The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-23
WILEY, CROSBY IN REAL TOSS-UP NEXT THURSDAY High School Rivals Evenly Matched d-FOster vs.
 McGrath
CBy FRANK BoLAND)

Then annual Thanksgiving morn- ing contest between Crosby and Wilby has on many occasions drewn a crowd merely because a traditional affoir, not because 1t loomed as a great battle. This time for the first time n years Wilby Is being ranked by many as the favorite. Roasting of a fine time and a star all.arouno halfback in Bus" McGrath, Wilby has played great football this season It's feat of holding a fine Ansonia eleven to a 14-6 count. after out- playing the Lavender, 1t great game against Weaver, have stamped this 1897 club as one of the finest ever turned out by Jimmie Lee at Wiipy' This year the Wildcats earned thclr name, and after 10 lean years. the Wildcat is hungry for Q meal on Thanksgiving morning. Not since 1928 have the Green and White co- horts scored triumph over tneir great rival. The games were played in 1881 and 1892, but ties give satls- faction to no one, and this year Wilbyttes are desperately anxious to follow the example of much-beaten Harvard and see triumph over a team in Blue. They certainly nave Q chance. Ali,
 The game Thursday morning VIII mark the 18th meeting. Opening in 1922 when George Taylor ana Fred Wiedorn were the rival coacnes, the game has been played annualy with the one exception Of 1923, when the School Board ordered cessa- ton of relations for 8 year. During those years Crosby has gained a de- cided edge in victories, the record showing nine wins for Old Ivy ana but three for Wilby. Two games resulted in ties. A review or the record shows Taylor scoring win for Crosby in 1922, Ray Hanson directing the Blue forces success fully in 1925, Ted Bullen downing Wilby in 1926, and Bill Schotielo scoring six victories and particlpat- ing in two ties since 1929. Wiloy has vet to- win its first footnaiI game from team directed by the present Crosby coach.
 For Wilby the winning coaches were O'Rourke and Morrison m 1924, and Jimmie Lee in 1927 ana 1928. Lee also held Crosby even twice.
 During the series, but one field goal has been kicked, and that In l921 We are not certain, but have teei. l ing that the player who booted Il was no other than "Chick" Kelley now the versatile sports editor ol the American. There was also s safety scored in 1927, when Dom. mic Rosa, Crosby captain, attempted to pick up a rolling ball on the goal line. Rosa was thrown into the end zone for a precious two points that gave Wilby the victory 8-6. Crosby has had no luck n safeties.
 Although Crosby has 0 big lead in the football series, the same IS not true in either basketball or base ball. In basketball, Wilby leads lS- i3 in victories, and on the diamond Wilby again shows the way, to-lo' The two schools have faced each other on gridiron, diamond and basketball court exactly 76 times and the record Is exactly @ tie. Each has 37 victories, 37 defeats and two ties. Thursday morning gives each team chance to take the lead m all contests, although a Wilby vic tory will still leave the Wildcats well behind on the gridiron.
 It was observed that both teams postponed their games last Satur- day. Wilby facing Leavenworth and Crasby meeting Ansonia, both took the more discreet course of postpon- ing rather than risk the chance oi injury. Wilby naturally wants tc interrupt the string of Crosby vic' tories, and this seems to be the year Crsoby meeting Ansonia, both took tories, is particularly keen to whiE good Wilby eleven. Naturally there is more glory in downing a good team than in trouncing a weak one. That both postponed last Sat urday's games is an indication ol their attitudes toward Thursday' game. Neither would take chance as both feel they can win this bal game. One of them Is going to ba wrong.
 The game will at last provide ar opportunity of comparing CharlR Poster, Crosby flashy back, ane Bus" McGrath, Wilby star. Boti are unusually fast McGrath is thu more rugged and can play 60 min utes of hard football. He has beer the backbone of Wilby's attack al year. Foster is not so rugged a' McGrath, but he is sweet bal carrier. Given a dry field he x fast and elusive and will give Wilbj plenty to worry about. He was in. jured a few weeks ago but has beer rounding into shape and should bt ready Thursday. It looks like a bal game with the biggest crowd ever If the weather will be fair.