Bluejay Football

Coach Robert Hailey

Arthur Carder	Larry Eiker	Larry Elliott
Don Gregory	Fred Isenhour	Kenneth Jones
Mike Maloney	Keith McDonald	Randy McMillan

Berk Stanley

James Tate

George Thomas

1955 FOOTBALL SEASON

1955 Season Summary

The call for football lettermen and hopefuls went out August 15th with 16 letter winners and many others reporting.

This year seven seniors and nine juniors constituted the line-up of boys who had seen previous service. At the end positions were: Robert McMillian and Larry Elliott; tackles, Art Carder, Kenneth Jones, Harvey Arbaugh and Harold Holt; guards, Berk Stanley and Bill Crawford; center, Don Gregory; quarterbacks, Jim Miller and Dick Martin; halfbacks, Randy McMillan, Keith McDonald and David Petty and fullbacks, Max Moyer and Jim Millen.

Liberty, encountering their first football foe of the new season, was defeated by a larger North Kansas City team, on the Hornet field, by a margin of 24-0. The bluejays held Northtown scoreless during the first period, but, midway in the second quarter a Hornet halfback intercepted a stray pass and scampered 7 yards for the initial score. The Hornets, Pony Express Conference champions, went on to roll up a three touchdown insurance in the second half. 

Park Hill was the first victim of the Bluejays by a score of 12-0. The Trojans were pushed back repeatedly, but the Jays could only cash in on two chances, a five yard pass from Randy McMillan to Keith McDonald in the 2nd period and a smash over the right side by Max Moyer in the 3rd quarter. 

Battling with Lexington, the Liberty attack could not hold up as the Minutemen drove to a 13 to 6 victory. The tussle was fought to a standstill until late in the 3rd quarter when Lex­ington moved goalward successfully on two consecutive marches. Liberty then started running and passing steadily towards the last white stripe. The Bluejays went over on a 7 yard pass from Keith McDonald to Randy McMillan. 

On September 28th, Liberty was trampled by Raytown 39 to 6. The lone tally for Liberty was a reverse play with George Thomas carrying around left end. 

Against Slater, the Bluejays ran wild over the Wildcats as Max Moyer went 55 yards and 1 yard for scores. Keith McDonald ran a kick-off back 55 yards and covered the remaining distance of 20 yards on the next play and passed for another touchdown to Dick Martin. Jim Miller countered a touchdown to complete the Bluejay scoring. 

Homecoming was a big affair, but this year's M. R. V. C. champs, Richmond, took the game 20 to 0, after a slow start. Although Homecoming is an important game, one of the contests that Liberty wanted to win the most was against Excelsior Springs. The Tigers, playing in their Homecoming tried to check the Bluejay squadron throughout the game with little success. Led by Max Moyer's two touchdowns, Liberty went on to a climax a 39-7 game winning score. George Thomas, David Petty, Kent McClard and Keith McDonald were the other boys that found the end zone to their liking. So now the ''Dueling Pistols'' are once more in the trophy case of Liberty High School. 

Liberty journeyed to Higginsville to play the Cornhuskers and for the second consecutive week, the Bluejays spoiled an annual Homecoming Game 7-0. Again Max Moyer was the one to come through with the lone touchdown to provide the victory margin. 

Marshall High School fought to a 20-13 victory over the Bluejays to give them a tie for second place with Lexington in the M. R. V. C. Keith McDonald and Jim Miller made the scoring touchdowns for Liberty. 

For the third time this season Max Moyer scored two touchdowns in one game to bring the Liberty Bluejays to their 5th win of the year by a 26-13 count. George Thomas scored the third T. D. on a pitchout around the end and Dick Martin picked off a Trojan pass and raced 35 yards to end the point making, as all four touchdowns were made in the first half. 

This year found eight new lettermen as the season was brought to a close. Three seniors; Fred Isenhour, end; Mike Maloney, tackle; and James Tate, guard. The Juniors were; Kent McClard, end; Ron Brandt and Jim Reeds, guards; Ron Gabbert, fullback; and sophomore half-back, Gentry Thomason. 

Previous to the first game the Jays elected as their Co-Captains Art Carder and Bill Crawford to lead them during the 1955-56 season.  Arthur Carder was named on the All-Conference first team at a tackle position and Max Moyer, Liberty's leading ground gainer and scorer, with 8 touchdowns, was chosen on the second team. Kenneth Jones, Berk Stanley and Keith McDonald were awarded honorable mention.

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