Norwood Gains League Tie On 8-0 Win Over Dedham-This Day In Norwood History-November 25, 1965

Raftery Scores All Points As 10,000 See NHS Take Edge In Holiday Series

Norwood plucked the turkey and a tie for the Bay State League champion-, ship Dy staving off a late Dedham rally to edge an inspired ‘‘Shiretown” team, 8-0, before 10,000 fans last Thursday morning at Dedham’s Stone Park.

Norwood was a big favorite in this 1965 renewal of the traditional Thanksgiving Day gridiron rivalry and it appeared early that they might live up to expectations, taking the opening kickoff and rolling 65 yards in ten plays with senior Kevin Raftery going over for the touchdown and the extra points. But that •was the end of the scoring for the day.

Dedham, who had been humiliated on the gridiron all season, came back strong in the second half. The hosts threatened to tie the game in the final two minutes when they had the ball on the Norwood four-yard line. But here the famous Blue & White defense stiffened and senior Mike Bradley pounced on the biggest fumble of the year. Norwood ran out the clock to take a shaky win.

The victory gave Norwood a share of the Bay State League championship as they finished the season with a record of five wins, three ties and one loss. This was equal to 15 points, the same as Framingham South which up-get Natick on Turkey Day.

Norwood was due to romp over the highest-scored-on team in the state, but the Dedham line, led by Captain Pete Colantuoni, came up with a fantastic performance in holding the vaunted Norwood aggregation to 105 yards on the ground.

Norwood had three big heroes In the win:

— Kevin Raftery, who scored all eight points for the margin of victory.
— End Mike Bradley, who jumped on the key fumble in the game which prevented the Shiretowners from crossing the goal line.
— End Mike Griffin, who snared three Norwood passes with diving catches, the first of which set up the Norwood score.

Dedham had a real hard-running fullback in Fran DiVito, who plowed through the Norwood line with key third-down rushes for first downs all morning. Another Dedham standout was Kevin Maher, a sophomore, who was the leading runner in the game with 62 yards to his credit.

Leading Norwood groundgainer was sophomore Tommy Shea, who picked up 58 yards in eight carries, all in the first half, to bring his season output to more than 700 yards. Raftery ticked off 35 yards, including those which spelled victory, for his morning’s work.

For Norwood, all scholastic candidate John Solomon was again a demon on defense, aided by Frank Danieli, who played with a painful injury; Ken Sheehan, Steve DiCicco, Kevin Donovan, Griffin and Bradley. A fine performance was also turned in by junior John Stanovitch from his defensive tackle position.

Sixty yards in penalties were called against Norwood, and the 15 yards they were set back for roughing the kicker in the fourth period set up the last Dedham drive which carried to the Norwood four.

Norwood’s smallest player, Tom Cassidy, was almost the hero of the day. He picked up a fumble in the second period and rambled 43 yards across the goal line, but the score wasn’t allowed. Norwood then inarched to the Dedham 11 where the drive fizzled.

The field was a giant mud bowl despite efforts of the Dedham ground crew in spreading sawdust.

Dedham completely dominated the statistics, but Norwood did what counts—they won the game. In the fourth period, Dedham held the ball for 17 straight plays, while Norwood had possession for only five plays in the same period. In the entire game, Dedham had the ball for 54 plays, compared to 46 for Norwood.

The series, which started in 1919, now stands in Norwood’s favor, 22-21. Although the win wasn’t as big as the Norwood fans expected it would be, the Locals snapped Dedham’s four-year domination of the series and now hope to have started a streak of their own.

GAME RESUME

Norwood won the toss and Steve Donovan took the kickoff, fumbled but dove on it on the Norwood 35. On the first play from scrimmage, Joe Smith recovered his own fumble but Dedham was penalized 5 yards.-Tom Donovan smashed up- the center for three and then Tommy Shea behind a Solomon block went for 15 yards and a first down on the Dedham 40. Tom then dashed for 7 and 6 more and a first down, but a 15-yarder called it back and it was a big third and eleven on the Dedham 34.

Joe Smith handed off to Tom Shea who hit Mike Griffin with a strike on the 15 as Mike dove between two defenders to grab the pigskin. It was now a 1st on the Dedham 15. Shea and Raftery had turns as they carried the ball to the Dedham 2 where Raftrey smashed over with Pete Barry and John Collins opening the hole. Kevin then picked the same hole and it was Norwood 8, Dedham 0, and it looked like the rout was on.

John Stanovitch kicked off for Norwood and Dedham had the ball for the first time on their 28 as Kevin Donovan hit Danny Donovan of Dedham.

On first down Frank DiVito carried but he was decked by Frank Danieli for no gain. DiVito then carried for 4 and Donovan 7 more and Dedham had a first down. Kevin Maher was stopped by Griffin for a one-yard gain but he came right back and racked up 12 yards and for another Dedham first down. The Dedham drive then fizzled on the Norwood 40 as ‘Sol’ and DiCicco stopped Maher and DiVito and a third-down pass was batted to the ground by Danieli. Pete Colantuoni kicked to the Norwood 22 and the„Blue & White were again in possession. Shea, Tom Donovan and Raftery carried for another first down with Caso and Colantuoni making the tackles for Dedham as the first period ended with Norwood in complete control.

Second Period

The Blue & White had a third and 6 but all Raftery could make was 4 as Colantuoni made the key tackle again. Roberts got off a 30-yard kick and Dedham had the ball. On the first play from scrimmage, DiVito was belted by Solomon and Stanovitch and fumbled. Tommy Cassidy picked up the ball and raced all the way across the Dedham goal line but the play was called back as a player cannot run with a fumble in high school football.

