The Official Site of the Fighting Saints

John “Jack” McCarvel’s teammates related the Anaconda product was the originator of the safety blitz on the Hilltop, long before professional football’s television term “Blitz” became vogue. He played QB and DB from 1939-41, was part of two Conference titles and a composite team record of 14-1-1. McCarvel was described as a hard-hitting back, “adept at a snaky brand of running accounting for numerous open-field gains,” did most of the passing, and was a “bearcat on defense” spending many an afternoon in the opposing backfield.

As a junior the year before football was suspended for WWII, he helped the Saints to an undefeated, unscored upon 5-0-1 mark in 1941. In the win over Boise JC, Jack’s 35-yard punt return set up the second of three Hilltop safeties. He rushed for the insurance touchdown in the triumph over Whitworth, and in the win over Normal (Western) he threw the winning TD strike. In the victory over Montana Tech to clinch the title, he ran for 169 yards, with longs of 34, 30 and 28 yards. A 4-year basketball letterman, McCarvel was consistently among the league’s top scorers. He helped the Saints to a pair of league crowns, highlighted by his last-second winning basket vs. Northern to secure the repeat in 1943.