Cowboy's Szafran's 109-yard run

Part of St. Joseph football lore includes Jerome "Cowboy" Szafran's 109-yard run.

Yes. 109 yards. You might think it was a kickoff return.

But, actually and officially, it was a 99-yard run from scrimmage.

It happened Sept. 21, 1940, in a road game against Centerville in Westmoreland County. The score was tied 6-6 in the second quarter.

St. Joe had the ball on its 1-yard line after Forrey Hall was tackled for a 6-yard loss. This came after a 52-yard punt had pinned the Irish back on their 7.

So here's what happened, according to The Derrick:

"Szafran went back to attempt to move the oval out and after apparently being caught near the rear of the end zone, eluded three or four tackles, moved up to the 10 on the right side of the field, cut back to his left and outdistanced the entire team.

"One man chased the speedy local back for 30 or 40 yards until (he was) cut down by Joe Dzieckciasz, permitting Szafran to cross the goa line unmolested."