his former mates both offensively and defensively. After fumbling on their second play from scrimmage, Conestoga could never get untracked as the two defenses dominated the scoreless first half, the Suburban recounting: “Radnor pounded the nightlights out of Conestoga during the first half, yet could not get across the goal line. The Pioneer line put up no fewer than six magnificent stands against the relentless Radnor tide, led by the plunging twisting Joe Iacone. . . . They stopped the Raiders on their own one-yard line, on the goal line, on the one-foot line, on the 12-yard line, on the one-yard line again – all in the first half.”
In the end, it was the tenacious Radnor pass defense that forced Conestoga to punt deep in its own end and Radnor took over on the 27. With 3:40 to go in the third quarter, Iacone burst off left guard for a 27 yard touchdown. Minutes later Tom Hunter blocked a Pioneer punt and Paul Englebert, demonstrating typical “slick ball-handling,” ran the ball four consecutive times for the second score. The third and final score resulted from Englebert and Bobby Greim running the ball down to the Conestoga 41 when Iacone plowed through the line and outran the Pioneer defenders for a touchdown. The utter domination by Radnor was reflected in the final box score. Radnor ran for 264 yards on the ground and was 0-4 through the air. Conestoga was held to -2 total net yards and net 3 yards rushing on 76 yards gained and 73 yards lost.
Flu Wreaks Havoc On Radnor’s Schedule
Set to play Marple-Newtown on Friday October 18th, followed by the rescheduled Upper Merion game on Tuesday the 22ndand Media on Friday, Radnor would be tested three times in seven days. Then the Marple game was moved to Monday the 21st due to the flu, which would have had Radnor playing three times in five days, too much for even Lentz’s lions. Upper Merion was moved again, this time to November 5th.
Radnor 41 Marple-Newtown 7
Marple came into the game 3-1 with a “youthful squad that uses the airways more than usual.” Main Line Times 10/17/1957. Radnor was gaining favor with the press, the Chester Times commenting “The Raiders boast one of the strongest running games in the county and capable backs in fullback Joe Iacone and quarterback Paul Englebert.” However, the Radnor coaches were in full “poor mouth” mode. “Radnor Coach Warren Lentz said before the start that Monday games always present a problem; assistant Ellis Dwyer was unhappy about the ‘poor timing’ of the team.” Chester Times 10/22/1957.
A Craig Curley interception in the first quarter put the ball on the Marple 31-yard line. Moments later Howard Hopson ran the ball in from the 18-yard line. In the second quarter Joe Iacone had a 10-yard touchdown run at the end of a 69-yard eleven play march by Radnor that included a 29-yard pass from Englebert to Earl Blackwell. Radnor’s third touchdown was a 21-yard pass from Englebert to Blackwell. After an Englebert interception, Iacone opened the second half scoring on the next play with a 60-yard touchdown run, Englebert scored on a five- yard keeper around the right end and a Curley to Bobby Greim 32-yard touchdown pass that deflected off a Tigers defender closed out the Radnor scoring on the final play of the game. The Main Line Times commended Craig Curley, along with his brother Dick, for playing a crashing defensive game with several tackles for losses.
Again, the story of the game was told by the box score. Radnor rolled up 268 yards rushing and 425 yards overall to 66 total yards for the Tigers with -16 on the ground. Iacone had 145 yards rushing on 11 carries and sat out the fourth quarter.
“’Radnor will shine tonight, Radnor will shine . . .’ So went the chant of the cheerleaders as they led the cheer traditionally sung after each touchdown. There were six such occasions in last Monday’s game. . . .” The Suburban 10/25/1957
Main Line Times “Chalk Marks” – “Guards Bill Vogt and Sam Virgilio who double as each other’s cousins, stood out on defense. Virgilio as middle guard and Vogt as a line backer . . . The latter, along with Craig Curley, are tough . . . Iacone, listed as 170 pounds on the program, hits like a 200-pounder but runs like a 140-pounder once he’s in the clear . . . He’s the best fullback in Delaware County.”
