The Key West Citizen Newspaper, October 16, 1954, Page 12

: | Conchs Nip Cates Stars AsKey West UpsGold Coast Leadership By JIM COBB Sports Editor The Key West Conchs racked up their fourth straight victory of the season last night in one of the most bruising football contests played here in recent years when they | Curley In Bruising Battle, 6-0 Upsets Seen On Nation’s Gridirons Today By AP Sooner Win ~ | Page 12 THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Saturday, October .16, 1954 eked outa hardfought 6-0 decision over a bunch of tough Irishmen from Archbishop Curley high school, of Miami. THE YARDSTICK YARDS GAINED RUSHING Key West Curley 194 YARDS GAINED PASSING FIRST DOWNS PASSES ATTEMPTED PASSES COMPLETED PASSES INTERCEPTED FUMBLES 17 OWN FUMBLES RECOVERED PENALTIES Curley, like every other team the Conchs have left on their schedule, was “up” for the contest and out to win. They played far better ball than their record had led fans to expect. Upwards of 5,000 fans braved a thrusts on the part of th: Knights preserve their unbeaten record. a game packed with more dra- than a Hollywood production, marked by hardhitting line play, vicious tackling and inspired offen- sive work. Tt was straight football for the Conchs while the Curleymen took advantage of a well polished pass- ing attack to threaten to pin a de- feat on the Key Westers. « The margin of victory for the Conchs was a burly fullback, ‘Mike Cates. Carrying the ball on 32 0c- casions with an average of 4.1 yards per try, Cates constantly be- fuddled the Knight defenders with his hard-driving tactics. It seemed unbelievable that a lad his size could take the punishment he did and come back for more. He was a ball of fire, through the middle, off tackle and through the middle again. Cates was given assists by com- petent line work and blocking from his backfield mates. Bill Haney and Red Stickeny also contributed to the Conchs offensive game last night and they have bruises to prove it. And at least every member of the Conchs first and second string lines contributed at least one de- fensive gem in last night’s victory. Boys like John Carbonell, Julio Henriquez, Wayne Brantley, Ralph Garcia, Gene Favors, Ken Bazo and Johnny DeMerritt consistently racked up the Curley offense and sent them back to Miami a chas- tised bunch of football players. And the Conchs second line of de- fense shone last night. Joe Russo, for example, played the finest line- backing game of his career. Stuart Yates played a strong defensive game, as well. The Conchs had to.do it the hard way when it became clear early in the opening period that Curley had developed an airtight pass defense, Bill Haney, a surprise starter after a shoulder injury this week, flipped a series of passes that Cur. ley coped with easily. Key West had received the kick- off and moved the ball down to the 19. A bullet pass to Favors was bobbled on the goal line to prevent an early Key West score. Curley took over on downs on their own 19. They could go no- where and after Carbonell, Brant- ley and Garcia had tossed quar- terback Fran Curci on the 15, they elected to punt on third down, Dou- cette sent a beauty all the way down to thé Key West 25. The Conchs started another drive which Sot down to the Curley 35 yard line where they lost the ball on downs. Ralph Garcia, set the stage for the only score of the evening when he recovered a fumble on the Cur- Tey 47. Joe Russo had hit Curley’s halfback Bob Dewhurst so hard that the ball had slithered from his grasp. Stickney drove down to the Cur-| ley 42 as the first quarter ended, It took the Conchs, with Stick- ney and Cates carrying the mail, 11 plays to hit pay dirt. A crucial first down picked up by Cates on the eight was the key play in the drive. Stickney then went off tackle to the three yard line and Cates drove through the middle to the one yard marker. He went through center and into the end zone standing up on the next play. The try for the extra point pro- duced a situation which will be dis- cussed by Key West sport fans for @ long time. As Hany back to kick, and the ball was snapped, Curley's Jim Enrico was off-sides by at least three yards. Everybody in the ballpark saw it — except the officials. The kick, naturally, was blocked. The crowd was stunned when the Officials signalled the players to line up for the kickoff. Coach Ed Beckman blew his, stack. The ballplayers blew their stacks. The fans blew their stacks. But the