Coaldale Hands Scranton Tech 1st Loss (1950)

Coaldale Hands Scranton Tech 1st Loss (1950)

(The Evening Record, October 7, 1950)

Tigers Win 13-0 In Final Period to Run Streak To 22 Without Defeat.

Those Coaldale Tigers did it again. They came through last night in the fourth period with two touchdowns to down Scranton Tech 13 to 0, and run their unbeaten streak to 22 games, in a tilt played before some 2,500 fans at the Lansford High School stadium.

It wasn’t done on the ground. The Scranton Tech Red Raiders had a line averaging 200 pounds. So it was the deadly Coaldale aerial attack, with “T” quarterback Georgie Welsh pitching, that brought victory to the Orange and Black.

Not that Coaldale’s line was being pushed around. Playing much better than they did at Tamaqua, and bolstered by the return of rugged Frank Skrabak, injured guard, the Tiger forward wall played a great game against much heavier boys. Pete Ginda, seasoned guard, was especially outstanding for his alert work in breaking through to stop plays.

On the first play of the final period, Welsh threw a touchdown aerial to Bob Zebian who stepped over the goal line just after he caught the pass. Gordon Miller’s placekick was low, and Coaldale led 6 to 0.

Another fumble stopped Tech’s determined fourth quarter drive, and George McCartney recovered on his own 35. Johnny Posta punted out of danger. Then Welsh halted Tech again by intercepting a pass and racing back to the Tech 30 with only four minutes to play.

At this point, a nervous Tech team hurt itself with several off-side penalties. But the big line was holding Coaldale with its back to the goal line. It was on fourth down from six yards out that Welsh once more unwound that deadly accurate arm and hit McCartney with a touchdown pass in the end zone. On a fake placekick, Welsh passed to McCartney for the conversion.