FOOTBALL: 1920's                   Return to Year-by-Year         HOME                             Revised 4/19/2015

                   Very little is reported in the Topeka papers about these games. Most of the information reported here comes from the yearbooks of the period with newspaper confirmation of scores and dates. There were several exhibitions or scrimmages during this period and I have listed the ones that were reported in the yearbooks. I went ahead and counted the Lincoln Jr. High and Topeka B teams as official games. TCHS physical size and experience was closer to these non-varsity teams and they do qualify as scholastic units (not alumni groups, town teams, etc.). I may try to find some reports in out-of-town papers of some of these games. The 1923 season included 2 games with Silver Lake. The 1924 SHAMROCK (TCHS Annual) commented on the second game won by TCHS 7-6. Silver Lake players wore helmets with the KKK markings and wore jerseys labeled  "100% Americans".  Francisco Vargas led our guys to victory. Rockhurst treated our players real well before and after the game. They were also praised for playing a "clean" game - but they did hand out the worst football loss ever - 95-0.

                      TCHS did not have a football season in 1924. In 1925 and 1926 the school played in the Shawnee County football league. There is some variance between newspaper and yearbook score reporting. The newspaper report of the score is listed first in these instances. TCHS skipped the football season in 1927. Football equipment of this period provided little protection for the smaller player - so physical size was a greater factor during this era. TCHS would often schedule a game with a team after being assured that weight of opponents was comparable to the TCHS players. At game time several giants (180 plus) would show up across the line. Lack of numbers and safety concerns had to be evaluated before committing to a schedule. TCHS revived football in 1928 - but did not commit to a league schedule. Many dates listed on this page are estimated. 

            1921 TCHS Football Team (1922 Shamrock)  Fr. McInerney brought back football and was able to get new uniforms. These may have been the first uniforms ever worn by a TCHS team. 

* Estimated Date

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1922 Team (1923 SHAMROCK)

Starters: RE  Francisco Vargas  RT Walter Fleisch  RG  John Rossiter  C  Francis Connaughton  LG  Robert Fox  LT Francis Roberts  LE  Willard Ridings

                              QB  Lawrence Brockish  RH  Walter Kennedy  LH  Albert Curry  FB  Gannon

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1923 Football Team (1924 TCHS Yearbook THE SHAMROCK)

The above team picture does not identify the people in the photo - I am guessing that the man at far left in the top row is Coach Fred Kelley.  

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1928 TCHS Football Team (1929 Shamrock)

1929 Team with Coach Frank Roberts