1988 Varsity Football Team

The 1988 Peddie varsity football team faced a number of formidable challenges including strong traditional opponents and powerful non-conference teams. Even before the season began, the untimely death of Headmaster Potter was felt keenly by the football team he had always supported strongly.

Opening against Perkiomen, Peddie unleashed a ferocious defense and awesome rushing attack. Then the defense and the running of Spencer Day felled Lawrenceville, 15-2. Against prep power Mercersburg, a Peter Yoars conversion kick proved to be the difference in a 7-6 victory. Playing powerful Germantown, the Falcons fell behind 18-0 by mid-third quarter. Then, in an eight-minute span, Peddie’s three unanswered scores- through the heroics of Sal Leale, Jack Miscall and Lance Rucks – earned a 20-18 win.

Next, Hun was dominated by the Falcon defense, led by John Coffey and Rob Pedott. Hun Coach Long proclaimed Peddie “the best team he’d ever faced.” At Farragut, the offense – led by Day, Jeff Smith and Yoars- romped for 50 points. Hill who hadn’t lost to Peddie in over 10 years, saw Miscall starring both ways and scoring a defensive touchdown early as the Falcons shutout their nemesis.

The showdown, for both the Prep A title and an undefeated season, came at Blair. Behind the play of Pedott, Mike Adamson, Coffey, Doug Costle and the 250-yard rushing, four-TD performance of Spencer Day, Peddie won, 56-28, to finish the season unblemished. The Falcons were named the number one prep team in New Jersey and the top-ranked squad in Mercer County. Thus the 1988 Peddie varsity football team – led by Head Coach John Mackay, and assistant coaches Ray Visbeck, Pat Clements and Robert Foote – took its place as one of the finest teams ever to don the Old Gold and Blue.