Coach Doherty and the Norwood Mustangs Prepare for High-Stakes Showdown Against Wellesley-October 13, 1972

Fresh off a commanding shutout victory over Needham, Norwood High School football coach John Doherty and his Mustangs are turning their full attention toward a crucial Bay State League matchup against Wellesley.

Evaluating the film from last week’s win, Doherty emphasized that Norwood’s defensive dominance wasn’t merely a stroke of luck. The Mustangs forced five fumbles by imposing a punishing physical style of play.

“Our kids deserve all the credit they can get for the kind of game they played,” Doherty praised. “The defense was tremendous and the shutout was the first here in some time. We forced five fumbles with great hitting and were able to take away their running game at key times.”

Defensive Standouts and Team Leaders

Doherty singled out several players whose stellar performances fueled the momentum:

• Keith Rogers: Making his first start, Rogers delivered a stellar two-way performance. In addition to a remarkable diving touchdown reception, Rogers tallied nine unassisted tackles, including a crucial touchdown-saving stop, while also handling punting duties. “He was super both ways… He does everything for us,” Doherty noted.
• Bob Collins: The hard-nosed linebacker earned the team game ball for his relentless defensive execution.
• Dale Eckholm: Recognized for anchoring an interior line that completely neutralized the opponent’s offensive rhythm.

A Must-Win Turning Point

With a 9-game regular season already underway, Doherty acknowledged that Saturday’s contest against Wellesley represents a critical crossroads for the squad.

“This is a crucial game for us. A win over Wellesley could turn the whole season around,” Doherty said. “You know, we were thinking big things for this year and then lost our first two. Last week gave us a big lift. Now we need to take the next one.”

Mathematically, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In a competitive nine-game campaign, falling below the .500 mark after four weeks makes mounting a championship comeback nearly impossible—meaning tomorrow’s loser faces an uphill battle for the remainder of the fall.

Despite Wellesley stumbling in its previous two outings (registering a loss and a tie), Doherty dismissed any notion that the Red Raiders are vulnerable. “They have a great backfield and strong defense. I think the way this league is balanced explains the loss and tie, rather than it being a matter of Wellesley doing poorly,” he cautioned.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger