North Caddo Parish: North Caddo High's First Football Season

The North Caddo Rebels had a successful inaugural season, compiling a 7-3 record. Home games were played at the old Vivian High stadium as the new concrete stadium located on campus was incomplete. (a)

Click on the photo below to see a larger version.

Shreveport Times 11-Dec-1955, Page 2-D

Here's a preseason preview of the team that appeared in the Shreveport Times.

Shreveport Times 28-Aug-1955, Page 4-D

Below is the team roster, as published in the Jefferson, TX newspaper before the game with that school.

Source: Jefferson (TX) Jimplecute Sep-1955, Page 7

NORTH CADDO 1955 FOOTBALL RESULTS:

02-Sep-1955 (H) NC 20 Natchitoches 0

Shreveport Times 03-Sep-1955 Page 10-A

Pictures from that first game.

Fred Parker's recollection of the school's first contest: I saw that game. Played at the old Vivian High School stadium as the current stadium wasn't finished at that time. Sammy Bruce scored the first touchdown, Roy Bridges scored the second and Sammy scored the third touchdown. We've always kidded Sammy about the first one. A run of maybe two feet.

Years ago, there was an old deflated football with faded lettering commemorating the event in the NC trophy case.

09-Sep-1955 (A) NC 6 Leesville 0

Shreveport Times 10-Sep-1955 Page 2-B

16-Sep-1955 (A) NC 13 Jefferson (TX) 0

Shreveport Times 17-Sep-1955, Page 7-A

23-Sep (H) - Carthage (TX) 13 NC 7

Shreveport Times 24-Sep-1955, Page 2-B

30-Sep-1955 (A) NC 13 Springhill 6 (b)

Shreveport Times 01-Oct-1955, Page 3-B

07-Oct-1955 (H) Minden 12 NC 7

Shreveport Times 08-Oct-1955 Page 1-B

14-Oct-1955 NC 35 Mansfield 7

Shreveport Times 15-Oct-1955, Page 1-B

28-Oct-1955 (A) NC 21 St. John's 6 (c)

Shreveport Times 28-Oct-1955, Page 5-B (NC over St Johns)

04-Nov-1955 NC 20 Bossier 6

Shreveport Times Nov-1955 Page 2-B (NC over Bossier)

11-Nov-1955 (A) Ferriday 43, NC 18

Monroe (LA) Morning World 12-Nov-1955, Page 10

Season Record: 7 wins, 3 losses

(H) Home, (A) Away

(a) Per Fred Parker, 1956 NCHS graduate

(b) Springhill has since been consolidated into North Webster High School.

(c) St. John's later was renamed Jesuit, and is now Loyola College Prep. Score is per Loyola-Jesuit-St. Johns football game by game results.

Despite a 3-1 District 1-AA record, tying them for first place with Bossier, the Rebels were ineligible in their first year. The Bearkats, a 20-6 loser to the Rebels, were awarded the district crown.

While no Rebels were named to the 1st or 2nd All-State teams, three players received honorable mention: backs Roy Bridges and Sammy Bruce, as well as center Buster Rushing.

Source: Monroe (LA) News Star (21-Dec-1955 Page 16

Team Members:

Managers:

1956 North Caddo Rebel (yearbook), courtesy of Ellen Stevens; some photos from 1957 Rebel provided by Noah Blizzard

Leading students and fans in support of the team were NC's first cheerleaders.

1956 North Caddo Rebel (yearbook), courtesy of Clarence Reece

First-year Louisiana State University head football coach Paul Dietzel spoke at the inaugural football banquet.