On this day 64 years ago…

The first postwar season of football at Stony Brook saw a group of World War II veterans return to the team along with a number of letterman from the previous year. Res Gestae 1947 said, “This array of experienced talent was moulded into a team considered by many to be one of the strongest in Stony Brook history.” The Brook inaugurated the season against rival Poly Prep without their injured captain Irvine Greaves, but the boys would prove they were up to the challenge even without their fallen leader.

Much of the first half was a defensive struggle and Stony Brook’s kicker, Dave Keating, alongside his Poly counterpart both proved their worth in the battle for field position. The Brooklyn ball club, led by Jackie Flemm, was the first to set up a scoring opportunity, but the Blue and White line held, stymieing Poly at the 15-yard line. Their ground game mired by an impenetrable line, Poly resorted to the air and scored just before the half, missing the point after attempt wide.

Stony Brook kicked off to begin the second half and a great ball by Keating pinned Poly on their own 18-yard line. An ensuing penalty made Poly’s situation even more precarious and when they attempted to punt the ball away, the Blue and White line, led by Jack Fleckenstein, again showed its merit by breaking through, blocking the kick, and recovering on the Poly 9. The Brook was held in check for the next three downs and Coach O. Floyd Johnson boldly elected to go for a touchdown on 4th and goal.

Three seniors contributed to the scoring play as Rob Diedolf passed to Jan Parmentier, who then lateraled the ball to Lynn Osbourne, who barely made it past the goal line for the tying play. The winning margin was provided by Keating, who continued his great afternoon by splitting the uprights. Holding a 7-6 lead, the Brook continued their role as the aggressors, blocking a second punt and falling inches short of another score. As the final seconds ticked away the boys celebrated a hard-won, 7-6 win over their Ivy League foe for the third time in four years.

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