A century of Ripon High football and all of its traditions were celebrated Thursday evening when current players and alumni that also wore red and white on the gridiron broke bread together in the high school multi-purpose room.
Jim Tornell – quarterback from 1969 – presented a history of the sport and the kids who played for the Ripon High team beginning in 1917. Tornell covered many of the old plays that he had used more than 45 years ago.  Tornell played for Baylor University in his freshman year and then went on to the Sacramento State team.
On hand for the event were players from the 1950 team: Bert Ballatore, Bill Whitmore and Al Houbein.  Cliff Jorgensen was there too having played four years before graduating in 1970.  Tom Tornell was in the class of 1962 and was at the dinner with his brother Jim from the class of 1970.
The late Joaquin Costa was also an early standout who played varsity in 1949 and graduated in 1950. He later played for Modesto Junior College for two years before going into the United States Air Force and later working for Franzia Winery.  Costa played at the varsity level all four years in many positions: linebacker, running back, fullback, kicker and quarterback. He played alongside Charlie Franzia. 
Ripon High first put a football team together in 1917 “and despite it being a green team the boys made a very credible showing” to the credit of Coach Belieu, Captain Hartman and manager Clyde Grubaugh.  Four games were played that year with the Indians losing the first two and winning the final pair on the gridiron. 
The first game of that initial  season was played on Sept. 30 when the team traveled to Stockton. The team “was nervous and not used to the turf field” and were beaten 23-0. 
“The game was better than the score indicated,” the coach wrote,” and the players received many valuable pointers.  On Oct. 13, 1917, the Ripon team took on Hughson with the players holding their own through the first half.  But, they “lost their nerve” and could not hold the competitors off losing 23- 5.
Ripon beat Stockton 6-0 in their third competition at the Ripon field with Hansen scoring the first touchdown a few minutes before the close of the first half. 
On Friday afternoon, Nov. 3, the Ripon team met Hughson on their home turf in a game that was described as “easily the best game of the season” and all of the fellows were out to win or die and repay the defeat which Hughson had given them earlier in the season. 
“For the first 10 minutes, they had us on our line but from then on the ball was in their territory continually and only brilliant playing on their part prevented scoring.  In the middle of the second half, Alvin Hansen went across the line after a fast passing rush.  On account of a strong wind, Fish failed to convert,” according to the 1918 yearbook.
Following the end of the football season a number of Ripon businessmen agreed to give the team members large Jersey sweaters.  Those getting the sweaters had played in every game and had made their block R’s.
That first team included Harold Peterson, Loyd Henry, Otis Oliver, Burton Hand, Ralph Nourse, Howard Summers, Lawrence Friel, Leo Hammett, Hans Hartman, Virgil Vandeveer, Clair Fish, Alvin Hansen, Clyde Grubaugh, Arthur Kim, Harold Fish, Fred Garner, Roland Welty, Maurice Carlon, Arthur Peterson and Wayne Van Slyke. 

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.