Notes and Stats
The Oiler line averaged 163 and the backfield averaged 167...
"Little" Stan Socha led the Oilers in scroing with 7 TDs and 6 extra points. He also threw a touchdown pass...Basketball all-stater Dutch Burch threw five scoring passes and scored three TDs...
The 13-0 victory over Grove City, keyed by Burch's 65-yard punt return, was an upset and the Oilers' first over the Eagles since 1936...Bill Capanaro's 1-yard run capped an 83-yard drive that gave Oil City its win over Greenville. Socha's run for the extra point was the difference...Jim Boring wasn't so boring on the ensuing kickoff -- he dropped kicked the ball, a rarity...The game ended with the Trojans on the Oiler 10...
Burch registered several long completions on the season, including a 72-yarder to Socha for a TD against Warren...There was also a 45-yarder to Heath Radcliffe to set up a TD against Titusville, a 41-yarder to Alex Kozalka to set up the TD against Greenville, a 65-yarder to Kozalka to set up the TD against Bradford, a 42-yarder to Socha that led to a touchdown against Millcreek...Burch also threw a 49-yard TD pass to Socha for a TD against Meadville, and a 51-yard pass to Walt Sumner as time was running out for the Oilers' lone TD against Corry...
Meanwhile, Socha threw a 49-yard scoring pass to Burch against Meadville, and completed a 45-yard pass to Burch against Millcreek...Burch also had an interception that led to a Socha plunge for a TD against Meadville...
Injuries hurt the Oilers during the season...Jim Thompson subbed for Capanaro at fullback against Meadville and rushed for 80 yards on 17 carries...That was the only individual game-total stat the paper had on any player that season...
Corry coach Lou Hanna had starters in the game even after the Beavers scored their 53rd point...Hanna and Oiler coach John Kaufman were college teammates at Slippery Rock...
Socha's 6-yard run and extra point in the third quarter broke a scoreless tie against Franklin...The Oilers added a safety when Jim McCullough intentionally grounded a pass on a play that started at the 2...Between the TD and safety, the Oilers made a goal-line stand at their 4 with Burch tackling McCullough on fourth down...
The Oil City Junior High posted a 4-0 record under coach Ralph Jones after a 28-0 victory over Titusville...Don Hilton scored 20 points in the win; Dick Cotterman also scored a touchdown and Bobby McFadden made a 55-yard return on an interception...
|