Roaring Back: The 1946 Pueblo Junior College Football Season
Gridiron Resurgence: A Post-War Rebirth in Pueblo – Football returned to Pueblo Junior College in the fall of 1946 after a four-year wartime lapse, igniting a renewed passion for sports in the community. Led by University of Colorado graduates Harry Simmons and George Grosvenor, the Indians embarked on a memorable campaign that bridged the gap between the pre-war era and a hopeful athletic future. Though the season began with uncertainty and early bumps, it ultimately concluded with a resounding 5-4 record, fueled by a dominant four-game winning streak that showcased the squad’s resilience and growing chemistry.
Season Highlights: From Early Struggles to a Late-Season Surge – The Indians’ journey through the 1946 schedule was a classic tale of perseverance:
- September 20 (Opening Heartbreaker): Following a four-year hiatus, PJC went toe-to-toe with Highlands for 50 minutes at Central Stadium on Orman Avenue. A late fumble recovery on the PJC 22-yard line broke a scoreless tie, leading to a narrow 6-0 defeat.
- September 26 (First Win in Kansas): PJC bounced back in style during a Thursday night road game against Garden City. Elliott Plese scored two third-quarter touchdowns, Paul Moyers dashed 45 yards, and Jack Koke sealed the 24-0 shutout with a dazzling 65-yard interception return.
- October 5 & 11 (Tough Tests): The Indians dropped consecutive contests to Colorado State “B” (25-6) -despite an opening score set up by a blocked punt from John Penza and Dale Drummond – and Mesa (score not fully detailed, though remembered for a brilliant 50-yard trick play featuring Plese, Louis Butler, and Drummond).
- October 18 (Trinidad’s Might): Facing conference champion Trinidad on the road, PJC fell into a 32-0 hole before mounting a late fourth-quarter rally with scores from Plese and Koke. Trinidad would finish at a stellar 8-0.
- October 26 (The Turning Point): Breaking a three-game skid in Hesperus, PJC ground out a 12-6 victory over Fort Lewis behind second-half heroics from Bob Pobst and Koke. This messy, penalty-laced win sparked what would become a magnificent season-ending run.
November 2 (Snowstorm Dominance): Playing through a fierce snowstorm at Central Stadium, the Indians completely stifled Sterling Junior College 18-0, holding the visitors to under 100 total yards as Pobst shined with both his legs and arm.- November 11 (Mud and Momentum): On a muddy home field, PJC broke a scoreless halftime deadlock against La Junta with a 26-0 second-half explosion. Bob Butler recovered a fumble in the end zone for the go-ahead score, which featured a milestone extra point kicked by Sidney Rosen – the first successful kick of the season for the Indians.
- November 22 (A Grand Finale): PJC capped off the year in style, exploding from a 6-6 tie to crush Dodge City 54-6. Dominating across the board with 17 first downs to Dodge’s 5, the Indians saw multi-touchdown performances from Koke, Plese, and Jack Mason, bringing their winning streak to four straight games to close out the year.
All-Colorado Recognition and Roster – The Indians’ late-season dominance did not go unnoticed across the state. A strong contingent of PJC players earned prestigious All-Colorado JC honors:
- First-Team Selections: End Bob Butler, guard Dick Trevithick, and tackle Dick DeNeice.
- Second-Team Selection: Halfback Elliott Plese.
- Honorable Mention Selections: Tackle Ed Henley, guard John Penza, center Hugh Wilson, and backs Bob Pobst, Tony Genova, and Bill Heath.
Complete 1946 Team Roster – The historic 1946 squad was built through the hard work and dedication of a deep roster: Bill Berry, Ed Bludworth, Bud Brady, Bob Butler,, Louis Butler, Ted Davis, Robert DeGeer, Dick DeNeice, Dale Drummond, Jack Duane, Phil Elson, Bob Evans, John Fruscella, Gerald Gerkin, Tony Genova, Jim Harr, Bill Heath, Ed Henley, George Hess, Ron Ivan, Jack Koke, Don Korber, Jack Mason, Bob Massar, Gene Mattarocci, Paul Moyers, Ted Mutz, Bill Nimmo, Ed Otten, Fred Palm, John Pannunzio, John Penza, Casey Pino, Elliott Plese, Bob Pobst, Don Roper, Sidney Rosen, Andrew Sabo, Don Schmidli, Bill Stollenwerck, Dick Trevithick, and Hugh Wilson.
Legacy of the 1946 Indians – The 1946 season stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Pueblo Junior College athletics. By November, having transitioned from a post-war rebuilding project into a formidable, high-scoring machine, Simmons, Grosvenor, and their resilient players firmly reestablished PJC as a competitive force on the collegiate gridiron.