Radnor 45 Media 0
“Mischeif Night is not until next Wednesday but the Radnor High School Football team showed utter disregard for the calendar as it went out yesterday afternoon and executed a barrel of pranks at the expense of visiting Media High.” Chester Times 10/26/1957
An early season favorite in Section II, Media was not living up to those expectations, but their heavy line, four players over 230 pounds, was forecast to be a challenge for Radnor. That did not come to pass as Radnor pounded the sloppy Media side. On its first series, Radnor started on its 38-yard line and quickly moved the ball down the field with Joe Iacone scoring on a run from the 5-yard line. Media fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Dick Curley recovered the ball on the Media 21-yard line. Paul Englebert ran to the 8-yard line, Iacone to the six and then Englebert took it in for the touchdown. Two plays later Media fumbled again and Ranor’s Tom Hunter recovered on the Media 38-yard line. Englebert finished that drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Earl Blackwell and Radnor led 20-0 in the first quarter.
A Radnor 55-yard drive in the second quarter culminated with an Iacone 25-yard run “in which practically every player on the Media team laid a hand on him but could not bring him earthward.” Chester Times 10/26/1957. A few plays later, Craig Curley intercepted a Media pass and sprinted 80-yards for an apparent touchdown, only to have it called back for clipping during the return. Radnor then began a 7-play drive that ended with Pete Allen carrying two defenders over the goal line.
The second half opened with Radnor receiving the ball and traversing 70-yards for another touchdown. The big play was Sam Virgilio faking a punt and running 45-yards behind a wall of Radnor blockers for a touchdown. “Sam Virgilio pulled a sensational fake kick early in the third period. He fooled Media’s defense completely . . .” The Suburban 11/1/1957. At that point Radnor, up 39-0 took the foot off the gas. In the waning moments, a poor Media punt landed on its own 9-yard line and three plays later Craig Curley ran the ball in for the touchdown and a 45-0 win.
“Garbed in their gremlin-like costumes of red-sleeved jerseys, gold pants and red-striped white helmets, the precision -- drilled Raiders from Wayne soaped, slashed, sliced, and stampeded the Mustangs from the County Seat, 45-0, in a Section II football game in which the outcome never was in doubt.” Chester Times 10/26/1957
Chester Times Game Notes: “What a difference a year makes . . . . Last season, Radnor High could win but one game, defeating Yeadon, 19-7 . . . The Radnor team is one of the best-drilled, sharpest-blocking, fiercest tackling high school outfits in the area, which speaks well of the coaching of Warren Lentz and Ellis Dwyer . . . In the second period of the game with Media, Radnor’s Joe Iacone, generated so much speed as he bolted through the entire Mustang team that he couldn’t slow down as he crossed the stripe and ran completely out of the playing field right into a puddle of water in which he skidded . . . Media used a tricky formation with a shift several times during the game, but to no avail. . . With only eight seniors on its entire squad, look for Radnor to be the most outstanding team in Delaware County in 1958.” The Main Line Times reported that Dick Curley was injured and would see only limited action in the next game.
Radnor at the Halfway Point
With another undefeated team at midseason, the knights of the keyboard warned of a tough Radnor second half. Due to the postponed Upper Merion game, The Raiders would play three games in eight days.
“Radnor faces the toughest row to hoe in its aim to finish out the campaign with a clean slate. The charges of Warren Lentz have five games remaining, including three with rugged foes. The Wayne Raiders, after meeting Lansdowne-Aldan this coming Saturday morning on the Lords’ field, still will have undefeated Upper Merion, scrappy Springfield, strong Swarthmore and powerhouse Lower Merion to play.” Chester Times 10/29/1957
The Main Line Times was still a reluctant Radnor believer, warning “Beware the Ides of November Radnor. That is the month that will tell for the Raiders.”
Radnor was leading all Suburban League teams in points scored with 159 and an average of 32 per game. Defensively Radnor was second in points allowed with 20 points to Chichester’s 13. Joe Iacone was leading all Suburban scorers with 51 points, 15 more points than Haverford High’s Jimmy Hodge. Paul Englebert was battling Friends Central’s Duke Snyder for the Extra-Point lead and was ahead 11 to 9.