officials remained unmov- ed. Curley received the kickoff and two «lays later nearly tied up the score when Dewhurst went 51 yards down to the Key West 12 yard line. Dewhurst had cut around | left end and broke into the clear, outdistancing the Conch secondary. He took off goalward with Key West’s Gene Favors in hot pursuit. It looked like a ‘sure score. But, for some unexplained reason, he slowed down and cut to his left on the 15 yard line. marker, allowing Favors to hit him down. Curley’s Pat Gerrits chose this time to toss a clip on another Conch defender and the Knights were assessed a 15 yard penalty back to the 27, a development which may have cost them a score, since they picked up 19 yards on their next three plays. They drove all the way down to the Conch seven yard line before Julio Henriquez hit Dewhurst be- hind the line of scrimmage to give the Conchs the ball on downs. The Conchs threatened again in the third and fourth periods, but could not muster a real seoring punch, ‘ In the fourth quarter, as the clock ran out, Curley took over when Stickney, although injured, punted all the way from his own 28 down to the Curley 30. Johnny DeMerritt racked Dew- hurst, the receiver, with a vicious tackle on the 48. There were just 50 seconds to go in the. ballgame. With Fran Curci throwing, the Knights started a desperate battle against time. He hit with just one pass to end Dick Bates on the 50 as the Conch defense tightened. Key West took over on downs with just 11 seconds to go and Ca- tes ran the clock out. GRIDIRON GLEANINGS: Curley Coach Ray Dunn, a bitterly dis- appointed man, said it was Key West's single wing that won the game. “It took us the entire first half to get used to it,” he said... “We earned this one,” comment- ed Coach Ed Beckman. . .One thing was sure last night — there were two extremely well-coached teams on the field. . .The head linesman’s explanation of why he missed the Curley offsides on the extra point try: “I didn’t see it — I was watching the kicker.”. . . Fine conditioning paid off for both teams, There were few injured de- spite the fact that they were hit- ting harder than ever before on a local gridiron. -Bill Haney’s shoulder injury may keep him out of next week’s Constance clash. Playing his fourth year of football Haney has been plagued since he started by his “trick” shoulder. . . Discounting a lot of bruises, the Conchs are in good shape. . It was a big night for Red Stickney. Reason: It was his birthday, he KNIGHT CLOBBERED ~ Key West’s John DeMerritt (16), teams up with an unidentified Conch de- fender to bring Curley’s Bob Dewhurst to earth in third quarter action in last night's tilt. Other Conchs on hand to lend assistance are Red Stickney, (30), Wayne Brantley, Gene Favors, and Stuart Yates.— Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. HIS RUNNING BEAT CURLEY — Hard-charging Mike Cates goes off tackle for six yards in last night’s Key West-Curley battle. Ci ing the way for him are blocking back George Reese and burly Julio Henriquez. Key West won, 6-0.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. Philadelphia Athletics’ Deal Still Up In Air By TOM BRADSHAW City, plus a share of stock in the PHILADELPHIA (#—The Phila- delphia. Athletics’ franchise today was in the position of a 54-year- old tree that had been buffeted by a major league hurricane—totter- ing before a gale out of Kansas City but ndt quite fully uprooted. Roy Mack, executive vice presi- dent of the Athletics and “tree surgeon deluxe’’ in the drama, was biding the few hours left to make up his mind whether he was pre- pared to sell out to Arnold John- son, Chicago financier who wants to move the franchise to Kansas City, a move already approved by a meeting of American League owners. Maek’s alternative was to pro- dace a financial shot in the arm, a cure that became more than a vague possibility yesterday when a band of 10 “last minute” pledged sufficient cash to keep the club in Philadelphia. Roy took the pledge under ad- visement and retired to his cham- bers to deliberate over the week- ‘end, with his brother, Earle, and their father, Connie Mack Sr.