HISTORY OF NORTH TONAWANDA FOOTBALL
North Tonawanda, a suburban city of 33,000 outside of Buffalo, New York, has a rich and long lasting high school football tradition. Approximately 12 years after Rutgers played Princeton in the nation’s first game, the game of football was introduced to North Tonawanda. In 1893 Professor Frank Beardsley banded together a small group of students to learn the game of “hand rugby”.
Starters of the 1893 Original North Tonawanda Squad:
Joseph Gaeton Left End
Henry Posner Left Tackle
Robert Hudson Left Guard
Herbert Smith Center
Frank Orton Right Guard
Norbert Kopp Right Tackle
Nicholas Wink Right End
Fred Messing Quarterback
James Armitage Right Half
Charles Hewitt Left Half
Wallace Robertson Fullback
In the 1890’s the game of football was a rough and bloody sport characterized by the “flying wedge” formation. Equipment consisted of padded pants and cleated shoes created by the local cobbler. Further padding and headgear would follow in the years to come. North Tonawanda’s football prowess grew quickly.
By 1897, Coach Beardsley’s team was so dominant that they were invited to Detroit, Michigan to play in the United States High School Football Championship. NT would meet a worthy opponent from Madison, Wisconsin. On Christmas Day they met on a snow covered field to decide the championship. The NT squad averaged 135 lbs per man, small compared to the Madison High team which averaged 165 lbs. The game featured many interesting plays that have faded into football history, including the drop kick, center sneak, and never duplicated QB pass to himself ! As a Tonawanda News article explained, “Down by a touchdown, 4 points then, the Lumber City’s Tommy Gray faded back to pass, pitched the pigskin high overhead in imitation of a pop fly, and proceeded to catch his own pass in full stride running around bewildered opponents – and teammates – for a 30 yard gain. Undoubtedly the prize play of the afternoon, it was nevertheless called back as the Madison referee declared the ball not in play.” Unfortunately, Beardsley’s team had little success on this particular afternoon, and NT was soundly beaten 14 to 0.
In the early 1900’s, former standout player Wallace Robertson led the “NT Elevens” as their third head coach. These teams continued further gridiron success under Hall of Fame quarterback Glenn Gray. (Gray would later go on to star at Oberlin College, Oh. where he would eventually take over as head coach). During this time, the brutality of football was being questioned by many across the country. Fatal injuries began to occur. One such local fatality almost meant the end of football at NTHS. In 1903, after the death of a player between Buffalo Central and Jamestown, local parents decided that enough was enough. The headline read, “No More Football” and continued, “The parents of six of the players on NTHS football team have forbidden their boys to take part in any more football games … and the result is that North Tonawanda HS has cancelled all games and quit the gridiron!” Eventually concerns were put to rest and the boys completed the rest of their scheduled games. However, many contests during this time are legendary and reflect the love Americans for the great game. Probably the biggest NT games during this time were the early Tonawanda contests, as well as the Thanksgiving battles against some very strong teams from Ithaca (N.Y.).
In 1909 Robertson would hand over the head coaching duties to former captain and quarterback of the 1894 team, Frank “Tanky” Wallace. Tanky would return to NT after serving a brief two year stint as coach of crosstown rival Tonawanda. Wallace’s teams
( 1909-1916 ), were known for their high powered offenses. Hall of Fame running backs such as Ray Niehouse and James Hoover led the “Northside Eleven” as they racked up large point totals against many Western New York opponents. Behind the strong running of back Eugene Kinzly, the 1915 squad piled up a school record 436 points in nine games. Kinzly still holds the team record for most touchdowns in one game; 8 touchdowns during a 128 to 0 thrashing of Dunkirk (N.Y.) in 1916. The 8 touchdowns also gives Kinzly a share of the WNY and New York State record some 85 years later. See Team Records
Success on the football field frequently caused scheduling problems for NT’s manager James Gillespie. Often times, he had to look across New York State as well as parts of western Pennsylvannia for any competition willing to play NT. It was commonplace during this era to drive to Syracuse or Erie, Pa. for a Saturday game. One such article appeared the week after the “Northsiders” had trounced one of its opponents. Headline; “Are Afraid To Play NTHS”…Warsaw Has Cancelled. “…No reason is stated but, on the face of it, the apparent cause is sure defeat in store for the Warsaw eleven should it clash with the local team.” Despite an occasional gap in the schedule, NT was able to push forward and play quality opponents on a regular basis. It was during these years that the love of football would help create a great tradition and spirit that carries through the community to this day.