Radnor 38 Lansdowne-Aldan 6
Radnor struck early and often at Lansdowne in the rain for their sixth win on the season. In its first series, after two running plays went nowhere, Lansdowne attempted a pass that was promptly intercepted by Craig Curley on the Lord’s 40-yard line. Five plays later Paul Englebert ran the ball in from the 3-yard line. Lansdowne tried to pass again, and this time Englebert intercepted the ball and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. Radnor’s next drive of the first quarter traversed 52 yards and was capped by a Joe Iacone 30-yard touchdown run up the middle, making the score 19-0 after one period.
In the second period, Radnor drove the ball 54 yards, including a 33-yard run by Englebert, overcame 2 15-yard penalties, and Howard Hopson ran the ball in from the 6-yard line. Pete Allen then intercepted a Lansdowne pass and returned it 33 yards to the Radnor 44-yard line. Hopson finished a 10-play drive and ran the ball in from the 6 before the end of the half. 32-0 Radnor at the half.
In the third, Radnor had a 7 play 71-yard drive that included a 40-yard Englebert pitch to Tom Hunter before Iacone pounded the ball in from the 11-yard line to close out the scoring as Warren Lentz went to the bench. The Lansdowne score came in the fourth quarter.
Radnor 28 Upper Merion 6
“Two more Section Two football teams reeled back into their locker rooms this week, stumbling victims of Iacone Shock.” Main Line Times 11/7/1957
Radnor took to the road for game 7, traveling to King of Prussia to meet Upper Merion in a battle of unbeaten teams that would likely determine the Suburban League Section II champion. “More than 1,500 fans gathered under a bleak, murky canopy that contrasted with the brilliant action of Iacone and saw the Radnorites annex their seventh straight win of the season and move within two games of wrapping up the Section II title and within three games of completing an undefeated campaign.” Chester Times 11/6/1957.
“In a game billed as ‘settling’ the Section II title, Radnor settled it in a hurry on Tuesday, scoring in each of the first three periods as Iacone blasted away for three touchdowns.” The Suburban 11/8/1957
Radnor received the opening kickoff on their own 26-yard line. Five plays took the ball to the Spartan’s 48-yard line where Iacone took a handoff, broke through the left side of the line, turned to the left sideline, and then sprinted 48 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring. Three plays later, John Barnett recovered an Upper Merion fumble on the Spartan’s 25-yard line. Runs by Bobby Greim, Iacone and Howard Hopson took the ball to the 3-yard line where Iacone ran it in. 12-0 Radnor.
A second quarter muffed snap on a punt that ended up going through the endzone resulted in a safety and two points for Radnor. The ensuing Upper Merion punt was downed by Radnor on its 40-yard line. Six plays took the ball to Spartan 10-yard line where “Iacone burst through the right side of his line like a shot out of a cannon and didn’t stop until he hit pay dirt for his third six-pointer of the half.” Chester Times 11/6/1957. “Even when Iacone was hit at the line of scrimmage he managed to get that extra two yards with a particular hop and stretch that leaves no doubt who the runner is.” Main Line Times 11/7/1957.
Defensively, the Main Line Times called out Iacone and Craig Curley as “a mighty linebacker team,” as well as tackle Bill Geary, guard Sam Virgilio “who hits almost as hard as Iacone” and end Earl Blackwell.
“Erupting like warm beer in mid-July, Iacone raced for three touchdowns in the first half, one on a brilliant 48-yard scamper, and piled up 142 yards rushing in the first two periods as he sparked Warren Lentz’s Raiders from Wayne to a convincing 28-6 triumph over previously unbeaten Upper Merion . . . .” Chester Times 11/6/1957
While ahead 21-0 at the half, the Raiders suffered a potentially devastating injury when Paul Englebert was forced to leave the game with an injured hip. Craig Curley took over the quarterback duties and Radnor played the remainder of the game carefully. In the third, Upper Merion attempted a reverse on a punt return but the handoff was fumbled into the end zone where guard Bill Vogt alertly fell on the ball for a touchdown. Upper Merion scored in the fourth quarter but Radnor’s Bob Mueller blocked the extra point. 28-6 Radnor.
