The Forrey Hall years

Forrest (Forrey) Hall might have been the greatest player ever in St. Joseph/Venango Christian history.

But, that apparently was up for debate in 1940, Hall's senior year at St. Joseph. His rival? Francis "Cootie" Carroll.

The week before Hall's final high school game against Duquesne Prep of Pittsburgh at Ramage Hasson Field, The Derrick reported in its Oct. 21,1940, edition:

"Considerable debate has been held on the question whether "Fleet Forrest's" forays have outshwon those of his famous predecessor (Cootie Carroll) and there are many who are willing to place Hall's name beside and even above "Cookie the Crusher."

Hall finished his four-year career with 29 touchdowns and 179 points, including 76 his junior season. Scant individual rushing stats were kept, but Hall broke off plenty of long runs, either from scimmage or on returns. He also did most of the passing and a lot of the place-kicking before graduating from St. Joe and later starring on the collegiate and then the professional level with San Francisco.

"It has come to pass that whenever he gets his hands on the leather...anything is liable to happen," The Derrick continued. "It is nothing to see him come out of a pileup in the center of the line or to skirt the ends for lengthy dashes for scores."

Carroll, by the way, played for St. Joe from 1931-34, scoring 98 points his last three seasons. He scored 15 touchdowns and passed for five other scores. Carroll was written up as a vicious tackler who got off some booming punts.