The Save-An-Eye Game After the War — November 23, 1945

​

The 1945 Save-An-Eye All-Star Football Game marked a moment of transition. World War II had ended just months earlier, and communities across Erie County were beginning to return to normal life. Football, once again, became both a celebration and a gathering point.

Played on Friday, November 23, 1945, the seventh Save-An-Eye Game reflected both resilience and renewal — even as it unfolded under some of the harshest weather conditions in the series’ history .

​

Miserable Conditions on the Field

The game was played in zero-degree temperatures, making it one of the coldest Save-An-Eye contests ever recorded. The frigid conditions dominated the night and shaped the outcome on the field, limiting offensive production and turning defense and special teams into decisive factors .

​

West Wins in a Defensive Battle

In a game defined by weather and field position, the West All-Stars defeated the East, 11–0 .

​

Scoring Summary

• Ray Hedderick (McDowell / Millcreek) returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, accounting for the game’s only touchdown

• Joe Zuravleff (Tech) caught the conversion pass

• The West added two safeties:

  • One following a fumble recovery involving Joe Lohse (Wesleyville)

  • Another after Al Reidel (East) recovered a loose ball in the end zone

• The East offense was limited to minus-4 yards rushing for the game

West standouts included Hedderick, Zuravleff, and Jack Strucher of Strong Vincent, while Bob Morgan (Academy) and Bob Swanson (East) led the East in a difficult loss.

​

A Sideline Celebration: The Ice Carnival

Despite the brutal cold, the 1945 Save-An-Eye Game was also remembered for a surprising and spirited halftime ice carnival, underscoring the community’s eagerness to celebrate after years of wartime sacrifice.

Between halves, baton twirlers and drum majorettes performed in snow and wintry winds, drawing applause from the bundled-up crowd.

• Academy High School performers, dressed in white silk skirts and colorful blouses, danced to the accompaniment of the Academy band

• The Corry High School band and majorettes spelled out a large “H-E-L-L-O” at midfield, greeting fans with optimism and showmanship

The performance made spectators “shiver — and applaud,” capturing the spirit of a community eager to look forward again.

 

A Notable First: The End of an Era on the Sidelines

The 1945 game marked the first Save-An-Eye Game in which Lowell Drake did not participate as a coach. Drake had been present on the sidelines for each of the previous six games, making his absence a quiet but significant milestone in the event’s history .

His departure symbolized a generational shift as the game moved from its founding leaders into its next phase.

​

1945 All-Star Rosters

​

A Post-War Gathering of Schools

The 1945 rosters continued the tradition of broad county representation:

East Schools Represented:
East, North East, Academy, Union City, Wesleyville, Harbor Creek, Lawrence Park, Waterford, Corry, Cambridge Springs

West Schools Represented:
Tech, Strong Vincent, Cathedral Prep, Millcreek, Albion, Edinboro, Fairview, Girard, Conneautville

(Complete official rosters preserved from the 1945 Save-An-Eye Game)

​

Why 1945 Matters

This year stands apart because it represents:

• The return of peacetime football

• A community eager to celebrate and gather again

• The end of Lowell Drake’s sideline era

• The transition from the founding generation to the next stewards of the game

From mud (1939) to ice (1940, 1945), from war years to peace, the Save-An-Eye Game had proven it could endure — and evolve.