The Suburban reported that Joe Iacone was chosen football “back of the week” from the Philadelphia and suburban areas. He made his television debut on October 31ston a program called “High School Hi-lights,” where he met Gene Kelly, Jack Ryan and Charles Tamasco. Phoebe Snover, Radnor Highlights.
However, leave it to Ardmore’s Main Line Times to throw water on Radnor, noting “two things did show up against Upper Merion that might not bide well for the Raiders. First – The Radnor offense definitely fell off after Paul Englebert left the game in the second quarter with a hip injury. Second – Radnor showed no passing offense whatsoever against a weak Spartan secondary, though Lentz might have been withholding information from Springfield, Swarthmore and Lower Merion note takers who lined the sidelines.”
Radnor 40 Springfield 6
For one half against Springfield the Main Lime Times’ concern was prescient as Paul Englebert sat out the game and Radnor struggled to move the ball in its third game in eight days. In fact, Radnor would not throw a single pass the entire game.
“Again the Radnor line – Earl Blackwell and Tom Hunter at end, Bill Geary and John Barnett at tackle and Sam Virgilio and Bill Vogt at guard – proved that they can go both ways all afternoon and still do the job.” Main Line Times 11/14/1957
Radnor opened the scoring in the first quarter. Craig Curley, starting for the injured Englebert, made his mark early on defense, intercepting a Cougar’s pass at midfield and returning it to the 28-yard line. Six plays later, Iacone took the ball in from the one-yard line. However, Springfield had no intention to go quietly and drove the ball 80-yards for a touchdown. The point failed and it was 7-6 Radnor. Late in the second quarter Iacone went over for his second touchdown and a slim 13-6 lead at the half.
In the second half Radnor would revert to form after what one unnamed Radnor player described to the Main Line Times as “a little halftime pep talk by the coaches.” Radnor had the ball only four times in the second half, and scored touchdowns on each drive. Its first drive of the third period went 60 yards and Iacone ended it with a one yard touchdown run. The second drive traversed 80-yards with Craig Curley taking the ball in on a 31-yard run off a roll-out. Early in the fourth period Radnor drove 56 yards for another score with Craig Curley crossing the goal line from 10 yards out. Radnor scoring closed on a late 75-yard drive that found reserve John Hansberry slicing through Springfield for a 42-yard run and then scoring from the 1-yard line. Iacone finished with three touchdowns and 99 points on the season, maintaining possession of the Suburban scoring lead.
Warren Lentz, coach of the unbeaten Radnor team: “We’re still one year away from a good club.” Chester Times 11/13/1957
“But the ominous news for Radnor was Lower Merion’s 34-0 defeat of Cheltenham, indicating that the Aces have overcome their early-season troubles and will be in fine form for the last game in the traditional series.” The Suburban 11/15/1957
Radnor 46 Swarthmore 6
Finally enjoying a full week of rest, Radnor playing at home blasted the Garnet eleven to finish its Section II schedule undefeated. Again Paul Englebert sat out with an injured hip and again the Radnor offense started slowly. Center Dick Curley recovered a fumble on the Swarthmore 28-yard line early in the first quarter and five plays later Radnor had moved the ball to the 11-yard line where Bobby Greim took the ball in for the first score. Another Swarthmore fumble resulted in a 55-yard Radnor drive capped by an Iacone 27-yard touchdown. Radnor went into the half up 13-0.
“Joe Iacone, the county’s leading scorer, was held to one touchdown but while the Garnet defenders were watching the dangerous 170-pound fullback, his Radnor backfield mates were having a field day.” Chester Times 11/16/1957
One time Curley faked so well to Joe Iacone that “Bugles” Greim, the actual ball carries, streaked 20 yards for a score without being touched. Main Line Times 11/21/1957
The second half opened with a 70-yard Radnor drive that culminated in a Greim 24-yard touchdown dash for a 20-0 lead. Swarthmore then looked to be on the brink of scoring when a handoff by the Garnet quarterback was “picked out of his hand” by end Tom Hunter who then raced 83-yards for a spectacular score. Chester Times. After Radnor yielded a touchdown, it then scored three more times on a 44-yard touchdown run by Craig Curley, a 36-yard run by Harry Hopson and then a 50-yard touchdown pass from Curley to Hopson.
