Norwood Defeats Braintree 14-6 Behind Defensive Shifts and Vito Anello-October 19, 1964

Defensive Shake-Up Sparks Norwood’s Victory-October 19, 1964

“It’s time for a change,” is a familiar refrain with elections just weeks away, but Norwood High School football coach Art Gulla proved himself a shrewd strategist following a tactical overhaul of his team’s defensive alignments.

After dropping two consecutive games, Gulla decided drastic measures were required. Transitioning to a stunting defense designed to penetrate the line quickly, he shifted Jack Machado and Pete Barry into the tackle positions and moved Vito Anello to outside linebacker.

“We had been weak in that department so we shifted to a stunting defense. The boys reacted well to the change and the team came through with a tremendous defensive effort,” Gulla explained. “We knew we had to stop Braintree’s inside game if we were going to win, and the new defensive arrangement did just that. We got across the line quick, and that is very important when you are on defense.”

Vito Anello Shines in the Rain and Mud-October 19, 1964

Despite driving rain and a slippery field at Hollis Field in Braintree, Vito Anello delivered a standout performance playing both ways, scoring both touchdowns for the Mustangs in a crucial “must” game for both league hopefuls.

Norwood capitalized on key Braintree mistakes to secure the 14-6 victory. Just before halftime, John Lanzoni threw a pass to Anello that was deflected by a defender before Anello made a remarkable diving catch just inside the end zone. Lanzoni then ran in the two-point conversion to give the Mustangs an 8-0 lead.

In the final quarter, Gene Ostergren recovered a Braintree fumble deep in enemy territory at the eight-yard line. On the very first play, Anello swept left end for the decisive touchdown, extending the lead. Braintree responded late in the game when Don Sarney capped a swift 64-yard, four-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run, fueled by strong carries from Tom Semino. However, time ran out on the Wamps’ comeback bid.

Braintree coach John LeRoy credited Norwood’s aggressive defense for the outcome. “Their defense was the big difference,” LeRoy noted. “They were red dogging and they stopped us.” LeRoy also praised the defensive efforts of Leo Sicuranza, Tom Dexter, and Bill Byrne, who excelled on offense, defense, and punted effectively. Meanwhile, Norwood co-captain Dick Santospago anchored his team’s special teams with a stellar 42-yard punting average.

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