The Key West citizen., 1954-10-16

fans to expect.
Upwards of 5000 fans braved a
collective nervous breakdown as
they watched the Conchs drive to
a second quarter touchdown and
then play inspired defensive foot
ball to stem series Of strong
thrusts on the part of tn. Knights
to preserve their unbeaten record.
In q game packed with more dra-
ma than Hollywood production,
the Conchs played their hearts out
to earn the win. The contest was
marked by hardhitting line play,
vicious tackling and inspired 0ffen-
sive work.
II was straight football for the
Conchs while the Curleymen took
advantage of a well polished pass
ing attack to threaten to pin de-
feat on the Key Westers.
/. The margin of victory for the
Conchs was a burly fullback, Mike
Gates. Carrying the ball on 50 oc-
casions with an average Of IL
yards per try, Gates constantly be-,
fuddled the knight defenders with
his hard-driving tactics. 1t seemed
unbelievable that lad his size
could take the punishment he did
and come back for more. He was
a ball of fire, through the middle,
off tackle and through the middle
again.
Gates was given assists by COM
petent line work and blocking from
his backfield mates. Bill Haney and
Red Stickeny also contributed to
the Conchs offensive game last
night and they have bruises to
prove 1t.
And at least every member Of
the Conchs first and second string
lines contributed at least one de-
fensive gem in last nights victory.
Boys like John Carbonell, Julio
Henriquez, Wayne Brantley, Ralph
Garcia, Gene Favors, Ken Bazo
and Johnny DeMerritt consistently
racked up the Curley offense and
sent them back to Miami a chas-
tised bunch of football players.
And the Conchs second line Of de-
fense shone last night. Joe Russo,
for example, played the finest line
backing game of his career. Stuart
Yates played a strong defensive
game, as well.
The Conchs had to do it the hard
way when it became clear early in
the opening period that Curley had
developed an alright pass defense.
Bill Haney, a surprise starter
after shoulder injury this week,
Tipped a series of passes that Cur
ley coped with easily.
Key West had received the kick
off and moved the ball down to the
10. A bullet pass to Favors was
bobbled on the goal line to prevent
an early Key West score.
Curley took over on downs on
their own 10. They could 60 no.
where and after Carbonell, Brant-
ley and Garcia had tossed quar-
terback Fran Curci on the Is, they
elected to punt on third down. Dou-
cette sent a beauty all the way
down to the Key West Is. The
Conchs started another drive which
got down to the Curley IS yard
line where they lost the bali on
downs.
Ralph Garcia, set the stage for
the only score of the evening when
he recovered a tumble on the Cur
ley AZ. Joe Russo had hit Curley's
halfback Bob Dewhurst so hard
that the ball had slithered from
his grasp.
Stickney drove down to the Cur.
ley AZ as the first quarter ended.
It took the Conchs, with Stick
ney and Gates carrying the mail.
IL plays to hit pay dirt. A crucial
first down picked up by Gates on
the eight was the key play in the
drive.
Stickney then went off tackle to
the three yard line and Gates drove
through the middle to the one yard
marker.
He went through center and into
the end zone standing up on the
next play.
The try for the extra point pro-
duced a situation which win be dis.
cussed by Key West sport fans for
o long time. As HaRav droannl