Norwood Football Coach John Doherty Named Patriot Ledger Coach of the Week-October 25, 1977

Coach John Doherty Champions the Passing Game as Mustangs Stay Undefeated

In high school football coaching circles, relying heavily on the forward pass is often considered coaching heresy. But for Norwood High School head coach John Doherty, passing is not just a preference—it is a philosophy. Recognizing his team’s stellar performance and overall coaching excellence, The Patriot Ledger has named Doherty its Coach of the Week.

The honor follows Norwood’s impressive 11-0 shutout victory over traditional rival Walpole last week, marking the Mustangs’ fifth win of the season. Undefeated through the first half of their schedule, Norwood cleared the toughest hurdle of the Bay State League slate, positioning themselves for a BSL title, a potential undefeated regular season, and a berth in the Division One Super Bowl.

True to form, Doherty’s aerial attack dismantled the Rebels, with standout quarterback Chris Collins passing for nearly 100 yards in the first half alone. “I’m always thinking wide open,” Doherty said. “A lot of people think you can ask too much of a high school quarterback, but I feel if you have two fine athletes, one throwing and one running under the ball, you can hardly go wrong. They’re thinking interception or incompletion while I’m thinking completion and touchdown.”

Defensive Dominance and Program Pedigree

While Doherty’s offensive scheme catches opponents off guard, Norwood’s defense remains equally formidable. Building on a legacy that included seven shutouts the previous year, the Mustangs have posted four consecutive league shutouts this season, having surrendered only eight points in a non-league matchup against Waltham.

Doherty, now in his seventh year guiding the Norwood program after previous coaching stints at Beverly High, Catholic Memorial, and Shelton (Conn.) High School, credits his success to a collaborative staff and a rich local talent pipeline. He highlighted defensive coordinators John Martinelli and Joe Mooney, offensive assistant George Putnam, and underclassmen coaches Dave Saad and John Solomon.

Norwood’s quarterback tradition runs deep, with former Mustang signal-caller Larry Brown currently playing for the Harvard University varsity squad. However, Doherty praised current junior quarterback Chris Collins as possessing the size, talent, and poise to potentially surpass his predecessors. Backed by strong sophomore and freshman squads, Doherty’s wide-open offensive vision continues to yield winning results in Norwood.

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