Jack Woodward

Phoenix Opens League Play By Downing St. Mary’s 20–7

PHOENIX – Bruce Workman was the work horse for the Phoenix High Pirates here Friday night as the Buccaneers opened the Rogue League football season with a 20-7 victory over the St. Mary’s Crusaders.

Workman who had been converted from quarterback to wingback this week to give the Pirates more running power showed the coaches that they had made a wise decision. He rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries and scored all three Phoenix touchdowns.

Chuck Crane took over at quarterback spot and moved the club down the field consistently.

All three of the Pirates’ touchdowns came in the first half. The Crusaders didn’t score until late in the third period.

The Pirates’ ground defense was tough, forcing the Crusaders to go to the air. St. Mary’s moved well in the air with Dan Coats passing for 183 yards. But the Pirates picked off four of his passes.

PRETTY EVEN: Statisticwise the two clubs were pretty even with both clubs gaining 16 first downs. Phoenix had a total of 285 scrimmage yards compared to 245 for St. Mary’s.

The Pirates got most of their yardage on the ground rushing for 239 yards and passing for 46. The Crusaders were held to 62 rushing yards.

Making SM mistakes pay off was the important factor for the Pirates. Phoenix gridders controlled the first half action and in the first period St. Mary’s had only 11 plays from scrimmage.

The Crusaders twice lost the ball to Phoenix in the first quarter on fumbles. And in both instances the Pirates took the ball and marched for touchdowns.

The Pirates final touchdown came after Phoenix held St. Mary’s. The Crusaders punted and the Pirates began their third march.

UPPER HAND: St. Mary’s held the upper hand in the second half as the Pirates lost the ball four times on fumbles. But the Crusaders were only able to score once on the miscues.

St. Mary’s took the opening kickoff and began to march. Then after gaining 30 yards and two first downs the ball got knocked loose and Phoenix’s Crane came up with it on the Pirates’ 37-yard line.

The Pirates couldn’t be stopped as they drove for the goal line. They drove 63 yards in 14 plays with Workman taking it across the line from the two-yard marker with 3:53 minutes left in the quarter.

The Pirates kicked off again and on the next play from scrimmage Allan Chisum came up with a Crusader fumble on the St. Mary’s 41.

Minutes into the second period Workman rushed from the two-yard line for the Pirates second touchdown.

TAKE PUNT: The Pirates next took a punt on their own 36-yard line and rushed for a TD with Workman going the last yard with 1:28 showing on the clock.

St. Mary’s began to toss in desperation and with 11 seconds left in the first half were on the Pirates 14 yard line. Coats went back to pass. He was rushed and he let the ball go with Terry Phillips intercepting the ball near the goal line.

Bugaboos began to hit the Pirates in the second half. After they took the kickoff they moved out to the St. Mary’s 30-yard line only to have Mike Gorman come up with a fumble recovery for the Crusaders.

A 15-yard roughing the passer penalty brought the ball out to the 46. By hard work, some rushing and passing the Crusaders moved down to the Pirates’ eight.

Again there was a loose ball on the field and Phoenix’s John Graham recovered it. The Pirates didn’t hold onto the ball for long however as two plays later Martin Vakoc landed on a fumble for the Crusaders.

COATS PASSES: After two running plays pushed the ball to the seven, Coats tossed out to Carl Hillestad in the end zone for St. Mary’s touchdown.

The Pirates got the ball and started to drive toward the Crusaders’ goal line. Gary Pendergast snared a Pirate pass on the Crusaders’ 22-yard line to stop the march.

But St. Mary’s were unable to move as Coats was brought down twice for loss of yardage. Hillestad attempted to punt but the snap from center was bad and he attempted to run the ball out. He was tackled on St. Mary’s eight-yard line.

But on the Pirates’ next play there was another fumble and St. Mary’s Jeff Boiler was on the bottom of the stack.

St. Mary’s mounted an attack and rolled down to the Pirates’ 13 yard line. But once again Coats had a pass picked off with Phillips falling into the end zone.

The ball was brought out to the Pirates’ 20-yard marker. The Crusaders got it right back as Mahar fell on a fumble on the 25.

St. Mary’s gained four yards on a Coats-Hillestad pass. Then Phillips got his third interception of the evening on the Pirates’ nine.

Phillips kicked two extra points for Phoenix and Mahar booted one for St. Mary’s.

Phoenix Coach Jack Woodward was pleased with the line play on offense and mentioned the good work of Crane at quarterback. It was Crane’s first game at signal calling spot.

Assistant Coach Ron Baker named Terry Stringer, Joe Pescatore, Dave Ohman, Phillips, Mike Enright, Dennis Campbell, Bob Pete, Ray Ferns, Workman and Crane as tops on offense.

Baker reported that Graham, Jay Baker, Greg Hayes, Ferns and Chism were strong on defense.

St. Mary’s Coach Larry Walker remarked that the Crusaders passed more in this one game than they did all last year.

He felt that the Crusaders played a good game, but added that the loose ball on the first drive set them too far back. Walker reported that guard Jim Loffer injured his knee on the first defensive play and missed the entire game. Loffer is the Crusaders’ leading tackler.