1967 - The Game of the Year

In 1967, both St. Michael's High School and Santa Fe High School put together great football teams. Coached by Donnie Baca, the St. Mike's Horsemen starters included Louie Tapia, Don Dawson, Art Sandoval, Mario Trujillo, Isaac Pino, Andrew Lucero, Barney Solen, Juan Aragon, Bob Manzanares, Floyd Miller and Ronnie Segura. The SFHS Demons, coached by Austin Basham, featured Hoyt Mutz, Tom Garcia, John Jones, Waldo Griego, Bern Mullings, John Sanchez, Bobby Rougemont, Johnny Gallegos, Jimmy Romero, Jerry Kloeppel and James Trujillo.

Donnie Baca predicted a clean win but Austin Basham didn’t expect a close game at all. Still, St. Mike’s – just off a nice win over West Las Vegas – was favored over Santa Fe High which just got bombed by both Clovis and Los Alamos. On the other hand, the Horsemen had not won a football game over the Demons since 1960 when Donnie Baca was still playing on the varsity squad. The outcome of the 1967 game, however, would surprise everyone.

It was a capacity crowd at Magers Field in 1967. The first quarter was all defense and the teams did little but trade punts. In the second quarter, the Demons took advantage of a Horsemen fumble on the St. Mike’s 13. On the next play (for no gain), a penalty against the Horsemen put it on the 5. Then, Demon quarterback Bobby Martinez threw a pretty pass to Bob Rougement in the end zone for the score. The conversion attempt was no good. Demons 6, Horsemen 0.

Just as the second quarter drew to a close, Horseman Louie Tapia intercepted a Demon pass and raced 32 yards for a stunning touchdown. The conversion failed but, at half-time, the score stood 6 to 6.

The Demons came out for the second half on fire. Quarterback Bobby Martinez capped a 65 yard drive with a sneak from the 3 yard line. The conversion was good and the Demons led 13-6. A few plays later, Horseman quarterback Juan Aragon hit Barney Solen on a short pass; Barney looked trapped but he suddenly put on a burst of speed and raced all the way to the end zone. The conversion was good and the score was 13 all.

By this time, the Demon spirit had waned considerably and the Horsemen were suddenly showered with great opportunities. An interception put them on the Demon 1 foot mark but the Demons held them off. A few minutes later, Horsemen Tim Layden picked off another Demon pass and the Horsemen had a first down on the Demon 30 with 4 minutes to go. Before the Horsemen could close the deal, Demon Teddy Pepperas intercepted a Horsemen pass and time ran out.

The Horsemen Demon Game of 1967 ended as a tie, 13 to 13. It was and would remain the only tie game between the arch-rivals in their entire history of competition.

1952 - The Deadly Race

55 Santa Fe boys signed up to compete in the official 1952 Soap Box Derby, sponsored by the New Mexican, Santa Fe Motor Company – which provided all the special soap box derby wheels, and the Optimist Club, with Orlando Fernandez as president.

Without listing every single racer, here’s just a few for us old-timers:

Donald Gonzales from Don Cubero St, Eddie Ray Scarafiotti, 343 W. Manhattan, James VanderSys from Camino Alire, Johnnie Kirk and Joe Carrier, both from Allendale Street. There were the Brennand brothers, David and Dan, from Zia Road, Jimmie J. Martinez, 1610 Young St., Edward Ortiz, 319 W. Gomez and Clarence Lithgow from Griffin Street. And dozens more.

And one of them was a killer.

It wasn’t Alfred Gonzales, the 12 yr old driver of car no. 34, sponsored by Johnnie’s Nite Club. But doesn’t it strike you as strange that a night club would sponsor a car in the soap box derby? I only mention Alfred because he was the eventual winner of the 1952 derby, winning a trip to Akron, Ohio for the finals. Alfred was the son of Mr. And Mrs. Manuel A. Martinez, 1601 Jay Street. It was the six-grader’s first race.

So who or what killed Elizabeth Riley?

Mrs. Riley, 85, was visiting friends in Santa Fe just in time to attend the Annual Soap Box Derby of 1952. Standing on the sidewalk of Marcy Street with her friends, Mrs. Riley watched several home-made racers go by. Suddenly, one racer – mever identified – swerved out of control, hit the curb and flew off the track, striking Mrs. Elizabeth Riley. She suffered a broken leg and was immediately hospitalized. Mrs. Riley seemed to be getting well but soon complications of a broken leg and old age set in and she died, after lingering for about three weeks in St. Vincent Hospital, under the care of Dr. Bergere Kenney. Her remains were returned to California for burial.

This is a true story, the story of the only fatality ever claimed in a Santa Fe Soap Box Derby.