The Patchogue-Medford Hall of Fame has announced the induction of the 1929 Boys Varsity Football Team, a group that made history nearly a century ago and now takes its rightful place among the district’s all-time greats.
Recognized as Suffolk County Co-Champions, the 1929 Patchogue High School varsity football team built a memorable season on toughness, resilience, and a knack for making big defensive plays. Their outstanding campaign was highlighted by a dominant Thanksgiving Day victory that helped secure their championship legacy.
The season opened in impressive fashion with a 19-0 win over Amityville. Philip Weissman starred in the victory, scoring on a 70-yard touchdown run and adding another score on a 20-yard interception return. It was an early sign of the speed and playmaking ability that would define the team throughout the season.
Patchogue continued its strong run with victories over Huntington, Winwood of Lake Grove, East Hampton, and Sayville. Week after week, the Raiders proved to be one of the top teams in the county, combining strong defense with timely offense.
The team’s only setback came in the Suffolk County Championship game, where Patchogue dropped a hard-fought contest to Sag Harbor by a score of 32-6. While the loss was disappointing, the season was far from over.
One final challenge remained — the traditional Thanksgiving Day rivalry game against Bay Shore. Patchogue responded in emphatic fashion, rolling to a 27-0 victory. Adam Leskowicz led the charge with three touchdowns, helping the Raiders capture the championship of Western Suffolk and finish the season on a high note.
The championship team was led by head coach Edgar Bright and included manager Joseph Sheridan, assistant manager James Legumis, captain Frank Bianco, Earl Ackerly, Herbert Albin, Jack Bergman, John Buich, Henry Czina, Austin Clowes, John Cryan, Ernest Guertin, Charles Hendrickson, Robert Ince, William Joaquin, Joseph Kuzmeh, Adam Leskowicz, David Levy, Irving Ratchick, Robert Robertaccio, Rolff Roscoll, Frank Savage, John Schwardel, Gerard Schnitzler, Curtis Shiebler, Howard Sephton, Grant Smith, Philip Weissman, and Harold Wright.
Now, their remarkable accomplishments will be remembered forever as members of the Patchogue-Medford Hall of Fame.