1933 Boy’s Varsity Football Team

The outlook for the Patchogue Varsity Football team did not appear especially bright as the Red and Black prepared for the opener of the 1933 season. Head Coach Edgar Bright faced the daunting task of rebuilding the center of the line and piecing together an entirely new offensive backfield. Making the opener even tougher was the fact that the opposing team would feature many of the players Coach Bright’s young squad were replacing: Patchogue’s own football alumni. Yet, from this reconstruction project emerged a juggernaut, boasting a depth of four complete teams, that by season’s end accomplished a perfect 8-0 record—including a mind-boggling six shutouts—and the undisputed championship of Suffolk County.

The starting backfield featured Captain Larry Bizet, Abe Gaer, Johnny Brozski and Spoonheimer, supported by talented reserves like Joe Benincasa, Frank Kelly, and Jack Hammond. The line, which would go on to be considered the best in school history, was anchored by Wilbur Young, Frank Hudak, Raimond, Marvin Hudson, Brunnemer, Lou Worrad, and Leonard “Shorty” Fogarty.After the opening 13-0 victory over the PHS Alumni Squad, the momentum continued with a shutout of Huntington and a hard-fought 14-9 victory over an undefeated Westhampton squad. Next, the team battled the gritty and powerful “County Seaters” of Riverhead to a scoreless 0-0 tie. The physically punishing game left the PHS squad terribly battered with injuries heading into the matchup with tough East Hampton. Despite the absence of star player Hammond, the Red and Black persevered with a 7-0 win. The season closed on Thanksgiving Day against perennial rival Bay Shore. A record-breaking crowd of 2,500 gathered at the PHS field to witness the showdown. Facing a formidable opponent and dealing with nagging injuries to defensive stalwarts Benincasa, Brozski, and Brunnemer, the home team dug deep. In a defensive struggle in which Patchogue was statistically outplayed, heart and might prevailed. Thanks to the defensive work of Hudson and Kelly and the return of Hammond, Patchogue eked out a 2-0 victory, scoring the game’s only points with a safety following a blocked punt.
The legacy of the 1933 team was set by its unprecedented defensive prowess. Only two of eight opponents managed to score against Patchogue. Over the entire season the defense allowed exactly one touchdown, one extra point, one field goal, and one safety—a grand total of 12 points. Joe Benincasa led the team in tackles and blocked punts and the offense featured the heroics of 118-pound halfback George Dioguardo, who scored touchdown runs of 60 and 43 yards against East Hampton and Southampton, respectively.