Radnor v. Lower Merion Pregame
“Both in ’54 and ’55, Coach Warren Lentz guided Radnor to a perfect record in eight games before being stopped by the Ardmore Aces. Lower Merion also was undefeated both years and won the finale by scores 33-7 and 27-6. This year, Lentz is hoping his luck will change. He hasn’t been associated with a winner against Lower Merion since he was a freshman at Radnor High in 1926.” Chester Times 11/21/1957
“The big factor in our success is the way the boys have molded as a team unit, squad morale and competitive spirit have been terrific. . . . We’re lucky to have a fellow like Iacone, he loves football and everything he does, he does hard. Sometimes I’m afraid he’s going to hurt himself, he plays so hard.” Warren Lentz, Chester Times 11/21/1957
The Main Line Times fired the first shot, creating a mythic super-computer called “Jumbo” that predicted: “Radnor High School’s proud Suburban League Section II football champions riding the crest of a nine-game winning streak, will take a cropper Saturday when they clash with the Lower Merion Aces on Arnold Field for the 1stand last time. The final score will be Lower Merion 27, Radnor 7.” Main Line Times 11/21/1957.
The Suburban hedged, reporting that observers called the Radnor team a “fantastically well coached club” which the paper rightly concluded was a “real tribute to coaches Warren Lentz and Ellis Dwyer, who have molded a formidable grid machine out of just 13 effective regulars.” However, the paper found “most interesting, for the future, is the fact that most of these boys are juniors, with another year to play. . . . The overall conclusion is that Radnor will face another uphill battle against the much heavier hordes of well-disciplined Lower Merionites, whose replacement depth may prove the deciding factor.” Suburban 11/22/1957. Hardly a ringing retort.
“We prepare for each team, week to week, as they come. Practically every team has outweighed us, as will Lower Merion. Knowing this, there are definite objectives that we attempt to attain. So far, our team has been rather successful in this accomplishment.” Warren Lentz, Suburban 11/22/1957
Thursday night before the game, the Wayne and Main Line Lions Clubs hosted the annual pre-game dinner that brought the Radnor and Lower Merion coaches together. Warren Lentz was awarded the “crying towel” for his consistent lament and downplaying of his team. The Suburban 11/29/1957.
“Friday afternoon there was a rally in the gym. Telegrams from ‘grads’ and well wishers were read and the team was cheered, and cheered, and cheered! Such tremendous spirit as prevailed is traditional at Radnor. Friday night, before the game, the ‘Has Beens’ or ‘Old Timers’ of Radnor got together at a dinner at the Conestoga Mill. The boys on the team who live in Bryn Mawr were brought to the Mill where the 112 men, the oldest a graduate of the class of 1898, cheered them. From there a procession of the above, plus cheerleader, two fire engines and three police cars went to the school, where they were joined by about 70 cars of Radnorites. They went to Hopson’s where the North Wayne boys had gathered and serenaded a wonderful season. Each member of the team spoke.” The Suburban 11/29/1957
“Wayne was a small Community. The merchants on Lancaster Ave. supported the School’s football team by decorating their retail store windows with “Beat Lower Merion” displays. This was a wonderful feeling knowing the majority of the community supported the team.” Bill Geary, Class of 1958
The Game – Radnor 12 Lower Merion 0
1957 Radnor v. Lower Merion Field Pass, Courtesy Alumni Association of RHS
If this was to be the final game, after sixty years and sixty games, Radnor made it count. Winless against the Aces since 1944, Radnor, believed by all but their most ardent supporters to be undermanned and undersized, showed the heart of a champion and delivered the victory so many in Wayne had been waiting for. Lower Merion was a powerful foe, having seen its 32-game winning streak ended by Norristown in the narrowest of margins -- 7-6. The only other blemish on its record was a 13-13 tie with mighty Lancaster.
Lentz played any advantage until the moment the game started, with quarterback Paul Englebert a game time decision having sat out the previous two games. The game was played in the cold on the Aces’ snow covered and muddy General Hap Arnold field. Depending who you asked, there were anywhere from 7,500 (Main Line Times) to 8,000 (The Suburban) to 12,000 (The Inquirer) fans on hand.
“The names of 15 Radnor High School players were engraved in immortality on snow soaked Arnold Field here Saturday. Although outweighed 20 pounds per man on the line, the Wayne Raiders outfought mighty Lower Merion in the snow, mud and cold for a 12-0 victory that completed the greatest season for Radnor since the school began playing the sport in 1897.” Chester Times 11/24/1957
The Raiders’ mettle was tested from the moment they took the field. Lower Merion kicked off to fullback Joe Iacone on the 15-yard line. Three plays later Radnor was stuck at the 23-yard line facing fourth down. Sam Virgilio dropped back to punt but the Lower Merion end John Raezer plowed through to block the punt that the Aces’ Bill Ponzer picked up and returned to the Radnor 25-yard line. Four Lower Merion plays went nowhere and Lower Merion quarterback John McMillan was chased into a hurried incompletion on fourth down.
Over 8,000 bone-chilled but blood-warmed spectators cheered themselves hoarse as a magnificently-coached, perfectly conditioned band of just 16 Radnorites overwhelmed the “thundering hoardes” of Lower Merion. Fritz Brennan’s vaunted Aces, always well-coached, just weren’t in the same class as Warren Lentz’s determined, capable Radnorites on this day.” The Suburban 11/29/1957.
Radnor took over on downs but was stymied in its own half in part due to a clipping penalty. Again, Radnor went to fourth down before attempting a punt. This time the snap was high and went through Virgilio’s hands. Lower Merion recovered on the Radnor 17-yard line. But the Radnor line once again stiffened. The Aces were pushed back to the Radnor 22-yard line on a “fine defensive play by Dick Curley, who tossed John Boothby for a loss and again on Englebert’s diving tackle of Popcorn Shippen.” Main Line Times 11/26/1957.
“In previous games, a break like this usually signaled the opening of floodgates for big Lower Merion scores. But that fiercely intense Radnor line blasted its way into the Lower Merion backfield, and the threat fizzled when John McMillan’s pass, on fourth down, was incomplete.” The Suburban 11/29/1957
On his next kick, Virgilio returned to form and became a weapon for the Raiders in a battle of field position. A thirty-five-yard punt got the Raiders out of trouble and two plays later Tom Hunter recovered a Lower Merion fumble on the Radnor 47-yard line. Virgilio punted again and pinned the Aces back on their 20-yard line. On the next exchange of punts, Radnor moved the ball to the Lower Merion 31-yard line on 14-yard run by Iacone and a 14-yard pass to Hunter. On fourth down from the 31, Englebert tried another pass to Hunter but the Aces’ Gus Dingle intercepted and ended the threat.
After Lower Merion’s McMillan, Stuart and Boothby combined for a first down, Radnor’s Bob Mueller recovered a fumble on the Lower Merion 37-yard line. Bobby Greim then ran the ball 14-yards while the Aces mistakenly tackled Iacone. Iacone then blasted through the line for 8 yards. After Englebert was stopped on two runs, he rolled out to the right and floated the ball to David King in the endzone for the first score with 40 seconds left in the half. Bill Davidson of Lower Merion blocked the extra point try, but Radnor went into halftime with a 6-0 lead. “Radnor’s fans went wild, as the Raiders led for the first time in uncounted years.” The Suburban 11/29/1957.