The early 1920’s brought the return of Coach Frank Wallace. During Wallace’s five year absence, NT’s football program saw four different head coaching changes. Wallace would return to the helm and restore stability for an additional four more seasons. Hall of Fame End Sylvester “Bus” Blum, fullback Mike Susty, and guard Stanley Olszowka distinguished themselves during this era. Between the mid 1920’s and mid 1930’s, North Tonawanda sowed the seeds of its winning ways. Under the tutelage of Coaches John Dowd and Al Humphries, the Lumberjacks won many contests, posting four undefeated seasons. Leading the way during this time period were some of the finest players to wear an NT jersey. Three of the greatest seasons took place between 1927-29. Lornie Hurtubise, William Witkop, and the great Cart May led the Northsiders to a 25-1-1 record during this time span! May, a legend in football folklore, was a “man among boys”, as talk of his gridiron dominance still echoes to this day. The longest NT football unbeaten streak took place between the years 1936 to 1939. During this period, the “red and blue” strung together a total of 26 games. The streak was broken in the second game of the 1939 season as Kenmore High triumphed in a tight 7 to 6 contest. Ironically, this was their only loss of the season. NT legend Don Kasprzak led the Lumberjacks as their premier player through the 1937-39 seasons. He would later go on to star at Columbia University. The success of Kasprzak coincided with the beginning of a new era of football at NT, one which would span 34 years under their greatest coach.
North Tonawanda football’s winning percentage from the 1920’s through the 1960’s is a whopping 75% ! No local high school can boast such a record during this fifty year period. Much of this success can be traced to legendary coach George Vetter. Vetter amassed an outstanding 194-42-13 record. See Coaching Records His tenure at North Tonawanda began in 1937 and finished in 1970, less four years serving in the armed forces during World
War II. Vetter’s teams dominated the Western New York gridiron on route to eleven Niagara Frontier League championships and seven undefeated seasons. From the late 1940’s to 1950’s, Vetter’s staff
( Norm Roggow, Al Maglisceau, and John Plewak) helped to shape some of the finest teams to play at North Tonawanda.
NT’s “Vettermen” were noted for their powerhouse style of football. His championships built upon perfecting a running and passing attack out of the “single wing” offense which was common during this era. One highlight during this period were the 1945 and 1946 Kenmore games attended by spectators numbering 25,014 (’45) & 19,653 (’46) at Buffalo Civic Stadium. The 1945 game holds the New York State record for high school attendance. Of special recognition were the undefeated 1950 team which scored 283 points while holding their opponents to 12. Hall of Famers Lou Parish, Gary Gilmore, Ron Gust, Glen Meyers, along with Don Root were all first team selections to the All Niagara Frontier League Squad. However, the success of this team was not limited to these few players. A solid roster from top to bottom helped NT dominate all eight of its opponents in grand fashion. Many argue this group the very best!
George continued success through the 1960’s, posting two undefeated seasons. The latter being the 1962 team which remains today as the last undefeated-untied football squad. In his thirty years at the helm, he guided the Lumberjacks to 28 winning seasons while breaking even the remaining two !
The 1970’s and Beyond:
Since the inception of the New York State Section Six Championships at Ralph Wilson Stadium, North Tonawanda has competed three times. The most memorable game came during the 1979 season. Head coach Dave Anastasi led a hard-nosed Lumberjack crew into the title game. NT’s opponent was a heavily loaded Orchard Park team, which boasted future NFL player Ron Pitts. Anastasi and the “North Siders” prevailed, pulling out a 17-14 victory and completing an undefeated season.
In 1999, Coach Anastasi, along with longtime assistant Dave Vona, stepped down after twenty years of great tradition and success. Just as Vetter did thirty years earlier, Anastasi and his crew posted a shutout victory over rival Tonawanda in his final game.
The year 2000 ushered in another era as Eric Jantzi took over the head coaching reins. The team posted a 6-4 season while winning the inaugural “AA Bowl.” The team has since won five league championships in the past 6 seasons with one sectional title in 2002. The future looks bright for North Tonawanda football! The great tradition and spirit of football in this community precede all our incoming players. Since the early 1900’s the oft-heard saying still rings true, “You can’t Beat NT”!
