The 1948 Football Team

(From the 1948 Arete) The Aquinas football season of 1948 furnished Rochester with the most spectacular brand of football that Rochester sports fans could ever hope to see. It produced a season of seven victories and one tie.

Head Coach of Aquinas, Harry Wright, first exhibited his team on a bright clear Sunday afternoon. This afternoon had to be bright and clear to enable the fans to see his fast backs spurt up and down the field all afternoon as they vanquished Xavier High of New York City by the score of 47-0. Charley Hilbert's 50 and 20 yard dashes for touchdowns were the game highlights.

The second game for the Irish was an even more decisive victory than the 29-6 score indicated. Weber High of Chicago was able to amass only 42 yards versus the tremendous total accumulated by the Aquinas backs. Jimmy Ging and associates had an excellent day running up 307 yards from scrimmage. Vince DeGasperi jumped into the scoring column by crashing through the Weber line to pull down Dick Oscar in the end zone for a two point safety.

Aquinas qualified for any possible "Mud Bowl" game with their brilliant playing against Bishop Byrne High School from Port Arthur, Texas. The Little Irish, led by Chuckin Charley Maloy, playing the best game of his career, were at their very best as they stupefied the Texans 38-6. Quarterback Maloy tossed three touchdowns passes, completed seven out of eight and personally crossed the goal line on a quarterback sneak.

The following week against Aquinas's traditional rival, Catholic Central of Detroit, led by Jimmy Ging's magnificent performance, the Aquinas boys again came out the victors 33-0. Fullback Ging scored three touchdowns with Della Vella and Barbera having a field day.

Although Aquinas completely outplayed their next opponent, Marianapolis, Connecticut prep-school co-champions, it was the Golden Knights who supplied the most thrilling game of the entire season. With the score 14-12 the Connecticut team attempted a fake field goal which was detected by Aquinas just as the game ended.

The Aquinas team repulsed the second invasion from Texas by turning back St Thomas High of Houston 22-6. Plunging Al Catalano and shifty Charley Hilbert had to turn in their best performances to offset the splendid work of the visiting quarterback.

The second last opposition of the year was Mt Carmel High from Chicago. This game also ended up on the right side of the win-lose ledger for Aquinas. The Aquinas line operated to perfection against the visitors, and the 33-13 score could have been larger if Coach Wright had so desired.

The final game of the season was the meeting of Aquinas with St Benedict's Prep of New Jersey on Thanksgiving. This game was without a doubt one of the hardest fought of the year. In an early part of the game Aquinas scored for 7 points and was forced to fight desperately to hold their lead. But in the concluding minutes of the game St Benedict tallied a touchdown to tie the game. Roddy Power's gains will never be forgotten by the Rochester football fans.

In summation it comes out like this: an exceptional coaching staff in addition to some fine boys with a burning desire to play football-the result had to be the best team ever to represent Aquinas.