Toms River Flashback: 1984 St. Joe’s Angels Pop Warner, the Way Things Were
By Phil Stilton
Toms River–After another great week of football at the Jersey Shore AYF, I stumbled across these photos in our archives. They are from 1984 at High School South. The St. Joe’s Pee Wee Angels versus Toms River South Indians.
Times sure have changed in the nearly 30 years since these pictures were taken. By the way, that’s me, #86. For starters, the Angels were then affiliated with the church. We practiced in the fields behind Monsignor Donovan and played our home games on the Griffon’s field.
There were only two teams, the Angels and the Indians and we had a fierce rivalry. In fact, before the game, we would make an effigy of an Indian, hang it on a cross and march from St. Joes to High School South with the crucified indian on the cross.
We’d plan the Indian in the end zone and we’d all tackle it before the game.
I’m pretty sure none of that is allowed today under the AYF rules, or even Pop Warner for that matter.
How times have changed. The Indians now play at Toms River North, The Angels at Toms River East and the third franchise, the Raiders, play at Toms River South.
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