History Behind the Victory Flagpole - What year is this - Behind the Victory Flagpole — What year is this?

The Henry gridders made their initial appearance in the city league this year. The team was coached by two very able men, George Conklin and Bill Lundell. They played five games in the city league and showed the entire city the high type of sportsmanship, which they exercise. This year produced more intense rivalry than ever before, which binds the fellows and their opposition together in a common bond of friendship. Today the youth of America do fight—yes, but in a manner to test the other fellow’s strength and alertness. Rather than “dropping bombs” they believe in “passing balls.” If you have guessed the year, 1941, you are right.

Now, what year is this? Henry defeats North! Henry defeats Central! Those were but two of the many thrills that followed in the wake of the first season in the city league for the Henry

gridders. Paced by Stan Schwartz and Jim Shaft, two of the finest backs in the city, George Conklin’s boys upset the predictions of the experts and the rule of tradition by defeating two squads during their first year, one of them their arch-rival, North High School. But defeating North wasn’t enough for the boys, for they also took a thriller from Central, and handed Edison, South and Marshall plenty of trouble before bowing to superior reserves. Yes, this was the team in 1942.

Here is the final quiz—notice there is a new coach. Frank Cleve’s mighty mites from Henry stole the headlines from the championship Edison club, and reigned as “king of the upsetters.” The Pats wound up their season with 5 upsets in 7 games, and it brought them 4th place in the league standings. They were figured to win one game this year—against Southwest. The Pats beat Southwest 28-0. The games they weren’t supposed to win—South, Roosevelt, Vocational, Marshall and North—that’s something else again. Marshall and North were supposed to win by 2 or 3 touchdowns, so Henry tied them both. South and Roosevelt were one touchdown choices- the Pats beat both of them. Vocational was predicted to win by a point or two, but Henry came out on top, 32-0. And therein you have an envious record for any football coach. This glorious year of your final quiz was 1943!

Note: Taken from three Patrick Henry Orator yearbooks of the dates in the quiz.