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Legendary coach Sol Wolfe brought 1920's scholastic football on the
West Branch of the Susquehanna to a brilliant high. His great Lock
Haven teams of 1924 and 1925 were followed by two marvelous elevens
at Williamsport in 1929 and 1930. Known then as the Wolverines but
wearing the traditional Cherry and White, Williamsport under Wolfe
became a dominant force on Pennsylvania's gridirons.
The 1929 team fought its way through an 11 game schedule, opening
with three easy wins over lesser opponents, then taking on some of
the best from around the state. Harrisburg William Penn, the
defending East-West champion and formidable and ambitious every
year, was beaten 13-0. Wolfe's former team, Lock Haven was mastered
26-12. Unbeaten Altoona went down 6-0 and a Coal Region power,
Shenandoah, was dismissed by the same score.
At Altoona, before huge crowd of 20,000, with the game scoreless
into the fourth quarter, Walter Switzer returned a punt 66 yards
behind great interference, reaching the three. Bob Sassaman scored
on the second play.
Altoona later ran a Billtown punt back to the Williamsport six where
Switzer made a saving tackle. Altoona was driven back, finally
fumbling on fourth down at the 25.
The Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League was
established in 1921 and divided into Eastern and Western sectors in
the years between the World Wars. Games billed to be for the "state"
championship were held between the teams rated highest in the East
and West. The contests were played on alternate home fields of the
competing schools. The Northwest, WPIAL, Pittsburgh, South Penn,
Suburban Philadelphia, and Philadelphia schools were not involved.
When the 1929 campaign had ended, perfect record Williamsport was
declared champion of the Eastern Conference, and Altoona, although
previously defeated by the Wolverines, was named to face
Williamsport for the overall title. The game was played at Altoona's
Cricket Field, a Pennsylvania Railroad facility. This time, 12,000
saw a bitter battle end in a muddy scoreless tie.
Walter Switzer, Williamsport's 150 pound quarterback, was a
phenomenal player in 1929, outstanding on both sides of the ball.
Mike Lorenz at end captained the team.
The Wolverines may have been even better in 1930. After four early
games in which the opposition was outscored by 231-0, Williamsport
beat another tough William Penn club 6-0. A scoreless tie with
Lancaster slowed the parade momentarily, but the Wolverines quickly
got back in gear and disposed of Steelton, Altoona, Shenandoah and
Sunbury.
The Shenandoah Blue Devils ambitiously touted their game with
Williamsport as between the Eastern Conference champion Wolverines
and Coal Region champion Blue Devils, though neither squad had
completed its season. That Saturday at Shenandoah's Glover Field,
Williamsport cruised to an impressive 33-0 victory. On the first
play from scrimmage, perfect blocking enabled Truman Painton,
the"Blonde Blizzard" to race 69 yards for the first score.
The 1930 East-West game with Johnstown was played at Williamsport's
Third Street Field. Johnstown had beaten Altoona and was led by the
140 pound terror Steve Terebus.
In the rain and mud, the Johnnies led 7-6 at the half. Terebus, fast
and elusive on the slippery gridiron, ran for the lead TD. As the
second half began, Captain Sassaman ran 80 yards on a reverse. He
straight-armed Terebus and guard Kenny Blee wiped out two defenders.
The Wolverines later took an intentional safety to narrow the score
to 12-9, but Sassaman came on to total 127 yards on 20 carries,
while Painton had 112 on only eleven. Sassaman scored three
touchdowns and Lafayette Lockwood the fourth. The final score was
24-9.
Johnstown's nine in the title game were the only points given up by
Williamsport that season.
Backs Sassaman and Truman Painton were the touchdown twins for
Williamsport. Sassaman's 178 points, including 28 touchdowns, led
the 1930 champions. Painton ran for 1500 yards and 133 points.
Coach Sol Wolfe coached just five seasons at Williamsport - his
record a startling 52 victories, just three losses, and three ties.
He moved to Williamsport in 1926 after building Lock Haven into a
Pennsylvania powerhouse. His 1927 Williamsport team was also 11-0,
but did not play for the "state" title, as Mt. Carmel, although
beaten by Johnstown, played Bellefonte. 1927 Captain Roy Engle
became captain of the 1933 Penn Quakers. Wolfe's teams had size and
strength, but also employed cunning and deception.
Wolfe had to step down as the Wolverine mentor after the 1930 season
because of a new rule requiring that coaches be faculty members.
He later was widely known as a football broadcaster.
Another rule, implemented in 1930, required that the age of all
players be confirmed with birth certificates. |
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The 1929 Wolverine starters included:
E 73 Mike LORENZ 165
T 74 Jack FOX 175
G 72 Kenny BLEE 160
C 83 Ralph MITSTIFER 180
G 79 Bob DENSE 155
T 84 Carl RAY 190
E 78 Bill GRIMBERG 165
B 67 Walter SWITZER 150
B 69 Johnny SHULTZ 145
B 82 George SWARTZ 145
B 66 Bob SASSAMAN 160
Other key players were Truman PAINTON, Johnny WEAVER, and Laurence
DAVID.
The starting lineup of the1930 state champions:
E 21 Charles BECK
T 32 John CLINGER
G 30 Kenny BLEE
C 34 Ralph MITSTIFER
G 16 Sam METZGER
T 31 Laurence DAVID
E 28 Zeke BROWN
B 22 Bob SASSAMAN
B 12 Truman PAINTON
B 27 George SWARTZ
B 25 Johnny WEAVER
Top reserves included 11 Raymond SEIWELL, 13 Lafayette LOCKWOOD, 29
Davey SLOAN, 18 Frank PHILLIPS, 23 Dick SHOOTER, and 26 Jack SARGENT.
Williamsport's two great season records:
1929
55 CANTON 9
41 NORTHUMBERLAND 0
40 MILTON 0
13 HARRISBURG WILLIAM PENN 0
20 JERSEY SHORE 6
26 LOCK HAVEN 12
20 LANCASTER 7
26 STEELTON 14
6 ALTOONA 0
6 SHENANDOAH 0
13 SUNBURY 0
CENTRAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
0 ALTOONA 0
1930
33 CANTON 0
53 NORTHUMBERLAND 0
58 MUNCY 0
85 RENOVO 0
6 HARRISBURG WILLIAM PENN 0
33 JERSEY SHORE 0
64 LOCK HAVEN 0
0 LANCASTER 0
33 STEELTON 0
13 ALTOONA 0
33 SHENANDOAH 0
41 SUNBURY 0
CENTRAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
24 JOHNSTOWN 9
In 1930, both Allentown and Harrisburg John Harris had perfect
records, but tied for second in the Eastern conference ratings.
Consider the playoff implications under today's format. Upset at
Williamsport's top rating, these schools and others threatened to
form a new conference called the Big Ten, but nothing materialized.
In 1938, the Big 15 began play but similar rating problems arose. |
