Graham Starts: Third-String QB Sparks Norwood Over Needham-November 8, 1965

Coach Art Gulla’s Bold Play-Call Propels Left-Handed Quarterback Dave Graham Into Historic First Start

NEEDHAM — Art Gulla’s practice of coming up with a new play for each game provided the thrill of a lifetime for an “unknown” Norwood High quarterback Saturday. Dave Graham is listed as Norwood’s third-string quarterback, but he might as well have been one of the managers for all the action he saw during the first six games this fall. Dave was the second-string quarterback as a sophomore and junior and, as such, got into some of the games. The picture looked bright for him this year, but he did not reckon with Joe Smith, a 5-foot-11, 145-pound junior who came out of nowhere to win the job, or with senior Chris Effertz, a natural athlete who returned to the sport he had played as a sophomore. The emergence of Smith and the decision of Effertz to play football in his senior year put Graham squarely on the bench.

He might have stayed there for the rest of this year except for one outstanding attribute — the ability to throw a good left-handed pass. Here is how Gulla explained it after Graham’s pass to end Mike Bradley got Norwood started on its way to a 21–6 victory over Needham—a victory which put Norwood in a tie with Framingham South for second place in the Bay State League:

“We thought Needham might be watching for the same type of play which helped us beat Natick [a rollout right by halfback Tommy Shea with a pass back to the left to Smith],” Gulla said. “We decided on a rollout to the left by Graham because he’s a left-hander, and to have him pass straight downfield to Bradley.”

A Stunning First-Quarter Strike and Ground Game Dominance

The play, called about a half-minute after the opening kickoff, worked perfectly, with Graham firing from his 30 (the line of scrimmage was Norwood’s 37) and hitting Bradley, who was alone with the nearest defender about 15 yards away. Bradley ran untouched for the touchdown. Graham had had his moment of glory—enough to last him for the rest of the season if he has to spend it on the bench—and Norwood was off and winging.

Norwood added touchdowns in the second and third periods. Sophomore halfback Tommy Shea broke away for a touchdown on a 51-yard run in the second period, picking up 114 yards in 13 carries for an average of 8.8 yards a try. Norwood’s other score came in the second period on a 19-yard run by quarterback Bill Saumsiegle (playing for Needham), with halfback Ed Mantenuto clearing the way, though Norwood’s offensive attack was firmly driven by Effertz scoring on a seven-yard run in the third period. Effertz also kicked the point after the first touchdown and passed to Bradley for a two-point conversion.

Needham coach Jim Maloney bemoaned the defensive lapses: “We gave them those touchdowns. That end [Bradley] shouldn’t have been permitted to get behind the secondary for the pass he caught.” Despite a strong effort from Needham’s Ed Mantenuto (who gained 63 yards on 11 carries), Norwood’s defense adjusted brilliantly at halftime to halt Needham’s wing-T misdirection attack.

Graham, who had not been in for even one play during Norwood’s first six games, was rewarded for his contribution by being inserted at quarterback late in the fourth quarter, carrying once for two yards to cap an unforgettable afternoon.

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