On this day in Arlington history, November 18, 1941: The Sun Gazette says “Throng of Rooters Due to Trail Little Generals to G.W. Game.
In 1935, the year George Washington High School opened in Alexandria, a Thanksgiving football rivalry named the Oaken Bucket was kicked off between G.W. and Washington-Lee [now Washington-Liberty] H.S. in Arlington. Notable W-L players participating in the great rivalry were Jake Scott, (Class of 1972 Super Bowl MVP), Reggie Harrison (Class of 1969 and Super Bowl MVP) and even actor Warren Beatty (Class of 1955). Old-timers agree the most memorable game was in 1956 when the late Wayne Ballard kicked an “improbable” 42-yard field goal with no time remaining. The ball actually hit the crossbar and bounced over to lift Washington-Lee over George Washington 3 to nothing.
The local papers go on to predict what will happen in this 1941 game.
“Barring snow or rain, several thousand Arlingtonians will set out for Alexandria on Thursday morning to help the W&L High gridders settle the issue of the Northern Virginia Class “A” title and the custody of the “Old Oaken Bucket” with the George Washington High eleven in the annual Thanksgiving game.
“Coach Harry Deming’s boys will line up for the 10 a.m. kick-off as favorites to retain the “Bucket” that they held possession of last year with a clearcut 14-0 win at the W.L. Stadium with Russ Arnaud as the spearhead of the attack.
“Thursday’s battle will be the 7th in the present series and the first in which the Doranmen will make use of the “T” formation. While W.-L. will continue to employ its single wing offense with an unbalanced line.
“Deming will probably lead with his aces, all of them, and start his first club with Jimmy Sprinkle, Eddie DeCelle, Bob Donegan and Leo Urbanski or Ernie Gillenwaters in the backfield and Melvin Winfield, Don Reid, Jimmy Wall, Jack Grinnell, Captain “Mose” Wilson, Jack Evens and Warren Kelley in the line in the usual order.”
