Honoring the legendary 1967-68-69 Lilly Raider grade school football teams, undefeated with three championships. Now seeking members, photos, and information.



Portage Dispatch: Courtesy of Joe Sweeney


First row: Pat McCoy, Chet Beres, Joe Sweeney, Bob Sloan, Dave Siris, Don Beck, Gary Nagy.

Second: Stush Trybus, Jerry Segada, Denny Lazar, John Sweeney, Dave Stossel, Ron Sibis, Dave McLucas.

Third: Coaches Paul "Butch" Erzal and Hugh Conrad, Tim Tickerhoof, John Saparo, Tony Stopka, Fred Bart, Kevin Hite.

Absent: Bob Mardula, Dave Lumbatis, Mike Saparo, Whitey McCabe, and Dan Sibis.


The Cambria County Grade School Football League operated for decades, and winning a championship in it was special for the players, coaches, and their parents and fans. 


However, earning three consecutive championships while going undefeated made the experience even more memorable for some young Lilly Raider athletes in the 1960s.


After communicating with some of those players from the 1967, ’68, and ’69 teams, I decided to write some stories about those years with interviews with some of those players. Since I coached those teams with Paul “Butch” Erzal for two years and with Mike Felus, Bob Sorichetti, Ed George, and Rusty McCabe for two more, I remember those relatively well — though my memory is not alawyas accurate. 


So, tracking down the information and people is not a simple task after more than a half-century. So, this is a request to see if we can find players and photos and other special information about those teams. 


The surprising year was 1967 when no one really believed that the team was going to be that good. The other two years, we were expected to be good. 


This will be an attempt to piece together some of that narrative, which was a special time for some young boys in the Lilly area. 


What was also great was that so many of these young men went on to distinguish themselves in life. That will also be part of the story. 


Lineups


With my memory and that of some former players, we have put together a sketch of some of the starting teams from those years. However, we still have some empty spots. 


Here they are,


Lineups — as best we remember


1967


Offense


C—Tim Tickerhoof

G—Dave Sibis, Dave Stossel

T—Bob Sloan, Bob Mardula

E—Chet Beres, Don Beck, Gary Nagy


QB—Boob Saparo

TB Joe Sweeney

Has— Pat McCoy, Dave McLucas, John Sweeney


Single Wing backfield

QB Joe Sweeney

HB Pat McCoy

Blocking backs — Dave McLucas, John Sweeney


Defense


Somewhat tentative


Tackles—Bob Sloan, Bob Mardula

NG—

Ends—Chet Beres, Denny Lazar


LBs—Pat McCoy, Joe Sweeney, Dave Stossel, Tim Tickerhoof


DBs—Dave McLucas, Boob Saparo, John Sweeney, Don Beck


1968


Offense


Center: Gary Nagy

Guards: Tony Stopka and Joe Miesko?

Tackles: Bob Mardula and Dave Stossel

Ends: Don Beck and Ronnie Sibis


QB: Chet Beres

TB: Pat McCoy

HB: Dave McLucas and John Sweeney


Kicker Pat McCoy


Defense:


Ends: Don Beck and Whitey McCabe

Tackles: Bob Martial and Dave Stossel

NG: Tony Stopka


LBs: Pat McCoy, Chet Beres


DBs: Dave McLucas, John Sweeney, Ronnie Sibis


1968


Offense


Ends:

Tackles: Dave Stossel and Joe Miesko

Guards: Jerry Segada, Dave Monahan

Center: Stush Trybus

QB: Whitey McCabe

TB: John Conrad

HB: Tom Sweeney, Tom Miesko


Single Wing


Linemen: Trybus, Monahan, Segada, Miesko, Stossel

Ends:

QB: Conrad

Blocking backs: McCabe, Sweeney, Miesko?


Defense


Ends: McCabe, Monahan

Tackles: Stossel, Miesko

NG: Segada

LBs: Conrad, 

DBs: 


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