Norwood still had a first on the Dedham 35 and were in great field position. Shea went for two and then Smith hit Griffin with a 7-yarder as Mike made a diving catch. Shea then bulled for a first down on the Dedham 22. After a 5-yarder against Norwood, Smith hit Griffin with another pass and Mike clutched the ball with a great catch on the Dedham 14. Here the Dedham defense started the big comeback as they tossed Norwood back three straight times and Dedham took over in the shadow of their goalposts.

Maher dashed for 8 but then the Norwood defense stopped the next two plays and Dedham kicked. Norwood took over and couldn’t gain. Colantuoni was again all over the Norwood runners. Denny Roberts kicked Norwood out of danger and it was Dedham’s turn again. DiVito made 9 on the first down but that was all as Stanovitch, Frucci and Cassidy closed the door, forcing the Dorrington team to kick again. The Locals took over on their own 37 with Shea and Raftery racking up a first down as the half ended with Norwood leading 8-0 but Dedham showing a lot more than they were expected to. It was Norwood carrying the play in the first but things were soon to change.

Third Period

Dedham took the second-half kickoff and held the ball for 12 straight plays as they piled up three first downs. Maher started things off as he went for 6. A 15-yarder against Norwood pushed the ball into Norwood territory. Donovan, Maher and DiVito drove 4 straight times and the ball was on the Norwood 33. It was now a fourth and one and Dedham was in danger of losing the ball. Donovan just made the one yard and the Shiretowners were still alive. DiVito was stopped by “Sol” and Stanovitch and Dedham had a big fourth and 12 on the Norwood 22 Here big John Stanovitch broke into the Dedham back-field and threw quarterback Hanlon for a 15-yard loss and Norwood had possession. Shea and Raftery carried for a first down on the Locals’ 38. Colantuoni then stopped Raftery and Shea cold and it was third down. Joe Smith heaved a strike to Raftery on the Dedham 24 but just as Kevin was about to make the catch he slipped on the mud. Roberts then got off a short boot and Dedham took over again.

Maher and Donovan carried for a first down at midfield with Griffin and Bradley making the stops. Dedham then got a gift first down as a pass to Weber was ruled complete due to interference by Norwood. Hanlon was thrown for a 12-yard loss as Kenny Sheehan burst into the Dedham backfield and the third period ended with Dedham looking stronger.

Fourth Period

The fourth period saw the Shiretowners hold the ball for 18 straight plays as they drove to the Norwood 4-yard line and almost went in.

It was second and 20 on the Dedham 36 for the Dorrington men.’Maher made 10 on third down but it was still far short of a first down. Colantuoni went back to kick and he got a beauty to the Norwood 10 but here came Norwood’s toughest break of the year. It was ruled that a Norwood player interfered with the Dedham kicker and instead of Norwood taking over, it was Dedham with a first down on the Norwood 40. Here the Dedham back-field led by DiVito in all short plunges worked the ball down to the Norwood goalmouth. Donovan was stopped by Sheehan on first down but Maher and DiVito bulled for 9 yards and it was a big fourth and inches for Dedham ham on the Norwood 29. DiVito then put his head down and dove over the Norwood line for a first down in a great show of determination. Maher then went for 7, Donovan 2 and DiVito 1 with Sol Frucci and Stanovitch making the Norwood tackles.

It was 4th and another big yard for Dedham on the Norwood 20. This time Maher went for the first down and the Dedham backs were still grinding it out and getting closer and closer to the Norwood goalmouth. DiVito then carried 4 straight times and the ball lay on the five-yard line and it was first and five to go for a score and a possible upset. Norwood was in grave danger of being humiliated. Maher went for one and it was now on the four-yard line as all fans stood up in amazement.

Would Dedham falter or would the Norwood line make one last great burst of spirit and. stop the biggest drive of the year against the Locals? Dedham’s bread and butter man, Fran DiVito, got the call and he smacked over left tackle. Ken Sheehan and Frank Danieli hit him hard and the ball popped out of his hand. It went through Kevin Donovan’s hands but Mike Bradley dove on it like his whole life was at stake and Norwood fans breathed a little easier as the Locals took over on their four.

The drive went for 17 plays, all on the ground, and ate up all but two minutes of the final period.

Kevin Raftery went around end for 7 yards but then a quarterback sneak and a fullback plunge were stopped and Norwood was forced to kick. Dennis Roberts stood on the goal line with all the pressure in the world on him. He got it off and Dedham had one last gasp at the Norwood 40.
The Norwood defense, now smelling victory, stopped two Dedham runs for minus seven yards. It was third and four and Dedham needed a long bomb to get back in the ball game. Hanlon faded back and tossed the pass over the middle, but Norwood’s great Captain Solomon was Johnny on the spot and intercepted the pass. Two plays later Norwood had the win.
The lineups:

NORWOOD
Ends, Griffin, Bradley, Roberts) tackles, Knowlton, Collins, Daniell, Sheehan; guards, Diccico, Solomon, Jemelia, Stanovitch, Feeney, Hopkins; center. Barry; backs, Smith, T. Donovan, Shea, Raftery, Fruci Cassidy, S. Donovan. K. Donovan.

DEDHAM
Ends, Weber, Colantuoni, Becker, McArdle; tackles, Callahan, Mueller, Caso; guards, Burgess, Olson, Jansson; center, Driscoll; backs, Hanlon, DeVito, Maher, Donovan, McGuire, Clvitarese, Barner, Crisp.

Referee Clapper, Umpire Walker, Field Judge Coolidge, Head Linesman McHale. Length of period: 12 minutes.

By FRANK WALL

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)