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