Under a pelting and soaking rain, Tamaqua High lost the biggest game of the year Saturday by a score of 39-0.

The best team won. Coaldale was that team. Both teams played in the water-drenched field. Coaldale High easily adapted itself to the totally unsuitable playing conditions resulting therefrom. Both played football, that is, the kind of football which can be played on a slippery and soggy field. Coaldale got the treat Tamaqua supplied them, which they never would have done on a dry field (and that's no excuse for their defeat.) But, after all, that is the game.

The beginning was inauspicious. Receiving, Tamaqua fumbled on its own ten yard line. On an end run — out of many — Coaldale scored its first of six touchdowns. It galled but never discouraged the T.H.S. gladiators of the gridiron who struggled with renewed determination and vigor. But it was a losing fight. But never did the Blue and White surrender that spirit of honor which she inherited from the teams which have gone before.

That was vividly demonstrated in the second quarter of the first half when Coaldale failed in four attempts to pierce the fighting line which held them a half-yard from a touchdown.

Tamaqua line charges upon which the coaches have relied to win the game were futile—not because of Coaldale, but because of mud—soft, slippery and slimy mud. Having a lighter backfield and rarely using the line attack, Coaldale was less handicapped by this greatest of handicaps to the football player—mud. Coaldale used the forward pass only once and that failed.

Cheering Helped Visitors.

Not the least in Coaldale’s victory was the cheering. Cheer after cheer rent the ait and stirred the Coaldale youths to nobler efforts. The entire Coaldale school board was present.

The bacon was distributed among the Coaldale backfield as follows, who shared it with their team- and school-mates: Evans, 3 touchdowns; Sneddon, 2 and a safety; Kalen, 1 and a dropkick from touchdown, making a grand total of 39.

Tamaqua was handed the empty platter.

Shenandoah High School’s claim to any regional honors were smashed yesterday morning when Coaldale emerged the victor in their annual game on the Coaldale field by the narrow margin of one point, the final score reading Coaldale 7, Shenandoah 6. The boys from down the valley outplayed their opponents and should have won by at least three touchdowns. Evans scored Coaldale’s touchdown after a straight march down the field, with Sneddon scoring the point after touchdown that gave his team the victory.

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Atlantic City, October 15—A great second half rally in which they crossed their opponents’ goal line in the third and fourth quarters enabled the Coaldale eleven to set back the Melrose A.C. here this afternoon 12 to 6. The game was witnessed by the largest crowd that has ever attended a grid game at the Airport. The score really was a surprise to the local team’s followers who expected their club to be overwhelmed by the champs of the coal region.

During the first half the Green and Black eleven could not get started. Time after time their backs were held without gain. Their forward pass attack was smothered by the Melrose backs.

The large gathering of fans was treated to the greatest punting duel ever witnessed in Atlantic City with Froger Giltner holding his own with Walter Hickle.

In the second quarter a forward pass from the four yard line, thrown by Eblo, former Penn State star, to Adams, the diminutive left end of the A.C. gave the Melrose boys their score. It was the first time this season that the champs’ line was crossed.

With the mighty Blue Bonner in the lineup in the second half along with Chapman who replaced Lewchick, the Coaldale boys soon were in a position to score. Vincent Gildea was at quarterback and crashed through in the third quarter with the touchdown that tied the score while in the final quarter line bucks by Jack Chapman, that netted big gains, again put the ball in a scoring position with Bonner carrying it over for the winning six points. A forward pass attack in the final minutes of the game by Melrose threatened the Coaldale goal.

Coaldale Melrose A.C.

Pavlik left end Adams

Garland left tackle Kennedy

Hartwig left guard McGrew

Evans center Smith

Schwartz right guard Parker

Melley right tackle Craig

Rhodeside right end Garton

Gildea quarterback Berry

Boock left halfback Heckle

Lewchick right halfback Hackney

Giltner Fullback Eblo

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"Big Green Football"

Coaldale Wins by Two Touchdowns
Tamaqua Evening Courier, October 9, 1922

Coaldale defeated Thomas A.C., of Bethlehem, yesterday, 12 to 0. Long runs by Blue Bonner and Joe Garland put the ball in position for J. Chapman and Lewchick to carry over. Giltner brothers, Bock, Lewchick and Bonner played sensational ball.

Thomas A.C. Coaldale

Trivula left end Pavlik

Eckert left tackle Garland

Dugan left guard Hartwig

Kuyak center Evans

Cappella right guard Swartz

Temmar right tackle Chapman

McFadden right end C. Giltner

Rusk quarterback Lithgow

Stiffanik left halfback Bonner

Wiley right halfback Lewchick

Steslak fullback Giltner

Excerpt: "Coaldale colliery was not able to resume because of the fact that when the suspension was ordered the work of changing the old over to the new breaker was going on and as these changes have not been completed, it will take the best part of the week before everything will be ready to operate."