—the other major factors in any deal— reportedly standing by for sudden action. All. of which left Johnson and ‘Will Harridge, American League president—among others— slightly bothered and bewildered. Roy Promised Job Johnson last night issued a “statement of position.”” Johnson said he was still under the impres- sion he was on the inside track to buy the Philadelphia American League franchise and had the cash ready whenever Roy Mack made men | club, and a job for Roy’s son, Con- nie Mack III. Harridge wasn’t talking beyond! his statement of 24 hours earlier that the league had approved the sale to Johnson and transfer to Kansas City. The league, said Har- ridge was just sitting and waiting. But admittedly it went a little deeper into the Mack clan than just Roy’s mind. The big hitch seemed to be the question of whether Roy could obtain from the 10 Philadelphia businessmen a promise to match Johnson’s five- year plan. Football Results By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Miami 27 Mississippi State 13 Tampa 64 Stetson 9 HIGH SCHOOL | Beach 6 | Key West 6 Archbishop Curley 0 Jacksonville Landon 26 St. Peters- burg 7 Chiefland 6 Mayo 0 Bunnell 39 Crescent City 0 Hastings 12 St. Augustine Deaf & Blind 6 Alachua 26 Newberry 13 Camden County 39 Pierson 0 Jasper 47 Trenton 13 | Clay County 18 Macclenny 0 | Jacksonville - Beach Fletcher | Jacksonville Bolles 13 | High Springs 28 Lake Butler 27 St. Augustine Ketterlinus 7 Jack- sonville duPont 0 | Branford 13 Reddick 0 33 | Tampa Hillsborough 21 West Palm | Gainesville 20 Fernandina Beach 19, Ray Robinson “Has The Urge” | By MURRAY ROSE | NEW YORK (®—Sugar Ray Rob- |inson, one of the greatest boxers | of all time, says he has the to make a comeback, “Tt all depends on how I look! |in training,” said Robinson who |retired 22 months ago as unde- feated world middleweight cham- pion. “I feel good—I don’t think I ever felt any better,” said Ray at a press conference at his Harlem | bar and grill Friday, “I would like to become the first retired cham- pion ever to regain a title, and I champion Bobo Olson if my train- ing works out well. | “But if I can’t regain the con | dition that I was once so proud of | then I’ll give the idea up.” Robinson, who says he is 32 al- though the record books list him as 34, apparently has forgotten the | statement he. issued when he gave up his middleweight crown 22 | months ago. “I find I can’t move in the ring | accuracy,” said Robinson then. “urge” to fight again and hopes | | breakaway tunnings of Junior Pox- Predicted, Trish Favored By ED CORRIGAN The Associated Press The top college football teams in the country stepped on the fields today wondering who would be the next victim of the strange wave of reversals that have struck all season. Oklahoma, the heir-apparent to Maryland’s mythical national crown, faced what appeared to be an easy assignment in Kansas, The Jayhawks haven’t won a game in four starts and are not even think- ing in terms of whipping the Soon- ers who have ground out three straight victories without a defeat. All they hope to do is make it interesting. Notre Dame and Michigan State, two teams trying to regain lost prestige, Met in South Bend with the Irish favored. Notre Dame was rated the No. 1 team in the na- tion in the pre-season Associated Press poll, but its one defeat by Purdue dropped it far down the list. The Spartans, too, were regard- ed before the season started as possible repeat winners of the Big Ten, but they lost to Iowa and Wisconsin before defeating Indi- ana. So the game looms as one | had its 26-victory streak snapped, ! between a couple of fallen giants. Tragic Overtones The NCAA’s national television game of the week starting at 4:15 P.m., EST, over ABC pitted South- ern California against Oregon. There were tragic overtones to this game. Two days ago Jack Patera of Oregon accidentally shot and killed Ken Sweitzer, a standout guard on last year’s team, while hunting deer. Of all the big boys, UCLA faced the most perilous chore. The Uc- lans met Stanford and while they were favored, Standord has a strong club that would provide an uncomfortable afternon for the third - ranked team in the country. At any rate, UCLA is not eligible for ®e Rose Bowl, having played there last Jan. 1. The Big Ten has perhaps. the strongest league this year and it could be that the race will go right down to the final Saturda’ of the seaon before being decided, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minne- sota all are unbeaten and united white Purdue has only a tie against it and that against Duke a non- conference foe. Wisconsin played Purdue today. Ohio State went against Iowa and Minnesota tack- led Mlinois. Tough Task For Duke Duke faced a difficult assign- ment against Army, while Navy journeyed to Pitt. Two