The 1948 Tyrone football team will be honored at tonight’s Tyrone/Bellwood-Antis game at halftime.
Much has been said and written about the undefeated 1947 Golden Eagle squad which mowed down 11 straight opponents and have been given their dues.
The 1948 squad however, which matched the 1947 team victory for victory, returned just one starter. Indeed, it was a completely different team, with senior tailback Ken Noel the only real link to the ‘47 team.
Noel was named to Second Team All-State honors in 1948, leading the Orangemen in rushing with 857 yards , an average of 4.6 yards per carry, despit missing all of the Hollidaysburg game, getting just one carry against State College and missing portions of several other games due to injuries.
Noel also led the team in scoring with a dozen touchdowns and six PATs for a total of 78 points
Bob Lucas rushed 94 times for 351 yards and completed 18 of 39 passes for another 332 yards with five TD passes and two interceptions. Speedy Fred Hamor added 251 yards on 36 carries and was the leading receiver with eight catches for 208 yards and two TDs. Freshman Dick Hippensteel rushed for 248 yards on 66 carries and completed six of 20 pass attempts for 133 yards. Joe Scordo added 33 carries for 201 yards and John Romano contributed 18 carries for 95 yards.
G. E. Wilson grabbed six passes for 158 yards and three TDs, Scordo caught five for 81 yards and one score, Gene Hagg had four receptions for 38 yards and one TD and Noel (46 yards) and Lucas (22 yards) each had three catches.
Scordo was second to Noel in scoring with seven TDs had one PAT for 43 points, Hamor scored six TDs and one extra point for 37 points, Hippensteel had 22 points on three TDs and four PATs, G. E. Wilson scored three times and added ta pair of PATs for 20 points, Lucas scored 19 points on three scores and one extra point, Romano two scores for 12 points and Hagg scored nine points on one TD and three PATs.
Only Jersey Shore, Lock Haven ad Philipsburg was able to rush for more then 100 yards against the Eagle defense which allowed an average of 68.5 yards rushing. Through the air, Tyrone opponents averaged 77 yards per game, but paid for that total with 21 interceptions. The Orange and Black defense also recovered 14 fumbles.
In the days before champions were determined, Tyrone, Lewistown, Philipsburg and Lock Haven were all declared “Outstanding “ teams, although Tyrone defeated Lewistown13-0, Philipsburg 7-0 and Lock Haven 14-13 after trailing 13-0 in the fearly part of the first quarter.
Ken Noel and linemane George C. Wilson were named to the First Teal Central Counties squad with Noel the only unanimous choice.Gene Hagg, George E. Wilson, Howard Summers. John Peters, Tom Gill, Jim Funk and Bob Lucas were all selected on the Honorable Mentions list.
Funk was selected to the greatest honor a high school athlete can aspire to-First Team All-State on the Asscoiated Press All-State Team. Funk at 5-8, 145 pounds was the smallest player to be selected, but made for his lack of stature with his leadership and technique and ferocious play.
The 1948 Tyrone football team finished the year completing a 29-game win streak. Uniforms sported white helmets . black jerseys, trimmed in gold armbands and numerals, gold two-way stretchnylon pants with a black stripe, and black stockings.
Ron Elder, Jim Lannen, Don Miller and Grant Gault were the team managers and Bern Oberly completed 24 years as the team trainer, covering a span of 267 games for the Eagles.
