Through the years: Kittanning played at night despite request from U.S. Dept. of War

By: George Guido
Thursday, August 22, 2024 | 10:01 AM

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Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy.

Kittanning High School was permitted to continue night football games by the federal government for the 1944 season at Gilpin Field.

During World War II, the U.S. Department of War (now known as the Dept. of Defense) encouraged athletic events to be held during daylight hours in order to preserve electricity for the war effort.

Kittanning was allowed to play night games — provided the lights were shut off at halftime. Fans sat in darkness until the teams emerged from their locker rooms for the third quarter.

By the time the 1945 season arrived, the war had ended and schools resumed nocturnal football.

60 years ago

• Kiski Area won its season opener for the first time, starting Year 3 with a 34-6 victory over Erie Strong Vincent. Phil (Jo-Jo) Booker and John Voyten scored a pair of touchdowns each against the Colonels.

• Ken High senior quarterback Bob Rowe, after not playing the previous season, tallied on a keeper and tossed a 22-yard scoring pass to Ken (Red) Moffett in the fourth quarter to defeat Pittsburgh Fifth Avenue, 14-6.

50 years ago

• Valley got its season off on the right track as Kevin Thrower scored on a 62-yard run on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Thrower added two more TDs as the Vikings vanquished Connellsville, 48-12.

• Fox Chapel quarterback Carl Bongiovanni connected with Jack Curley on a 9-yard scoring pass with 1 minutes, 25 seconds to go, and the same two combined on a conversion pass to lift the Foxes to a 14-14 tie at Sto-Rox in West Penn Conference play.

40 years ago

• Ron Amato ran for 257 yards on 40 carries and scored both Plum touchdowns in leading the defending WPIAL Class AAAA champion Mustangs to a 13-0 victory at Highlands. On defense, Amato forced a Golden Rams fumble, recovered by Frank Mitolo, to halt a drive.

• Apollo-Ridge’s trip to northern Indiana County proved to be fruitful as Jim Sapinsky scored three TDs, including a 53-yard pass from Eric Morgan, and the Vikings manhandled Marion Center, 41-0.

25 years ago

• Burrell opened the season with a convincing 48-12 victory over Johnstown at Windber Stadium behind 283 combined passing yards from Kevin McArdle and Tim Eckman. The game was moved from Point Stadium because the Johnstown Johnnies minor-league team was in the Frontier League playoffs.

• Riverview’s Ryan Ehrlich’s pass to Phil Sabatini in overtime lifted the Raiders to a 21-14 victory over South Fayette.

10 years ago

• Solemn moments preceded the Burrell-Valley season opener in New Kensington as both schools honored Bucs lineman Noah Cornuet, who died 23 days earlier at practice because of a heart tumor. Valley’s Rory Baker booted an 18-yard field goal in overtime to hand the Vikings a 3-0 victory.

• Highlands scored five touchdowns on plays 42 yards or longer as the Golden Rams blasted Ford City, 37-14. Elijah Jackson scored on an 80-yard punt return and on subsequent runs of 75 and 42 yards.

Five years ago

• Springdale’s Legend Ausk connected with Dimitri Fritch with 53 seconds to go as the Dynamos beat Deer Lakes, 29-27, in the first matchup between the schools in 26 seasons.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Fox Chapel, Highlands, Kiski Area, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley