Madison High School – 1964 State Champs In Football [Ugly first draft]
[Note to the Madison Library: Below is a narrative of the season of about 2500 words from the beginning of the season in September until the end in November. We will intersperse recollections of the surviving players, contemporaneous reports from the Madison Eagle, and embedded game films — something like what is shown below. Once I have the entire article completed and polished on this personal blog, it can be copied to an archival website with the Madison Historical Society or the Madison Library or both.]
Coach Ted Monica and a crew of experienced seniors took the Madison High School Dodgers football team to an undefeated season and the Division II New Jersey State Championship.
Southside (Newark)
The season began on September 26, 1964 against Southside (Newark), a particularly tough opponent. The game was marked by the intentional injuries inflicted upon Homer “Skip” Meade, the President of our class and a promising football player. Homer was a black man, and the Southside players, all of whom were black, resented his suburban privilege to the point where they intentionally broke his leg.
The consequences for Homer and subsequent history were profound. West Point had recruited him, and he was highly likely to get an appointment there. Because of the damage to his leg, that was no longer possible, and he ended up going to Cornell, where he famously led the black power revolt in 1969
The Dodgers soundly defeated the Southside 28 to 0. But we lost Homer for the Season.
[No game film exists for the Southside game.]
[Add link to any Madison Eagle coverage.]
Hanover Park
Next was Hanover Park on October 3, 1964, an away game that the Dodgers won 34 to 6.
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
Caldwell
Next, Caldwell came to Madison for a home game on October 10, 1964. Madison prevailed, 47-0.
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
[No game film exists for the Caldwell game.]
[WW — add link to Madison Eagle coverage.]
Boonton
The Dodgers travelled to Boonton on October 17th, and won a hard-fought and close contest, 17-9.
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
[No game film exists for the Boonton game.]
[WW — add link to Madison Eagle coverage.]
Verona
On October 24th, the Verona [team name, tigers?) came to Madison but proved to be no match, as Madison won 40-6.
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
[WW — add link to Madison Eagle coverage.]
Summit
The following week, the Dodgers hosted Summit and won again, 40-6
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
[WW — add link to Madison Eagle coverage.]
Cedar Grove
The next opponent was Cedar Grove on Nov. 7th, an away game that the Dodgers won 26-6.
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
[WW — add link to Madison Eagle coverage.]
Chatham
On November 14, Madison traveled to neighboring Chatham to face the Chatham [Wildcats?], in what proved to be a tough defensive battle. Madison prevailed 13-7.
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
[WW — add link to Madison Eagle coverage.]
Millburn
The final game of the season was against arch-rival Millburn on Thanksgiving. The Dodgers brought a perfect 8-0 record into the game. The weather was cold and wet, but the Dodgers prevailed 14-0.
(Add any commentary on the game and link to the Madison Eagle as appropriate.)
SUMMARIZE THE SEASON
[add any memories or reports from Dick, Carl C, Ralph, Rhys, Carl P or others here — ]
Group II All-State: Pete Jilleba, Doug Hale, Ralph Artigliere. Dick Herbst, Robert Gero, Bill Notte;
All-County: Pete Jilleba, Doug Hale, Ralph Artigliere, Dick Herbst, Robert Gero. Wayne Willis, Robert DeSombre, Bill Notte, Bud Debiasse;
All-Conference- Pete Jilleba,, Doug Hale, Ralph Artigliere, Dick Herbst, Wayne Willis, Bill Notte, and Robert Gero.
