1940

It’s a slightly better but still relatively forgettable 3-6-1 year for the ‘Skins as the team is mired in a slump since the graduation of its “big hitters” after the ’38 season. And although Middletown Township’s population has added 1,000 or so residents during the decade of the 1930s, to 3,136, Langhorne is flat during the same period while the other three boroughs have remained stable as well. Consequently, Langhorne-Middletown high is still a small school.

The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Sep_8__1940 Initial Schedule
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Sep_21__1940_Lower Moreland Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Mon__Sep_30__1940_Mt Holly Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Oct_1__1940_Mid Season Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Mon__Oct_21__1940_Morrisville Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Oct_26__1940_Solebury Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_1__1940_Bristol Pregame Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Nov_5__1940_Bristol Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Tue__Nov_5__1940_Bristol Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_8__1940_Trenton Pregame Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_15__1940_Pregame Bensalem Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Mon__Nov_18__1940_Bensalem Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_22__1940_Late Season Article on LB conference
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Nov_27__1940_Newtown Turkey Bowl
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Dec_3__1940_Late Season Article on District Title
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Dec_13__1940_Article on Banquet

1941

1941 Langhorne Middletown Team

1941 Senior Edgar Seely class of 42

The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Sep_14__1941 Original Schedule
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Mon__Sep_15__1941_Lower Moreland Game Cancelled due to Epidemic
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sat__Sep_27__1941_First Fallsington Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Sep_27__1941_First Fallsington Box Score
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Sep_30__1941_First Fallsington Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sat__Oct_25__1941_Second Fallsington Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Thu__Oct_30__1941_Bristol Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Nov_9__1941_NJ School of the Deaf Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Nov_25__1941_End of Year
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Nov_25__1941_Newtown Pregame Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Nov_26__1941_Newtown Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Fri__Nov_28__1941_Newtown Game Starters
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_28__1941_Newtown Game Article

1942

The team finishes 4-1-1 during a war shortened season. And after it’s over, Coach Beck retires with 14 seasons and 118 games under his belt. The total seasons coached, and total games coached, will stand as records until both are eclipsed by Mark Schmidt. The first record falls in 2005 when Schmidt coaches his 119th game and then the second is surpassed in 2009, Schmidt’s 15th season at the helm.

1942 Langhorne Middletown Team

The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Sep_9__1942_Pre Season Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Sep_13__1942_ Initial Schedule
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Sep_23__1942_Pre Season Article Langhorne Middletown
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_25__1942_Upper Moreland Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Tue__Nov_17__1942_PIAA
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sat__Nov_21__1942_Lower Moreland Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Nov_21__1942_Lower Moreland Starters
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Dec_8__1942_Head Coach Charles Beck resigns
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Thu__Dec_17__1942_All Lower Bucks Selections

1943

Johnny Messics volunteers to coach the ‘Skins without pay during the war years of ’43, ’44 and ’45. A Temple graduate, Messics was on Glenn “Pop” Warner’s 1934 Temple squad that finished 7-0-2 and then played in the first Sugar Bowl (a 20-14 loss to Tulane). And in another war shortened campaign, Messics’ team plays only four games, losing three and tying one. The first year coach employs the Notre Dame “Box and Shift” offensive formation and although not helpful in his first year, the team improves in ’44 and ’45 as they go 9-6 those years.

1943_team

1943_11_25 Neshaminy Vs Bensalem Ticket

The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sun__Oct_31__1943_Bristol Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_5__1943_Morrisville Pregame Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Mon__Nov_8__1943_Morrisville Game Article

1944 

1944 Langhorne Middletown Team

A Treasure - 1944 photos of games at Playwicki Field with players names Morrisville Game and All Lower Bucks Selections - courtesy of Wayne Inky Schneider and son Craig Schneider

1944 September 12 Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Thu__Sep_21__1944_Initial Schedule
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Thu__Sep_28__1944_First Fallsington Pregame Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier__Oct_7__1944_ George School Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_8__1944_George School Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier__Sun_Oct_8__1944_ George School Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Oct_20__1944_St Francis Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Oct_27_1944_ Bristol Pregame Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_29__1944_Bristol Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sat__Nov_4__1944_ Fallsington Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier__Nov_5__1944_ Second Fallsington Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Fri__Nov_24__1944_Bensalem Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Dec_5__1944_All Lower Bucks Selections
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Dec_6__1944_All Lower Bucks Expands to 2 Selections

1945

The ‘Skins play a night game at “Playwicki Field” on Cherry Street in their first ever contest under the lights. But the portable lamps are not quite adequate for the job and kicks, punts and high passes are lost in the darkness resulting in any number of rather comical fumbles and dropped balls as players don’t see the football until the last second.

