By Hal Wilson
PENNSBURY 1972
Locked in a perennial rivalry with Neshaminy, Coach Chuck Kane’s Pennsbury Falcons produced a great team in 1972, overcoming the Redskins in a thrilling season climax and winning the Lower Bucks and Big Seven crowns. The previous season, the Redskins had won the annual battle, but in 1972, the 11-0 Falcons were not to be denied.
1972 marked the 25th anniversary of the Pennsbury School District, and what better way to celebrate than with a perfect record football team. The predecessor schools of the two rivals had begun play in 1930. Falls and Yardley became Fallsington. Pennsbury was established in 1949.
The 1972 season started with a six day teacher strike - but classes were held and a bus driver crossed the picket line and carried the Falcons to Carlisle where Pennsbury won 44-0. At Bethlehem Freedom the following week, a September sleet storm almost grounded the Falcons who prevailed 14-10. After battles with Allentown Allen, at Bethlehem Liberty, and Bensalem, Pennsbury started to roll.
Among five more wins, Allentown Dieruff was smashed 50-6, Easton went under 42-0, and Reading was a 63-0 victim. Against the Red Knights, the Falcons led 28-0 after one quarter and 49-0 at the half. After ten straight triumphs, the stage was set for the showdown with Neshaminy. The Redskins had won eight in a row after an opening loss and fielded their usual formidable team. The previous year, Neshaminy had just gotten by Pennsbury in a classic, 21-17.
Playing at home in “Kane’s Kanyon”, otherwise known as Falcon Field, fired-up Pennsbury scored on the first scrimmage play when ace tailback Dale Delise went 73 yards out of a stacked-I formation. With a slot left, Delise went off tackle to the right and all the way to the end zone.
With the score 10-7 Falcons with 12 seconds remaining in the first half, quarterback Gary Kutsmeda, working from the Neshaminy four with play action, completed a short jump pass to end Terry Hoffman and Pennsbury led 17-7 at half-time.
Neshaminy dominated the third quarter and closed to 17-14. With 6:42 left in the game, the Falcons drove 44 tough yards with Delise getting the final yard. The conversion was missed, bringing the score to 23-14. Neshaminy’s Donahue then returned the following kickoff 85 yards and the conversion brought the Redskins to within two at 23-21.
With less than a minute to play, Neshaminy had reached the Pennsbury 16. Matt Bahr, the Penn State All-American and multi-year NFL star, was the Redskin kicker. The Redskins had time for more than one play and attempted a flat pass to star halfback Sroba. He caught the ball and was immediately hit by Falcon All-State linebacker Ron Dundala. Sroba fumbled and Dundala’s LB partner, John Lerch recovered.
The perfect season was assured and Pennsbury had succeeded Neshaminy as Big Seven and Lower Bucks champions.
Coach Kane today credits strong character as a principal ingredient of the Falcon success.
Leadership from offensive linemen Gary Metroka and Gary Pasek and quarterback Kutsmeda, along with defensive leaders tackle Tim Miller and linebacker Dundala, combined to help cement a memorable season.
Pasek is the son of Chet Pasek who played for Swoyersville’s 1950 Eastern Conference Northern Division champions. The Pasek’s typify the migration of many coal region families to more attractive economic areas as the anthracite industry declined. .
Halfback Delise, with his quick moves, good hands, and breakaway ability on punts and kickoffs, was the main offensive weapon. In the Neshaminy game, the workhorse back ran for 141 yards on 22 carries.
Chuck Kane is a graduate of Collingdale in Delaware County. After a career as a guard and tackle at West Chester under legendary coach Glenn Killinger, he entered coaching and in 1959 came to Pennsbury as an assistant. He became head coach in 1970, succeeding Erle Baugher, and retired from the sidelines after the 1981 season.
The starting Falcon offense:
E 83 Terry HOFFMAN 6-0 185
T 79 Gary METROKA 6-1 215
G 68 Gary PASEK 5-10 180
C 51 Mike PAGE 5-9 170
G 63 Pat SORIERO 6-0 190
T 73 Jim KETTLES 6-3 210
E 84 Don BREECE 6-4 190
Q 12 Gary KUTSMEDA 6-0 145
H 44 Dale DELISE 5-9 170
H 31 Bill PORTER 5-9 180
F 33 Jeff FITZ-MAURICE 5-11 180
15 Mike CURLEY 6-0 160 was the punter and 78 John GIORDANO at 5-11 and 245 handled the place kicking.
Pennsbury’s 1972 defensive stalwarts:
E 85 Kirk HARMAN 6-0 200
T 70 Tim MILLER 6-1 212
G 67 Warren KNOP 6-1 180
T 71 Cliff STOUT 6-3 220
T 72 Gary STADANLICK 6-3 235
E 52 Mike MCGRATH 6-3 200
L 61 John LERCH 6-0 165
L 66 Ron DUNDALA 5-10 190
M 22 Bob BOWDEN 6-1 175
C 15 Mike CURLEY 6-0 160
C 32 Frank LENNON 5-9 170
21 Mark KRYSA 6-0 165
S 17 John ASMA 6-0 175
Other key defenders included tackle 76 Mike CAINE 6-3 202 , as well as 16 Neil TANNICELLO 5-10 160 in the secondary.
The players on this superb team found many college opportunities. Tim Miller starred at Memphis State, while Curley became the punter at Pitt. Dundala went on to Dayton and Giordano was Vanderbilt’s placekicker. McGrath played at Penn, Asma at F&M, Breece at Georgia, Harman at Lafayette, Lerch at IUP, Knop at Duke, and Page and Mike Golub at Dickinson. Kettles, who had come in as a transfer from the State of Indiana, played at Princeton.
The 1972 perfect record season:
44 CARLISLE 0
14 BETHLEHEM FREEDOM 10
23 ALLENTOWN ALLEN 12
16 BETHLEHEM FREEDOM 0
28 BENSALEM 15
50 ALLENTOWN DIERUFF 6
37 COUNCIL ROCK 8
42 EASTON 0
49 WOODROW WILSON 13
63 READING 0
23 NESHAMINY 21
In the West, the Gateway Gators had come through the WPIAL AA playoffs unscathed, upsetting the defending champion Kiski Area Cavaliers. A Gateway – Pennsbury state championship game would have been worth traveling to see.
In 1974, just two years later, Chuck Kane produced another fine team at Pennsbury. This edition of the Falcons raced through another perfect 11-0 season. Pennsbury won tight games with Bethlehem Liberty and Council Rock and buried Neshaminy 49-13. Offensive center Frank Prior at 6-3 217 and defensive tackle Randy Wagner, a 6-4 245 tower of strength, both made the All-State first team. Again, the Falcons won both the Big Eight (Reading now included) and Lower Bucks crowns.
Pennsbury was balanced and dominating, gaining 2,370 rushing yards and 1,525 passing. The opposition gained less than 1,600 total. Tailback Billy Austin was a worthy successor to Delise, while QB Joe Crossin was the field general and passer.
In the WPIAL, Gateway and Upper St. Clair had played at 6-6 tie in the AA final. Pennsbury versus either would have been another great state championship match-up.
