Carey's Corner
FROM THE MALVERN ARCHIVES
A LOOK BACK
*Easier read when viewed on a laptop
1941 TEAM PAGE
FINAL RECORD
4-0-2 overall
59 PF, 31 PA
February 2024
| W/L/T | ||
| 4-0-2 | ||
vs Camden Catholic T 7-7 Final |
T 7-7 Final |
|
vs Friends Central W 6-0 Final |
W 6-0 Final |
|
vs P.M.C. T 12-12 Final |
T 12-12 Final |
|
vs Swarthmore Fresh W 7-0 Final |
W 7-0 Final |
|
vs Perkiomen W 14-0 Final |
W 14-0 Final |
|
vs St. James W 13-12 Final |
W 13-12 Final |
|
vs Harrisburg Academy Cancelled |
Cancelled |
|
Scoring
| Camden | Friend C | PMC | Swarthmor | Perkiomen | St. James | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hackett | 1 | 6 | 6 | *12 | *6 | |
| McMonigle | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Powers | 1 | |||||
| Desimone | 6 |
1941 Malvern Football Captains- Art Carey on the left Jack McMonigle on the right
1941 Malvern Prep Football Team
This has to be one of the easiest stories I will ever do. All I did was transcribe what was written in the 1942 yearbook. I am guessing many of you do not have this year book laying around your house. I have promised “way back” stories from time to time and this is a “way, way back” story for a reason. As best as I can determine, the 1941 squad was Malvern’s first unbeaten team. Part of the MP history that I am doing on an ongoing basis, is an attempt to create a TEAM PAGE for each year. Digging into yearbooks at Malvern I came across the 1941 team. Even more surprising to me was that my uncle was on the team. I knew my Uncle Art Carey played football at Malvern but had no knowledge that he was on the 1941 team. Art Carey was a co- captain and starting two-way lineman. I want to thank Malvern Prep and Mary Fran Frankenheimer for archiving a library of well-maintained Malvern yearbooks and allowing me to access them. It made this story and tribute possible
I have to give credit where credit is due. The review of the season was written by Jack McMonigle. As you read it you have to appreciate the writing style of the day and have to appreciate some words and phrases that were used. In a previous Careys Corner I was bold enough use the word “plethora”. I am no match for this story. Jack topped me by incorporating words and phrases like dither, predominant, valiant band, gooey gridiron, perfect prophets, staunch as a steel cable and the cog that turned the wheel of success. For those who read this and had Father Carney, you know he would be proud (red pencil, caccabbaba and all). And speaking of Father Carney, I discovered he came to Malvern in 1940 (picture below). Maybe he had influence over Jack’s writing style? At the end of the story,15 players are highlighted along with the coach. In the team picture there is another coach and I count 17 players. I do not know the identity of these three gentlemen.
The motto for the team, according to Jack McMonigle was “we won’t be beaten”. Based on the description of the games that Jack provided, I might have gone with “we are the cardiac kids”. They pulled out multiple games with little time left on the clock.
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MALVERN PREP 1942 YEARBOOK
The 1941 Malvern Varsity football team took to their motto, “we won’t be beaten”. Then to the delight of the staunch followers and the dismay of their opponents, the valiant band proved themselves perfect prophets- they weren’t beaten. They smashed the Friends Central jinx, they toppled Swarthmore Fresh, they ploughed Perkiomen under, and they conquered St. James. Camden Catholic and P.M.C Junior Varsity came close but they couldn’t beat the team that refused to be beaten.
The marvelous work of carving out an unbeaten season was done with much of the same material as before. The team, as a whole, was green but oh so determined. Powers, Carey, Deviney and Burke were back from last year’s squad; O’Neill, Murphy, Hill , Hart and Sovia were newcomers to the line. One experienced back McMonigle returned but Hackett, DeSimone, Siracusa, Reilly, and McCullough, the new arrivals made the backfield something to be feared. Mr. Halphen worked and worked until he produced a masterpiece. He received recognition for the fact when a local sports commentator picked him as “Coach of the Year”.
What follows are the game by game summaries as described in the 1942 yearbook.
MALVERN 7 CAMDEN CATHOLIC 7
With a team short on material but long in spirit, the Varsity journeyed to Camden to meet Camden Catholic. Despite the unusual setting under flood lights ( Holy cow was it a night game?) and a muddy field, we garnered a tie. The first half was mostly Camden. Only a rock-ribbed defense by Malvern’s line at critical moments prevented a score. In this defense, Power, O’Neill, and Carey predominated.
In the second half Malvern predominated. We matched Camden’s seven points when McGonigle reached paydirt and Hackett booted the extra point. Mac’s running, Hackett’s rushing and DeSimone’s passing kept the opponent in a dither but we failed to score and had to be content with a tie.
