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EAGLES’ PRIDE

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2015-2016

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61

Like all great stories, this one

encompasses many ups and

downs, as well as a range of

emotions from both protagonists.

St. Thomas, the only all male

Catholic high school in Houston

for over 60 years, treated its

Bellaire Boulevard brother

school not so “compassionately”

for more than a decade on the

gridiron to begin this storied

rivalry.

During the dawn of Kennedy’s

Camelot of the early 1960s, enter

stage left, Joseph McDonald, the

young coach who would take over

the War Eagle program and build

upon the excellence it was known

for during the prior decades. “Joe

Mac,“ as he was affectionately

called, would not only continue

St. Thomas’ tradition, but he

would guide and shepherd the

Eagles’ winning ways to heights

of which had never before been

seen. He consistently scheduled

opponents that were some of

the biggest and toughest public

school teams St. Thomas would

ever face. Teams like Galveston

Ball, Conroe, Brazoswood, Jasper

and Friendswood were common

names dotted on the Eagle

schedule year after year.

St. Thomas had a history of being

the first and best on its side, when

this “little brother” upstart called

Strake Jesuit came a-calling and

began scheduling football games

with one another just prior to the

build-up of the Vietnam War.

The boys in red had an impressive

history between the sidelines

during the post World War II

baby-boomer era of the 1940s

and 1950s by routinely besting a

number of the greater Houston

area’s top public school talent. So

when the boys from Sharpstown

asked to be put on the STH dance

card, the reaction was more ho-

hum, than “we better be careful.”

However, over the next 53 years,

the St. Thomas vs. Strake Jesuit

game would continue to grow in

competition, passion and spirit.

Here are some highlights of

some of the most exciting games

between these two schools during

the 1964 to 1972 time frame for

you to enjoy.

Game # 1 – November 1964

The prognosticators were correct

when they didn’t give the boys

in green much of a chance of

winning or even competing at

a level so accustomed by STH.

At the time of the game, All-

American Rice University commit

and future St. Thomas Hall of

Famer Frankie B. Mandola wasn’t

too concerned with Strake Jesuit.

Mandola likes to put it this way:

“When your little brother thinks

he is better than you, a golden

opportunity to teach a valuable

lesson in humility should be job

number one.“ Needless to say, a

lesson was taught, as St. Thomas

throttled Strake Jesuit 34-0 behind

its Lombardi-style philosophy

of a power running game, to go

along with a manhandling, pop-

you-in-the-nose defense. Note:

Eighteen players off this state

championship team received

D-1 scholarships.

Game # 7 – November 1970

St. Thomas played a solid game,

winning by a comfortable 14-7

margin behind team leader Larry

Martin. However, what sticks out

in everyone’s mind in attendance

is not what happened on the field

while the clock was running, but

what occurred during halftime

activities while the Strake dance

squad was performing one of

their routines. As legend has it,

in response to the previous year’s

game at St. Thomas’ stadium

where a number of Strake

students littered St. Thomas’

field, St. Thomas student David

Johnson, took to the skies with his

new pilot’s license in hand for his

own form of retribution.

Johnson, 17 years old, decided to

do his best imitation of “The Red

Baron” by dive bombing his plane

and strafing Crusader Stadium

with thousands of computer

cards imploring his football

playing classmates to “beat the

Jebbies.“ Many witnesses to this

flying circus sat in amazement at

the sight of thousands of graffiti

cards falling down on the field. An

encore fly-by, while a great way

to continue to energize the Eagle

fans, was not the most strategic

move, as a number of “grown-

ups” had the presence of mind

to write down the airplane’s call

letters, resulting in the authorities

making a quick trip to the

airport and ticketing the youthful

offender.

Game # 9 – November 1972

After eight long years of being

dominated on the field, the

Fighting Crusaders had vastly

improved their program to a

juggernaut that could compete

with any high school program.

On a misty and drizzling night

at Rice Stadium, the War Eagles

and Crusaders dueled for nearly

three and a half quarters to a 0-0

stalemate. With approximately

five minutes to go in the game,

rough and tough lineman, Ricky

Seat, doubling as kicker, was

called upon to attempt a 44-yard

field goal in less than desirable

conditions. In his best impression

of the Pro Football Hall of Famer

Lou Groza, Seat, with an old

fashioned straight-on kicking style,

toed the ball, splitting the uprights

and putting the War Eagles up

3-0. Jesuit had one more chance

to break the winning streak, but

it was not to be, as the bend-but-

don’t-break defense of the War

Eagles rose up and snuffed out

the potential threat. St. Thomas’

smothering defense once again

saved the day and continued the

streak.

A Little History Lesson

The Story of the St. Thomas vs. Strake Jesuit Rivalry

By Michael Patronella

INSIDE EAGLE ATHLETICS

Archives from St. Thomas War Eagles vs Strake Jesuit 1960s