We started the season running a "Fly T," which used the quick pitch to the off half back, misdirection plays with traps. In our first game against Washington, Tapia injured his knee and even though we beat Washington, he was lost to us for the first league game against San Mateo.   With him out, so was our passing attack. We lost 19-6.  If he had been healthy, I still think we could have beaten them.

          Tapia's knee was well enough to play against Westmoor, but he was limited. He was having difficulty on the drop backs, and pivots which are essential to the T.  In that week before the Ram game, I switched our offense to a spread formation, which is now referred to as "the Shotgun." Jeff was running the Shotgun long before the pros adapted to it. We lined up with two wide receivers and a slot back. Tapia was 5 yards deep behind the center. We kept two backs in to protect the passer, and rarely ever sent out more than 3 receivers.  We spent most of our practice sessions on pass blocking and running patterns. Most of our starters played both offense and defense and I made sure that they could run all day. We unveiled the new offense against Westmoor and beat them 32-12. The following week we played Hillsdale, an early favorite to win the league. We won 24-14. It was a great victory for us.

          Before the Cap game, I told our players, "No one gives us a chance at all, but I expect you to look with eager anticipation to testing yourselves against the very best in our league. I know that you will do your very best and that is all I ask." AND THEY DID!  I was so proud of the game they played. Cap physically beat our guys to a pulp, but they never quit. They came back time after time. We punted twice--the two mistakes that cost us. One Papini ran back 70 yds. for a TD and the other was blocked for a T.D. After that we did not punt again. Fourth down, we passed. After Cap's second TD, Tapia hit Garcia for a 46 yd. TD making the score 13-6. Cap fumbled the kick off and we recovered. Tapia hit Ryan on the quick look-in for 6, but we blew the conversion and the score was 13-12. Getting the ball on another Cap turnover, Tapia ran a bootleg option and hit Garcia for a 21 yd. TD. The score was 19-13--JEFF.

          The stands were going crazy!   Who could believe it? Jeff scored 3 TDs and now leads mighty Cap. The obviously distraught coach Baldwin is seen sending his star Scattini running back to the locker room to get suited up and into the game. Cap came back with a 41 yd.TD making it 19-19. The half ended when Tagliaferri threw a 30-yd strike to Olsen putting them ahead at half time 33-19.

          After the 2nd half kick-off, we got the ball and Tapia hit Garcia on a streak for 71 yards and a TD.   Garcia kicked the extra point.  Score: 33-26.  Cap came right back with Tag to Tekrony for 56 yds. and a TD, but their extra point failed.  Score: 39-26.   With our backs to the goal line, Cap Tackled Barry Haanen in the end zone for a safety.  Score: 41-26.  Jeff kicked to Cap as a result of the safety and Tag threw to Scattini for a 14 yd. TD and missed another conversion.  Score: 47-26.    Jeff came right back when Tapia hit Haanen for a 21 yd. TD.  Garcia missed the extra point.  Score: 47-32.  Cap drove the length of the field on running plays with Scranton scoring from 13 yds. out.  Tag kicked the extra point.   Score: 54-32.

          The fourth quarter began with Tag scoring on a keeper and Dahlen scored the extra point on a fumble in the end zone.  Score: 61-32.  Jeff roared back with a 21 yd. TD pass to Haanen and Gracia converted for the extra point.  Score:  61-39.   Cap retaliated with a Tag to Papini pass of 41 yds. and a TD.  Score: 68-39.

          The unbreakable spirit of the Jeff players was exemplified in the last two minutes of the game when deep in their own territory, down by 29 points, they gathered for one last attempt.  In an unbelievable play, Tapia passed to Haanen on our "hook and trail" play in which the slot back ran a hook pattern and then dumped the ball to the trailing back--in this case, Sonny Martinez, who sprinted 75 yds. for the game ending TD.  No one could catch Jeff's sprint champ.  Final score: 68-45.

          When it was all over, the Cap coaches and players felt as if they had lost.  David came pretty close to taking Goliath and it was a great day for Jefferson.

          Sometimes when I am watching the NFL on TV, I think of my 1957 Jeff receivers.   If a pro wideout runs a 30 yd. pattern, he usually takes himself out of the game, inhales oxygen, and after a rest goes back in.  The Jeff receivers  ran play after play after play, ran back to the huddle and did it all over again.   Tapia, Martinez, Garcia, Ryan and Haanan were the offensive stars.  The unsung heroes who provided Tapia time to throw (at least most of the time, because Paul Tapia was sacked 5 times) were Jerry Kennedy, Dwayne Cook, Neil Dunsford, Bob Neilson, Jim Drake and Herb Deirks.

