“Touchdown Thrills of 1946” is a black-and-white sports reel film highlighting exciting college football games from the 1946 season. Presented by Official Films as part of their Sport Beams series, this particular film highlights the Army vs. Columbia, Navy vs. UPenn, University of Pittsburgh vs. University of Illinois, Notre Dame vs. University of Iowa, University of Georgia vs. University of Alabama, and Army vs. Navy games. Of the games depicted, however, the footage of West Point’s Army Black Knights is the most exciting as the Army team was famously undefeated during their 1946 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Earl “Red” Blaik, the Cadets compiled a 9–0–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 263 to 80. Army’s 1946 season was part of a 32-game undefeated streak that included the entire 1944, 1945, and 1946 seasons.
Opening credits and title page (0:06). West Point football stadium (Michie Stadium) packed with fans as Army plays Columbia University (0:22). Army Black Knights vs. Columbia Lions official score 48 – 14 (0:24). Various game plays – All American Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis, Tom Hayes, Bill Gustafson scoring for Army (0:26). Doc Blanchard receives ball during final kickoff and runs 92 yards across field to complete final touch down of the game (2:13). University of Pennsylvania Quakers vs. Navy Midshipmen official score 32 – 19 (2:36). Various game plays; Pete Williams 44-yard touchdown run at Franklin Field in Philadelphia (2:38). University of Pittsburgh Panthers vs. University of Illinois 33 – 7 official score (3:09). Various game plays – Buddy Young, Ralph Short, Tom Stewart, Paul Patterson at Pitt Stadium (3:12). Notre Dame vs. University of Iowa 41 – 6 official score (4:16). Camera pans packed University of Iowa Kinnick Stadium; Various game plays – Terry Brennan, Johnny Lujack, Leon Hart, Bob Sullivan (4:18). University of Georgia vs. University of Alabama 14 – 0 official score (5:01). Football rivalry game played at Stanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia; Various game plays; Crowds cheer and go wild during rivalry game – Dick McPhee, John Donaldson (5:04). University of Texas vs. University of Oklahoma 54 – 6 official score (6:13). Various game plays at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas – Booby Lane, Audrey Gill, Perry Samuels (6:16). Army vs. Navy 21 – 18 official score (7:05). Shots of Philadelphia Municipal Stadium packed with spectators for rivalry game; Various game plays – Arnold Tucker, Pete Williams, Glenn Davis (7:07). Fans perform halftime stunt in crowd (7:51). Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik spotted biting nails as Navy encroaches on Army’s lead (8:03). Excited crowd surges onto field (8:36). Closing credits (8:48).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
