Through the Years: A-K Valley brothers squared off 75 years ago

By: George Guido
Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 6:47 PM

Each Friday throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that are part of local scholastic history.

75 years ago

• It was brother vs. brother as Springdale coach Ossie Rometo’s team took the measure of Al Rometo’s East Deer Bucks, 7-0, at Tarentum’s Dreshar Stadium. Springdale fullback Tom Ruchavina ran 50 yards for the game’s only score.

• Har-Brack upset New Castle on the road in the season’s opener 13-9. Brewer scored both Tigers touchdowns, the latter on an 85-yard kickoff return.

60 years ago

• After a winless 1958 season, Ken High got back into the winners’ column with a 32-0 victory over Pittsburgh Oliver. Quarterback Bob Lukomski and halfback Bob Lipinski scored two touchdowns each.

• Fullback Ron Kubecka scored a pair of TDs as Springdale blanked Blairsville, 21-0. The Dynamos opened the scoring on a 13-yard run by Jim Conley.

50 years ago

• Deer Lakes lost its first football game in heartbreaking fashion. Leechburg scored a touchdown with 1 minute, 13 seconds to go, and the Blue Devils took advantage of the newly installed 2-point conversion rule with Ron DeBernardi taking a pitch from John Yohe to give Leechburg a 15-14 victory.

• Apollo-Ridge football had an inauspicious debut as the lights went out for an hour at Owens Field. When play resumed, Kittanning’s Arnold Orr scored on a 3-yard run that led to a 20-0 Wildcats victory.

40 years ago

• It was quite a debut for Valley running back Billy Callahan. Joe Milito threw a pop pass over the middle and Callahan raced 68 yards with 2 seconds left to give the Vikings a 14-8 victory over Highlands.

• New coach Al “Abby” Mauro guided Plum to an 18-0 victory over Derry. Quarterback Dan Malloy threw two touchdowns passes for the Mustangs.

25 years ago

• Burrell’s Seth Hornack rushed for 125 yards, and Johnny Horwatt scored on runs of 1 and 2 yards as the Bucs blanked Valley, 21-0.

• Shaler spoiled the debut of new Kiski Area coach Larry Kunselman with a 20-6 victory. Brian Dankis returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown.

10 years ago

• Freeport opened with a 37-21 win at Kittanning. The Yellowjackets scored 21 points in the game’s first 14 minutes and collected six Kittanning turnovers.

• Monaca opened its final season of football with a 27-6 setback at Springdale. The school merged the next year with Center to form Central Valley.

Five years ago

• Highlands scored five touchdowns on plays of 42 yards or longer to down Ford City, 37-14, in the Class AA debut for the school. Elijah Jackson scored on an 80-yard punt return, and his brother, Jeremy, tallied on a 76-yard interception runback.

• Pitt recruit Tre Tipton scored three touchdowns and passed for another as Apollo-Ridge blasted West Shamokin, 41-21. Tipton returned a 76-yard kickoff to start the second half.