Football Team Opens Season With Dominant Defense-September 13, 1980

Backed by a suffocating defensive performance that completely neutralized the ground game, the Norwood High School football team kicked off its season in style last night, securing a decisive 26-7 triumph over Don Bosco.

Defensive Lockdown and Second-Half Offensive Surge

After a scoreless first half that left the contest deadlocked in a 6-0 yawner, the Mustang defense slammed the door, shutting out Don Bosco and failing to yield a single first down throughout the final three quarters. Norwood limited Don Bosco to a mere 66 yards rushing—54 of which came from Xerxes Hammond before he exited in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury—while rendering Don Bosco’s passing game nonexistent as quarterback Paul Nee completed just two of eight attempts for two yards.

“We have a lot of improving to do. We made some mistakes, but overall I thought we played pretty well for our first game,” reflected Norwood coach John Doherty, who praised his defense and a running attack that churned out 140 yards on the ground.

Senior middle guard Barry McDonough earned the team’s defensive “Bone Award” for relentless play, anchoring a unit that featured standout efforts from linebacker Paul Dyer—who recovered a mishandled pitch-out at the Don Bosco 6-yard line—and punter Joe Travers, whose booming 64-yard punt pinned deep in opponent territory set up the game’s turning point. Coach Doherty acknowledged making key offensive adjustments after intermission: “I kept trying to play power football and I should have listened to my assistant coaches earlier. We should have been popping those quick openers like we did in the first half.”

Scoring Breakdown and Fourth-Quarter Explosions

Norwood drew first blood in the third quarter when John Doherty Jr. capped a short drive with a 3-yard straight-ahead plunge following center Paul McCracken.

The Mustang offense broke the game wide open in the fourth quarter:

• Steve Cronin powered up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown, set up by a 19-yard halfback option pass from game-ball recipient Fernando DeCosta to Don Whitney and a key block by Brian Cox to spring Cronin.
• With 1:31 remaining, Joe Pusateri burst through a gaping hole blown open on the left side of the line by Cox, Billy Moore, andWhitney, dashing 34 yards for a touchdown. Holder Mike Conti converted a high snap into a successful two-point run around left end, stretching the lead to 20-0.

Following a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Don Bosco’s Ron Ferrara against Norwood’s second-string kickoff unit, junior Kevin Doherty answered immediately for the Mustangs, returning the ensuing kickoff 74 yards straight up the gut to seal the opening-night victory.

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