OTHER WINNERS: Our recent tales of the undefeated 1959 football
season for the Bradford High Owls has prompted stories of
yet-another undefeated team.
The headline in the Nov. 15, 1971, Era: “The Owls Finish
Perfect, 10-0.”
The caption under the front-page photo said this: “Smiling John
Durham, head coach of the undefeated and untied Bradford Area High
School Owls, is given the traditional victory ride by his players
Saturday following the defeat of the Olean High Huskies, 34-0 in
Bradner Stadium in Olean, N.Y.”
Under a headline on the sports page that read “Owls Trounce
Olean 34-0 in finale,” excerpts of the eight-column story by Paul
Whitaker are as follows:
“A group of super seniors, led by 180-pound senior halfback Tom
Mealy, completely annihilated the Olean High School Huskies
Saturday, 34-0, as Bradford Area High School finished their season
with a 10-0-0 record. It was the first undefeated-untied record
since 1948.
“For Coach John Durham, it was like a dream come true, as in the
past seven seasons of the Owls’ head coach, his best showing was a
6-3-1 record posted last season.
“…a throng of people estimated at over 4,000 swarmed Bradner
Field in jubilant celebration.
” …as for Mealy, who gained over 200 yards for the fourth time
this season and well over the 1,500 yard mark for the year, the
performance was just another of the many fine ones he has come up
with during the season. Aside from running for 203 yards on 27
carries, he also scored four touchdowns and intercepted two passes
for 97 yards, each setting up a Bradford score.
“Mealy, however, was by far not the only hero as a long list of
seniors and juniors helped in the biggest game of the season. The
offensive line, which does not have a single junior in the starting
group, consists of Andy Zetts, Joe Mealy, Jon Ekas, Joe Pantuso,
Gary Morris, Bill Cline and Jerry Spindler … Also instrumental in
the victory were fullback Bill Bathrick, tailback Bob Moore and the
team’s general quarterback Mike Yaros. Bathrick scored the team’s
only other touchdown as after a Mealy interception, he carried five
consecutive times for the score.
“…the starting defense had been outstanding, led by Jack
Bottorf, Joe Mealy, Mark Medden, Bill Cline, Gary Morris, Bill
Bathrick, Andy Zetts, Tom Mealy and Bob Moore, seniors, Jimmy
Morris and Pete DePalma, juniors.”
More tomorrow.