          In the midst of all of the offensive pyrotechnics, I still have a fond memory of a big hit by one of our defenders.   I can still see five foot, 125 pound, John Margaroni coming up and nailing six foot, 205 pound Tagliaferri and stopping him dead-in-his-tracks on the line of scrimmage.   John was all heart!

          If any of the '57 team who were part of that historic game read this article, I want you to know that I am still proud of you and the fight you fought that day.  God Bless.

     In all of my years at Jeff, I never had any women in my P.E. classes.  However, I did have a connection with four lovely girls shortly before I retired and this is how it happened.
     For years tennis was not part of the Jeff boy's P.E. program.  The prevailing thought in Daly City in those days was that tennis was a sissy game to be shunned by red-blooded American boys.   In the late '60s I introduced tennis into their program and I taught it.   Talk about a challenge--thirty five unruly kids per class all who were quite sure that they did not want to play tennis.  In time, as their skill level increased, there was a large group who became enthused and interested in the game.  To encourage them, I started a program after school.  I would be on the courts from 3-5 to help anyone who wanted to improve his game.   I set up matches for them.   The program became quite popular and I had several faculty members participating as well.  Many of the boys started pressuring me to form a tennis team and enter the existing P.A.L.  I had just finished a four year battle with the district over coaches pay, which we won.  There was no money in the budget for a tennis coach, so if I started a team, I would be coaching for nothing, sabotaging all of our work for coaches pay.  Instead I formed the Jefferson Tennis Club.  However, the following year a boys tennis team was formed and budgeted as other sports were.
     One day five girls approached me at practice and asked me, "Coach, are you against girls?" 
     I replied, "Now, what kind of a question is that?  I have a wonderful wife and besides two boys, I have three wonderful daughters.   So, as a matter of fact, I am definitely pro-girl."
     The leader of the group said, "Good, then will you let us join your tennis team?"
     My answer was, "You have a girls tennis team, so why do you want to join our club?"
      They explained that the girls team practiced in 6th period only and at 3 o'clock the coach went home.  Since we practiced from 2-5 everyday, they felt they could become better players in our program.
I had to explain to them that according to the Title 1X program, if the school had similar programs for boys and girls, the girls had to play with the girls and the boys with the boys.  If there was only one program, it was opened to both.  But, I also said, "If you ask permission from your coach and she gives it, I will consider your request."  I sure didn't want to take players away from a fellow coach.
     They hustled off and I went back to practice, feeling that was the end of that situation.  Half an hour later they were back with their rackets, dressed in workout clothes.  They said that their coach did not care if they switched teams.   I told them that they could join us as long as they understood there would be no concessions because they were girls.
     Only nine players could compete in a league match.  Tennis was not like other sports where you could put in subs so everyone could get playing time.  You were one of the top nine players (and we carried 18 on the squad) or you did not get to play in league matches.  I explained that, and they understood that there would be a lot of hard work involved, but, they were ready for the challenge.  Eventually, one girl was dropped because she cut practice once too often, but the other four were great.  They worked harder than most of the boys.  They were always cooperative, cheerful and very coachable.  They brought something extra to the program.
     As time went on, their skills greatly improved, but none of them ever got to the point where she could bump one of the starters, so they did not get to play in league matches.  I would talk with the opposing coaches when we played away and ask them to line of four of their weaker players to play my girls.  Some of them did even though some boys were reluctant to play the girls feeling they would be disgraced if they lost. 
     One day one of my girls won her match.  The varsity had lost the league match, but coming home on the bus, you would have thought we had just won the U.S. Open.  The whole team was whooping and yelling congratulations to our first girl winner.   I will always remember the four girls who integrated the Jeff tennis team.  Sadly, I can't remember the names, but I will remember their cheerfulness, their hard work, and constant cooperation.  They were four lovely ladies who added something to our team.   They must be, if my calculations are good, in their late thirties or early forties.   I wonder if they still play tennis.  If they still like to play competitive tennis, they can join the UATA Senior Circuit which starts at thirty-five.  Maybe I will see them on tour some day.
     So, let's hear it for womanhood and Jeff's first female players on a men's squad.
     With love,
      Joe
 

Can anyone help with the names of Joe's ladies?