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Blast From The Past: Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks at Ohio State November 28th, 1942

Matt Gutridge's picture
November 27, 2015 at 5:23pm
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IOWA SEAHAWKS AT NO. 3 OHIO STATE // NOVEMBER 28, 1942
  Final
IOWA PRE-FLIGHT 12
No. 3 OHIO STATE 41
 
BACKGROUND

The Buckeyes entered this game with an 8-1 record and had just defeated No. 41 That Team (21-7) in Ohio Stadium. The loss at No. 6 Wisconsin (7-17) in Madison week 6. After the loss to the Badgers Ohio State defeated Pitt (59-19), No. 13 Illinois (44-20) in Cleveland and then That Team.

This was the first time of two home games against Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks. The Seahawks were a Navy team made up of graduated collegiate and former professional players who traveled the country playing the nations best teams. Iowa Pre-Flight was 7-1, with its lone loss to Notre Dame. The Seahawks were coached by former Minnesota coach Bernie Bierman who guided the Gophers to five national championships between 1934 and 1941. 
 

OHIO STATE PLAYERS
  • Paul Sarringhaus rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Les Horvath had 39 rushing yards and a touchdown. 
  • Tommy James threw 2 touchdown passes..

IOWA PRE-FLIGHGT'S PLAYERS
Paul SarringhausPaul Sarringhaus gained 45 yards on this carry against Iowa Pre-Flight.

KEY PLAY OF THE GAME

Ohio State leading at 27-6 at half time and the Buckeyes' defense intercepting five passes.


THE REST OF THE STORY

The 1942 season ended with the victory over Iowa Pre-Flight. Ohio State was No. 3 and needed Georgia Tech and Boston College to lose to become national champs. Georgia took care of Georgia Tech (34-0), but No. 1 Boston College was playing unranked Holy Cross. The football gods were smiling on Buckeye Nation that day as Holy Cross defeated Boston College 55-12. 

The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll of 1942 and Ohio State won its first national title in football. Three players were named All-Americans (Chuck Csuri Lin Houston and Bob Shaw). Paul Brown was named college football's coach of the year. However, Brown declined the award because Georgia Tech's head coach, Bill Alexander, was dying and Brown believed it would be Alexander's last chance at winning the award. The story of Brown declining the award was not known when Alexander was honored.
 

National ChampsOhio State's first national championship.

 

Ohio State's 1942 Schedule and Results
Oppontent Result Score
Fort Knox W 59-0
Indiana W 32-21
USC W 28-12
Purdue W 26-0
at Northwestern W 20-6
at No. 6 Wisconsin L 7-17
Pitt W 59-19
No. 13 Illinois* W 44-20
No. 4 That Team W 21-7
Iowa Seahawks W 41-12
     
Total 9-1 337-114 
*Played in Cleveland
 
This Week's Articles

Remy's Research: The Game Answers
Know Thy Enemy: That Team's Defense
Know Thy Enemy: That Team's Offense
Enemies Of The State
The Series History: Ohio State/That Team
The Game: Top 5 Ohio State Coaches By Winning Percentage
The Rundown: No. 8 Ohio State at No. 10 That Team

Next Articles
Ohio State On This Date: November 28th
Prep Tracker: Week 15
The Ohio State Effect: That Team

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