MALVERN 6 FRIENDS CENTRAL 0
The most eagerly awaited football game of the year came next- Friends Central. Except for a brief flurry early in both halves Malvern overshadowed the Central boys. Over-anxiousness reared its ugly head, however, to nullify our offensive efforts. One 80 yard run was called back after a penalty but we refused to weaken. With less than two minutes to go, we carried from mid-field to the two yard line, greatly aided by a pass from McGonigle to Hackett. With only 19 seconds to go to play Hacket shattered the Central line and the Central jinx. After 5 years of trying, we did it 6-0.
MALVERN PREP 12 P.M.C. 12
The squad next travelled to Chester for the P.M.C. game. Stil in the clouds after the magnificent Friends Central win, they waited until the last two minutes before turning a 12-0 defeat into a 12-12 tie.
In the first half, Malvern could do nothing right. Only a stubborn line defense helped keep the score respectable. P.M.C. scored twice and threatened several other times. Malvern’s score was nullified by a penalty. The majority of the second half was the same old story- P.M.C. threatened and Malvern held. Then, with two minutes and ten seconds left, we caught fire. McGonigle passed 30 yards to Hackett who carried twenty more for the score. With 19 seconds to go, Hackett blocked a kick and Malvern recovered on the P.M.C six. Hackett passed to McGonigle with only six seconds remaining to tie the game up,12-12.
MALVERN 7 SWARTHMORE 0
Swarthmore Fresh provided our next victim on a gooey gridiron at Swarthmore. Our undefeated string remained whole as we won 7-0. An eighty yard run by McGonigle, after a pass from DeSimone, accounted for the touchdown. Hackett passed to Powers for the conversion (editor’s note. Back in 1941 I do not know whether two point tries were in effect.) The defensive ability of the line was the predominant element in this victory. From end to end it was as staunch as a steel cable, as it limited a heavier opponent to 2 1st downs (editor’s note, even in the 40’s MP played D). The heroes shall be unnamed, because to single out anyone would be injustice to all.
MALVERN 14 PERKIOMEN 0
Malvern started early in the game, scoring twice on the first half and staving off the best that Perkiomen could muster. We prevailed 14-0. Team-work was the cog that turned the wheel of success. Deadly blocking coupled with accurate passing was the key note. Bill Hackett, as usual, was the outstanding player but “Ed” Sovia shone brightly in the line.
MALVERN 13 ST. JAMES 12
Again, the team journeyed to Chester, this time to take away a win from St. James by the slimmest of margins,13 to 12. Thus, the first undefeated season in many a moon made good the promised “can’t be beaten”. The game resembled most of our others in that it was won by teamwork and spirit. St. James scored a surprise touchdown. We matched and doubled on the passing of McGonigle and DeSimone and the running and receiving of Hackett. Bill scored twice. St. James added another counter on a tricky attack but we won. We’ve mentioned very few of the players by name because the undefeated season was primarily a team victory. However, we bow to each now for parts well played.
1941 Malvern Football Team Offense
THE TEAM
ART CAREY, OL- Co-Captain, a tackle who did little wrong and who earned the respect of his opponents.
JACK MCMONIGLE, QB/RB- Co-Captain. Most versatile man on the team. Developed into a crack passer and superb open field runner.
BILL HACKETT, FB- Made the team with his cool calling of plays, his devastating plunging, passing, kicking and tackling.
JOHN SIRACUSA, HB- Was the workhorse block back. The sidelines didn’t notice him much but his teammates were glad he was in there- “nuf sed”
HEN DESIMONE, QB- was a deadly passer who threw strikes that resulted in points. Blocked beautifully
JOE REILLY, HB- was another hard worker whose inexperience held him from stardom.
TOM MCCULLOUGH, RB- developed rapidly into a hard, tricky runner who held up when the going got tough.
“BIRDIE” POWER, TE- was a supreme opportunist. Opponents never knew where to find him but his presence always made hard going for the opposition.
JOHN MURPHY, TE- excelled as an open field blocker despite the handicap of a broken shoulder.
FRED DEVINEY,DL- made tremendous strides at tackle. Was a constant source of worry to opposing passers.
HUGHIE HART, RB- was the find of the year. Graduated from the Junior Varsity squad. Gave his own passers brilliant protection.
JIM HILL, DL-used his wrestling ability to overcome his lack of experience. Made spectacular open field tackles.
JOE BURKE, DL- hero of goal line stands. Reputed never to have given ground.
JOE O’NEILL, OL/DL-best defensive man on the team. Played every minute the entire season. Most of it was with a broken hand.
ED SOVIA,OL- was another find. He was the hero of the Perkiomen fuss. Delighted in knocking oversized fullbacks down.
MR. HALPHEN- did as good a job as was done in the country. That is saying plenty!.
The 1942 Squad is now a member of the touchdown club- Give up a TD less per game
*The 1941 team had a 7th game scheduled against Harrisburg Academy but the game was cancelled because Harrisburg Academy had not scored in their previous games and determined it was better to end their season. I do not know if they counted forfeits back then but I guess you could technically say the 1941 team was 5-0-2.
Hats off to the 1941 Friars, the very 1st unbeaten Malvern football team.
Rev. William J. Carney O.S.A., M.A.
More to come....
