Hi, I played for the 1959 senior Lynvets and then for the Garity Knight from 60 through 63. One of the games that still lives with me is the 63 game with the Lynvets at St Raphals. They had a great team, they were undefeated and we were undefeated and it was the end of the regular season. It was a beautiful day for football. There was one play that still geves me goose bumps when I recall it.
I played defense and our team had the ball at midfield. I looked up and saw Jimmy Gant (#1) our quarterback rollout behing blockers to the farisde of the field. THe Lynvet defense which was ferocious that day moved to the same farside to close him down. All of a sudden, Jim crossed the line of scrimmage and cut back to the center of the field. He seemed to be the only one moving – all the lynvets were caught flatfooted and Jimmy only had one man to beat – the defensive halfback on the nearside. Jimmy headed straight towards him, frezzing his position and setting up the block by Decatur Rogers our wide split end. Decatur cut the halfback down and Jimmy went the remaing 40 or 50 yards untouched. Decatur was called for clipping ( I dont think he did – but there are no films. Are there? We have been looking for the holy grail films since then. The Lynvets filmed all their games).

Jimmy, who passed on last year, was the only offensive player to cross the goal line that day. We finally won on another spectacular play when Little Vinny Mazzili (#17) intercepted a pass in the center of the field and ran up the middle and down our right side 50 or 60 yards.

These were moments that are riveted in my memory and they are made more special by the caliber of the opponents against which we played. The Lynvets had some of the best players to play in that league in Mike DeAmato, John Mulivihil, Teddy Horishack, Richie Sardilo, I forget the centers name but he was real good also. They had a thundering back in Doug Berry and so on. (sorry if I’ve spelled someone’s name wrong ). If you played in the league in 63 you knew who the people I named were.
You also would know of the people who played with Garity, Jimmy was the league MVP, little Vinny was the Leagues outstanding back, Literally everyone on our offensive line was on the allstar team – Herman Drier(#69) and Gerry Meditz(#68) at Guard, Bob Kletcher(#75), who passed away a few years ago, and the eqally talented John Trezel(#77) at tackles. Bob Werkmeister(#55) at center. It was great team that had the opportunity to be tested by an almost equally great team. Bob Hague, the league president said that the 63 game was the best he ever saw played in Pop Warner football. (I don’t know about best or rating across eras or years thats not what I want to claim – only I do know that when I do think of it – I still replay parts of it in my mind occassionally and it seems almost to good to have been true).
I would love to hear from anyone who took part in that game.

Regards from Roger Smith #54