It is difficult to mention North Tonawanda football without making reference to its cross-town rival Tonawanda High School. The history of football in both communities has been tied together since the late 1800’s. As of the year 2000, 92 games have been played between the two schools with NT holding the advantage. Among those great battles have been six scoreless ties. See TNT Records The rivalry started in 1896 and continues today. The games are often heated affairs and have created problems between the two communities over the years. Early in the rivalry, countless fights took place between members of both towns often resulting in many a black eye, broken bone, and/or icy bath in the canal which separates the two cities.
The football tradition in both communities is extremely strong. Great pride runs through the fiber of all its citizens. Often times, both teams came into the annual game undefeated and a win would secure the Western New York Championship. Perhaps a 1938 article in The Niagara Press best states how football was viewed at the time. “Newcomers in the Twin Cities are at a loss too account for the tremendous and vital interest in football which reaches far down into the very hearts and souls of local citizenry. They stand aghast as old timers argue as to who carried the ball that made the winning touchdown back in 1911 or what the weather was for the Turkey Day contest in 1916. ‘How can it be?’ strangers inquire, that the Twin Cities can turn out such fine teams over a long period of years. The reason rests, we believe, in the fact that football is a tradition which reaches so deeply into the social mores of the Tonawandas, that nothing short of a revolution could dislodge it.”
Documents recently researched show that the inaugural game was won by NT 34 to 0 in a game played on October 3, 1896.
( Previous history had thought the first meeting to be held in 1904). The 1896 Tonawanda team was semi sponsored by the high school and captained by Frank Ronecker. In those days the Tonawanda team had no official coach but was supervised by Lewis Hinkey. Then in 1902, NT coach Frank Beardsley took his talents across the canal and organized and official Tonawanda “Southside Eleven.” Beardsley was never head coach, but would supervise the Tonawanda program through 1917. The Northsiders won the next contest 18 to 6 in 1904. The next year, NT legend Glenn Gray’s field goal was the difference as they won 4 to 0. See Glenn Gray Award
In 1909 after a 3 year layoff, play resumed between the two schools as both teams began playing for the Alligier-Vandervoort Cup. This trophy would be awarded to the winner of a three game series. ( This cup has been recently resurrected into Lumberjack TNT week tradition ) Tonawanda took game one, only to be beaten back the next year as NT took a hard fought 6 – 0 decision. This 1910 game was marred by continued fan violence throughout the afternoon. After splitting the first two games, NT would lay claim to the cup in 1911 with a 27 to 11 victory clouded in controversy. Tonawanda coach Legrand Simson filed a formal protest stating that, “NT had greased their pants at halftime thus making it difficult to tackle them.” While never proven, the charge was enough to cancel athletic contests between the two schools for the next five years.
Another legendary T-NT contest took place in 1936. This game dubbed, “the sneaker game” was played on a field of ice after a sudden temperature drop after a rainstorm. North Tonawanda head coach Al Humphries borrowed a trick that he saw the Chicago Bears utilize the previous season. Down 7 to 6 at halftime, NT emerged from the locker room with basketball sneakers instead of cleats. Incredibly, NT quarterback Laverne Dueger, with help from running backs Zolton Kish, Chester Podrygalski, and Stan Brzezinski continually broke through gaping holes provided by a sure-footed offensive line. The strategy worked as the Lumberjacks pushed past the Warriors on route to 26 to 7 victory.
The early T-NT games traditionally were played on Thanksgiving Day. Families from both communities worked their dinner plans around the annual contest. People from both towns would walk to the field sometimes 2 to 3 hours before the start in hopes of securing a good seat for the “big game.” Immediately following, it was back home to a large meal and a heavy dose of football conversation. This tradition ended in 1938 as New York State’s athletic policy changed in hopes of creating less emphasis on interscholastic sports. Accordingly, scheduling for the next six years would only allow a total of 7 games to be played per season.
The new policy would put an end to decades of Thanksgiving Day battles between the two schools. Despite the change, T-NT tradition would continue to entertain fans into the new millennium.
The game is just as exciting to this day. The rivalry is one of the most storied in Buffalo as well as New York State. When it is
T-NT week, you can throw out the win-loss records of either squad. Members of the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks and Tonawanda Warriors football teams know this will be the most important game that they will ever play! Win or lose, the outcome of the game will echo throughout their later lives.