Lower Merion took the second half kickoff and began to drive the ball but stalled at the Radnor 37-yard line. The Aces’ Stuart then kicked a perfect angled punt that went out at the Radnor 5-yard line, pinning the Raiders. However, Virgilio rescued the Raiders with a 56-yard punt on third down that got Radnor out of trouble. John Barnett then threw Lower Merion’s McMillan for an 8-yard loss and Bill Vogt blocked Stuart’s next punt which Iacone recovered on the Lower Merion 44-yard line. The teams exchanged fumbles before Radnor began the back breaking drive.
Starting on the Lower Merion 44-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Iacone and Greim both pushed through for four-yard runs. Iacone then ran for 1-yard and Radnor was faced with a fourth and one on the Lower Merion 36-yard line. With the Aces’ defense drawn in to stop Iacone, the slick ball- handling Englebert “swung out to his left, got into the clear and then, after making sure of his footing, carried Radnor to victory with a 36-yard sideline scramble to pay dirt.” Main Line Times 11/26/1957. “Paul Englebert faked to Joe, rolled out to his left, picked up speed and romped all the way to the end zone.” The Suburban 11/29/1957. Minutes later, Lower Merion drove to the Raider 22-yard line where the Radnor defense again held and Virgilio punted Radnor out of trouble.
Radnor prevailed and Englebert won the Edward J. Yorke trophy as the game’s Most Valuable Player. “the win enabled Radnor to close its first perfect season since 1926 and to carry home the Gold Football trophy for the first time since it was put in competition in 1946 to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the game.” Main Line Times 11/26/1957. Mary Carter, principal of Radnor High School, sat on the Raider Bench with plastic hat and plastic boots, not moving much but watching everything.” Dery Bennett, “Sidelines”, Main Line Times
The Numbers: For the first time in 71 straight games (1949 against Ridley) Lower Merion was held scoreless. It was Radnor’s first undefeated season since 1926, Warren Lentz’s freshman season. Seven of the 15 (or 16) Radnor players played the entire 48 minutes, never coming off the field. Iacone gained 61 yards on 12 carries, outgaining the entire Lower Merion team. Lower Merion was held to 27 net yards rushing and 19 yards passing, completing only one of ten passes. Radnor rushed for 140 yards and had 17 more yards passing. Radnor fumbled the ball four times and Lower Merion five, but Lower Merion lost four while Radnor lost only one.
“The Raiders pushed Lower Merion all over muddy, slippery Arnold Field in snow and rain. But not a Radnor spectator left as they watched an unbelievably spirited Radnor eleven shake off two early bad breaks.” The Suburban 11/29/1957
From the Suburban: “YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN . . . the ear-to-ear grin of “Pre” as Radnor’s downfield tackles stopped Lower Merion’s punt returns. . . . Coaches Lentz and Dwyer giving encouragement to the players . . . . Radnor ‘Has-Beens’ Dave Carlisle, Tom Caspar and Joe Candelora whooping it up for our side. . . . the enthusiasm of the Radnor student body, from the opening gun to the final minute. . . . the rapidly emptying Lower Merion stands in the fourth period . . . . the startled look on the faces of Wayne merchants and shoppers as sirens blew, horns honked and the parade came marching through Wayne after the game.”
The Main Line Time Accepted responsibility for creating Radnor bulletin board material.
“According to reports, Radnor coaches got what they hoped for – a prediction that Lower Merion would romp. Then says this informed source. Lentz and Co. bought up 200 copies of the Times and fed them to the Radnor football team.” Main Line Times 11/26/1957
Postgame Celebration
After the game ended, the Radnor fans swarmed onto the sloppy field surrounding the players and escorting them to their buses. When the band and cheerleaders reached St. Davids they departed the buses and were led by Miss Carter and Miss Encke in a march back to the school where they cheered the team. “Fire sirens echoed through crowded streets as four bus loads of players and bandsmen churned into Wayne from Ardmore to march out the doors and into the hearts of fans starved for victories over the mighty Aces.” Main Line Times 11/26/1957. “The varsity mentor and his line coach, Ellis Dwyer, cheerfully submitted to a soaking under the shower, in clothing, at the hands of the victorious, happy players. ‘Best shower I ever had in my life,’ grinned Lentz.” The Suburban 11/29/1957.
