The News-Herald from Franklin, Pennsylvania • Page 17

Franklin and Oil City, Pa. Tuasdaj-, No-enef 10, 1970 THE NEWS-HERALD 17 Mih vnr strain) a i 2 i I 1 "SSV Nc- V. 1 i t-v JUbXwt: r. i 'vl xxx vx "tl i- 4, 1--, r-i Bierbach eludes Carnegie-Mellon tackle :7 Grimy Fred 1 I 1 vir rC 't-a Li i- lJ I 1 li Wr Ex-FHS threesome aid Titans' effort By JACK MAYS News-Herald Sports Editor Who's number 1 in the national grid ratings race? Notre Dame, Texas, Ohio State or Tampa? For an answer basted with pride, ask a trio of ex-Franklin High gridders and they may just tell you Westminster College of New Wilmington. The Titans of Coach Dr.

Harold Burry cashiered Carnegie-Mellon of Pittsburgh last Saturday for their seventh win of the year and 12th straight without a loss. Westminster, in case you didnt already know it, is Number 1 in the National Association of Interscholastic Athletics (NAIA) Division II, a vast system that stretches nationwide and includes 147 other "true" small colleges. The three former Franklin Knights Dave Bierbach and Rich Hancox of the 1967 graduating class and Fred Blackhurst of 1963 vintage have been varsity starters for the Titans since their first years on campus. Bierbach is the son of Mr. and Mrs.

Donald Bierbach, 15 Pennell. Hancox is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Hancox, 1314 Otter.

Blackhurst is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Blackhurst. 414 Liberty. The sports emphasis each faffl is centered on the pros and the big time colleges.

Millions of television viewers follow each play and feel each hit on the collegiate game of the week, the Sunday afternoon pro marathons and the new offering that shortens the work week, the Monday Night game of the week. The pros spend a lot of time and money making sure they have a super star or two to draw both at the gate and on the tube. The big time colleges have their big time alumni associations well armed with enticements aimed at procuring the super high school or service player who in turn may bring glory and a national ranking to dear old "Alma Mater and most importantly, the alumni dollars that accompany such a lofty perch. The University of Texas at Austin, home of the defending national "major" football kings, for example sports an enrollment of 30.850. Ohio State at Columbus is another behemoth with 37,080 students.

The college largely responsible for collegiate football's overwhelming popularity is of course, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana. The all-male school has 7,200 students. Westminster's Titans searched all over campus this year to come up with an enrollment of 1,558, the largest ever in its history. Westminster received five or more points in last week's small college poll by United Press International. In the seventh week ratings, the Titans were 22nd.

The top "small" school was Tampa Others listed in the top ten were Montana North Dakota State (14,115) and Delaware's Fighting Blue Hens Fresno State of California (12,998) was just ahead of Westminster in the UPI polling. Division 1 of the NAIA includes such area colleges as Clarion, Indiana, California, and Slippery Rock. The Big Indians of Indiana have an enrollment of 5,838. Westminster's 1,500 plus make it a "true" small college. The enrollment enhances the NAIA and UPI ratings especially when you consider that Texas A I plays small coHege football and has an enroHment of 21,000.

Texas A I was 11th in last week's UPI poll. Dr. Harold Burry and his Titans are shooting for the school's fifth unbeaten record and they may just get it with only one more game left on the slate and that against Geneva next Saturday at 1:30 p. m. at Westminster.

Westminster victims have been Marietta, Susquehanna, Lycoming, Waynesburg, Heidel- burg, John Carroll and Carnegie-MeHon. The threesome of Bierbach, Hancox and Blackhurst played every sport they could while at Franklin. Bierbach and Hancox were three year Iettermen in both football and track. Bierbach also lettered three years in basketball and Hancox two years as a varsity eager. Both ended up in the Pennsylvania Track and Field finals during their junior and senior years.

Bierbach specialized in the relays and Hancox tossed the javelin. The 880 relay team which featured Dave as the lead-off runner finished fifth in the state his senior year. Rich was fifth in the state Class A javelin that same afternoon three years ago in State College. Both were Section 2 All Star football picks. Bierbach made the UPI All State team as an Honorable Mention Selection.

Blackhurst came along to gain some grid experience in the 1965-'66 season and capped his high school career two years later by making just about every all star squad in the area plus being named to the first All Pennsylvania star squad. Blackhurst also lettered in track and wrestling. Coach Dave Stewart utilized the cat-quick Bierbach as a quarterback during his high school days. Coach Burry has also the wisdom to send Dave over the snap with some pleasant results that are partially responsible for the Number 1 ranking. Bierbach has passed for 16 touchdowns and has scored four by running.

Westminster has scored 230 points and given up 39 through seven games. Bierbach has thrown the ball 1C5 times and has 55 completions with six interceptions for total yardage of 1,115 yards. He has also had time to run with the ball 65 times for 276 yards. While co-captain Bierbach is guiding the offensive Titans, classmate Rich Hancox is in charge of the defense and personally inspires hustle in his 10 counterparts. Hancox is a ferocious defender at right cornerman.

During the John Carroll game at Westminster two weeks ago he made 10 unassisted tackles, blocked a pass and was in on 16 other tackles. Rich has intercepted one pass this season and returned it for 36 yards. Last year, he scored on an 82 yard interception. Both he and Bierbach are three year Iettermen. Bierbach's physical stature is 5' 187 and Hancox is 5' 163.

The leading rusher for Westminster is Sharon's Joe Veres with 334 yards and six TD's. Veres and Bierbach like to run where they know there's going to be daylight and that's right over the spot where Fred Blackhurst plays offensive guard. Number 62 is just a gloryless lineman to the spectators but to the Titan backs he's good for a couple of yards anytime. Ten TDs and four extra points have been scored over the right offensive guard slot so far this season and more may come Saturday thanks to the two-year letterman who ends up usually as the grimiest player of the game. Big time football is a serious business-like operation with many dollars available for artificial surfaces, flashy halftime shows and chartered airline trips.

Football at Westminster is just as serious without all the frosting. Scholarship aids are almost non-existent which puts the sport in its proper perspective with academic abilities outweighing those on the playing field. The Titans still manage to put out a strong representative team year-in, year-out. Much of the credit has to go to Dr. Harold Burry and his staff.

Some of Westminster's success for the past several sea Fred in cleaner moments Dave leads pass attack Rich leads defense vl if. 7 VI fs "ft, Ik ,9) 4 Wl Vx --J-riMi1iinB-1ii-riiiiit--n Hancox rests on defense Bierbach, Blackhurst, Hancox in pre-season pose sons has to rub onto the capable shoulders of Bierbach, Blackhurst and Hancox. Anyone who knows them knows why..