1945 Langhorne Middletown Team

1945 Senior Phil Doc Richter

1945 Junior Richard Lukens

The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sun__Sep_30__1945_Southampton Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Fri__Oct_6__1945_ George School game Article
The_Trentonian_Fri__Oct_20__1945_ NJSD game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Fri__Oct_26__1945_ Bristol Pregame Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_28__1945_ Bristol Game Article
1945_11_10 Neshaminy Vs Morrisville PreGame
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Mon__Nov_11__1945_Morrisville Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sun__Nov_18__1945_Morrisville Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Nov_21__1945_Bensalem Turkey Bowl pregame Article 2
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Nov_21__1945_Bensalem Turkey Bowl pregame Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Fri__Nov_23__1945_ Bensalem Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_23__1945_ Post Season Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Nov_25__1945_ Bensalem Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Nov_25__1945_-1

1946

New head coach Mike DeRisi, another Bristol native who attended West Chester State before coming home to Bucks County to teach, leaves Fallsington High to replace the just departed Messics. DeRisi makes an immediate change in Langhorne when he drops the Notre Dame box offense Messics had employed and replaces it with Glenn Warner’s single-wing scheme (DeRisi sought to exploit the speed of the Redskin backs which was not as effective in the somewhat power-back centric Notre Dame arrangement). DeRisi’s idea is on the money too as he guides the Redskins to their first LBC championship as they finish 7-2-1. The team also beats both Bristol and Morrisville in the same year for the first time.

1946 Langhorne-Middletown Team

On a “personnel” note, senior and four-year starter, Wayne “Inky” Schneider, qualified as the first Redskin superstar as he lines up as a quarterback, running back and receiver and then throws, runs, punts, catches, plays defense and returns kicks during his time in Langhorne. He also had a hand in half of the 1946 team’s 236 total points which was the most ever scored by a Redskin team through that season. Going on to play for West Chester State, Schneider was listed by “Sport Magazine” as one of the country’s top college quarterbacks in 1949. He also played in two “small” college bowl games in just one season as the “rules” permitted participation in more than one post-season game in those days. Joining the Air Force after college he becomes a jet fighter pilot and sees action in Korea and Vietnam. After retiring from the service, he then returns home to Lower Bucks and teaches at Pennsbury high school.

1946 Senior Don Kaleda

1946 Senior Wayne Inky Schneider

The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Sep_1__1946_-1 Initial Schedule
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sun_Sep_29__1946_ Riverside game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_13__1946_Trenton Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sat_Oct_19__1946_ Lower Moreland Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Tue__Nov_12__1946_-1
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Sat_Nov_17__1946_ Morrisville Game Article
Daily_Intelligencer_Mon_Nov_18 Morrisville Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed_Nov_27__1946_ Bensalem Turkey Bowl Pregame Article
1946_December All Lower Bucks Selections
1946_December Del Val Advance Selections
1946 December Post Season Article

1947

DeRisi’s boys follow up as they turn in another 7-2-1 report card and Langhorne take the LBC once again. Not quite the equal of the ’46 group, the two losses are to Riverside, 31-13, and Ft. Washington, 39-7. At the season’s end DeRisi moves on to Hammonton, New Jersey where he continues coaching.

1947 Langhorne Middletown Redskins

School Flag 1947

1947 Preseason Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Sep_20__1947_Fallsington Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_5__1947_George School
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Oct_11__1947_Ft Washington Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Wed__Nov_26__1947_Bensalem Pregame Article
Bristol Courier Times_1947 Nov. 28 Bensalem pre & post game Bensalem win LBC 09.28.16
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Fri__Nov_28__1947_Bensalem Game Starters
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Fri__Dec_12__1947_Head Coach Del Risi Resigns

1948

James Egli becomes the head man and stays on board through the 1951 season. He switches from the single-wing offense to the more “modern” T-formation and generates a 15-19-4 record in his 4 seasons.

1948 Langhorne-Middletown Team

1948 Roster

Neshaminy_1948 Oct. 29 Bristol program cover 09.28.16

Neshaminy_1948 players pictures 09.28.16

1948 Senior Bernie VanSant

The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Sep_25__1948
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sat__Sep_25__1948_Fallsington Box Score
1948 Miscellaneous Game Articles 2
1948 Miscellaneous Game Articles 3
1948 Miscellaneous Game Articles 4
Del Val Advance October_9__1948_Neshaminy_Vs_Mt_Pleasant_DE
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_17__1948_Lower Moreland Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Nov_14__1948_Morrisville Game Article
Neshaminy_1948 Dec. 9 Del. Valley Adv. All County 09.28.16

1949

Although already an old “foe”, the Redskins line up in their opener that year against a brand new school: Pennsbury (which is the result of a merger between the Fallsington and Yardley high schools with a name change included). The game ends 0-0. That season is also the last year the team will play under the name Langhorne-Middletown as the ‘Skins will see a name change itself before the next season begins. As to the last Langhorne-Middletown squad, they were a solid group finishing 5-3-1, the best under Egli’s direction.

1949 Langhorne-Middletown Team

1949_misc_team_photo_from_yearbook_2

1949_misc_team_photo_from_yearbook_3

1949 Miscellaneous Game Articles 1
1949 Miscellaneous Game Articles 2
1949 Miscellaneous Game Articles 3
1949 Miscellaneous Game Articles 4
1949 Miscellaneous Game Articles 5
1949 Playwickian Articles
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_2__1949_Riverside Game Article
The Bristol Courier October_8__1949_LM_Vs_Mt_Pleasant_DE
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Mon__Oct_17__1949_Lower Moreland Game Article
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Oct_23__1949_Council Rock Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Thu__Nov_3__1949_new tv example
The_Philadelphia_Inquirer_Sun__Nov_6__1949_Southampton Game Article
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Fri__Nov_25__1949_Pennsbury HS plans
The_Bristol_Daily_Courier_Tue__Dec_6__1949_ALLLBCL-1 Banquet