“It must be said that this was a great team victory for Radnor, as the Red Raiders played like eleven players with but a single thought, eleven “men” who played as one. The esprit de corps of the team was remarkable, contagious and spread over the community. It must be said that the team spirit spread through the undergraduates and finally engulfed the townspeople until the whole community caught the spirit. And the night after the game they celebrated in fitting style.” Barney Fischer, The Suburban 11/29/1957
By 7:00, “people were seen coming from all corners of Wayne carrying wood, cartons, or anything that would burn. One person even arrived with a full-length, life-sized oil painting of Napoleon, which was placed at the summit of the bonfire over 30 feet in the air. A fire engine supervised as Bill Vogt lit the gas soaked wood. . . . Several members of the team made speeches, and the crowd joined hands and circled around the dying fire.” Phoebe Snover, “Radnor Highlights”, The Suburban 11/29/1957.
1957 Bonfire, Courtesy of Radnor High School Archive
“There was a bonfire after the game on Radnor’s football field fueled by the desk of Mary Carter Principal of the school. Mary made a promise at the rally on Friday, if the team won, she would donate her desk to the bonfire.” Bill Geary, Class of 1958
“Bonfires lit the sky, firecrackers enumerated every point and cheering lasted far into the night.” Main Line Times 11/26/1957. The Suburban reported that over 3,00 people joined in the celebration. The Radnorite staff
The Aftermath
“Ellis Dwyer is the victim of a ‘now it can be told’ story. Early in the year, he said that the Raiders would win Section Two. He didn’t go as far as saying that the LM game was in the bag but even an admission of Section Two supremacy at that time sounded a bit hopeful.” Dery Bennett, “Sidelines”, Main Line Times 11/26/1957.
Warren Lentz “had high praise for linebackers Craid Curley and Joe Iacone, who spent much of the afternoon in the Lower Merion backfield, upsetting plays and players. ‘it was Iacone and Curley who were responsible for those Lower Merion fumbles, Lentz said. He also pointed to the great defensive work of Pete Allen and Bob Mueller at halfback, who so completely bottled up the Aces’ outside running game that they were forced to try to go through the rock-ribbed Raider forward wall.” The Suburban 11/29/1957
“We worked awful hard for this one. I showed the team movies for the Swarthmore game, when our line didn’t look too hot. Then I let them see some pictures of the Conestoga game, when we looked our best. Then I told them that they’d have to hit that Conestoga game peak if they wanted to beat LM. We did and then some.” Warren Lentz to Dery Bennett.
Joe Iacone won the Delaware County individual scholastic scoring championship with 17 touchdowns and three extra points for 105 points overall. Radnor placed a number of players on the All-Main Line All Star Team with Sam Virgilio, Guard, Paul Englebert, Back and Joe Iacone, Back on the First Team; Bill Vogt, Guard on the Second Team; Earl Blackwell, End, Bill Geary Tackle and Craig Curley on the Third Team; and Bobby Greim and Howard Hopson Honorable Mention.
Joe Iacone and Sam Virgilio were placed on the All-Delco First Team; Bill Vogt, Dick Curley and Paul Englebert were Second Team; and Tom Hunter, Bill Geary, Bobby Greim and Craig Curley were Honorable Mention. During the “High School Hi-Lights” television program on Channel 12 Sam Virgilio was announced as a member of the 1957 Blue Cross-Blue Shield All-Scholastic football team. Virgilio was also named AP All-State District Honorable Mention. Virgilio was selected to the “All-Scholastic” football team First Team by the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Iacone was selected to the Second Team and Vogt, Dick Curley and Englebert were Honorable Mention.
Lentz would have the last word. When asked by the Suburban about prospects for the 1958 team, in typical Lentz fashion, “he cautioned: ‘Don’t be too high on us. We lose seven of those 16 who played against Lower Merion, including the whole left side of the line.” The Suburban 11/29/1957.
February 5, 1958 -- R-Star Testimonial Banquet
On February 5, 1958, the “Has Beens and other friends of Radnor High School hosted a banquet for the 1957 team. Below is the Program from the banquet