of the East's | unbeatens, Penn State and West Virginia, met and Maryland, twice beaten after winning the national title last year, entertained North Carolina. : Last night, Detroit defeated Vil- lanova 20 - 0 with Lee Riley scoring two touchdowns on long punt re- turns, Miami, Fla, broke out in the second period to top Mississippi State 27 - 13 and Chattanooga edg- ed North Texas State 20 - 19 on the zini. And little Peru, Neb, Teachers 27 - 20, by Kearney Teachers, This | was the longest winning skein in the country, dating back to 1951. Other major games today; SOUTH The Citadel at Furman, Vander- bilt at Georgia, Texas Tech at Lou- isiana State, ‘Virginia Tech at Rich- | mond, VMI at Virginia, Florida State at North Carolina State, Tu- lane at Mississippi, Tennessee at Alabama, Auburn at Georgia Tech, Kentucky at Florida, East George Washington at Penn, Sy- racuse at Boston U., Colgate at Dartmouth, Marquette at Holy Cross, William and Mary at Rut- gers, Princeton at Brown, Colum- bia at Harvard, Cornell at Yale, Boston College at Fordham. West Hardin - Simmons at Cincinnati, Indiana at Missouri, Michigan at SURONG ARM BRAND COFFERS Triumph Coffee Mill at ALL GROCERS Your Grecer SELLS That Good STAR * BRAND ad copay COFFEE and CUBAN TRY A POUND. TODAY — Northwestern, Oregon state at Ne- braska. . Southwest Washington at Baylor, Houston at Oklahoma A and M, Arkansas at Texas, TCU at Texas A and M, SMU at Rice. Far West Idaho at Arizona, College of the Pacific at Colorado A and M, Dem ver at Utah, New Mexico at Wyo- ming, Utah State at Montana. MIAMI POLICE VISIT IN CUBA HAVANA W—A Miami Beach delegation headed by police Chief Romeo Shepard arrived here last night for a ceremony at the head- quarters of Brig. Gen. Salas Cank zares, chief of the Cuban National Police. DOUBLE A ALLEYS - 61i Front St. Tel. 2-8455 President of the Woman's International Bowling Congress, Inc. will be in Miami from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20 for a five- day program of activity in connection with the Woman’s International Bowling Congress Tourna- ment to be held in Miami in 1956. ON OCT. 21 SHE’LL BEGIN A TOUR OF OTHER FLORIDA CITIES TO SUPERVISE THE GROUND- WORK OF PLANS FOR THE TOURNAMENT hope to get a shot at middleweight | with the same speed, dispatch and | “Now the coordination isn’t there | .. I don’t want to wait someone tell me I’m any more ‘to have through.” | Robinson, whose last fight was B 14th-round TKO loss to ligit | heavyweight champion Joe Maxim got an A in chemistry and his girl] up his mind. In fact said Johnson, | was here from Miami. . .Key West | he had promised Roy a five-year inked a four year pact with Mia-| contract for a front-office job with mi High School yesterday. They’il| the transplanted A’s at Kansas Tampa Plant 40 St. Petersburg |" June 25, 1952, said he would Northeast 0 | go to his training camp at Green- | Fort Meade 25 Arcadia 0 | wood Lake Monday and take things | Lake Wales 14 Wauchula Hardee 12|€#5¥ for a month before he really Mulberry 20 Sebring 12 began to train. make their first start here next Noy. 5. All of the four games wiil be played in Key West. . .When Coach Ed Beckman rushed out on the field to protest the officials’ de- cision on the controversial extra tum almost carried him. into the bleachers in the end zone. . .Quar- terback members who don’t attend Monday night’s dinner meeting will be missing a good thing. The Live Oak 26 Bradenton Manatee 0! |Paseo 51 Zephyrhills 18 | Auburndale 47 Frostproof 6 Brooksville 19 Webster 13 | Wimauma 21 St. Leo 0 eer: River 13 Punta Gorda 6 point, it marked the first time | movies of last night’s tilt will be | Lyman 12 Groveland 6 we've seen Edward so worked up|shown and a fine dinner served. | Bartow 14 Plant City 6 in three hears here. . -Mike Cates | Reservations for the dinner, slat-| Lakeland 18 Orlando Boone 13 lard 7 Clewiston 25 Pompano Beach 7 | Tarpon Springs 12 Largo 2 | Clearwater 34 St. Petersburg Boca Ceiga 14 Bushnell 24 Gulf High 6 | Central Catholic 28 Moore Haven 12 } Vero Beach 12 Cocoa Belle Glade 18 Stuart 6 has a full head of steam worked | ed for 7:15 p, m. in the high school | Winter Haven 28 Haines City 0 Venice 6 Okeechobee 0 up when he scored the only touch-| cafeteria, may be had by phoning | Wildwood 24 Inyerness 7 plied Grogpead 'dowa o fthe evening. His momen-} Keller Watson at 2.56q 48 Fort Lauderdale Dil- Coral Gables 30 Fort Lauderdale 13 j Pahokee 28 Seacrest 6 Candies and such