Norwood High Football Falls to Braintree in Hard-Fought Gridiron Thriller-November 4, 1991

Former Coach Gus Giardi Leads Braintree Past Norwood Behind Mike Ranieri’s 200 Yards

In a dramatic Bay State League matchup featuring a dramatic homecoming for former Norwood coach Gus Giardi, the Norwood High School football team dropped a heartbreaker to Braintree, 25-20. For Giardi—who took over a Braintree program that went winless the previous year after being ousted from Norwood two seasons prior—the victory carried profound personal meaning.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of big games,” Giardi remarked, “but I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t the biggest game I’ve been in… There’s a sweetness to life, and it was today on the field.”

Braintree was propelled offensively by running back Mike Ranieri, who amassed 200 yards rushing on 22 carries with three touchdowns.

Norwood vs. Braintree Game Highlights & Scoring

Mustangs Take Early Lead

Initial Response: After Braintree opened scoring on a 20-yard run by **Brian Kerns**, Norwood’s **Joe King** electrified the crowd with a 46-yard kickoff return.
Taking the Lead: **Aaron Walkins** scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, and **Jason Nutting** added the extra point to put Norwood ahead 7-6.

Second-Half Battle & Late Rally

Ranieri’s Surge: Mike Ranieri notched touchdown runs of 46, 14, and 53 yards (the latter following a fortunate deflected third-down pass caught by **Brendan Powers**) to build a 25-14 Braintree lead.
Mustang Fight: Quarterback **A.J. Grant** engineered a late-game surge, tossing a 40-yard bomb to Walkins (leading to Walkins’ second TD) and connecting with **Mike Thomas** for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:35 remaining.
Final Tally: Trailing 25-20, Norwood’s on-side kick attempt fell short, allowing Braintree to run out the clock.

Norwood Coach Joe Smith Reflects on Tough Loss

Norwood coach Joe Smith noted the razor-thin margins that decided the contest, pointing specifically to the miraculous deflected catch that extended Braintree’s drive. “It was a good play by the Braintree kid (Powers),” Smith observed. “If they don’t get it, we get the ball back with a chance to take the lead.” Despite a relentless fourth-quarter comeback spearheaded by A.J. Grant and Mike Thomas, the Mustangs came up just short in a thrilling gridiron battle reported by Bob DiCesare for The Patriot Ledger.

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

More Football Stories

🏈 Norwood vs. Dedham: A Century of Thanksgiving Football Rivalry

From Gridiron Glory to Community Tradition — A Norwood Perspective 📜 Introduction Every Thanksgiving morning, before the turkey hits the oven, Norwood residents gather with unmatched anticipation—not just for family and food, but for football. The annual Norwood vs. Dedham game is more than a contest; it’s a ritual, a rite of passage, and a…
1941 Norwood High School Football Team Drawing

Discover more from Norwood Historical Society Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe
Mustangs Rebound for Victory-October 12, 1992

Quarterback A.J. Grant and running back Eric Deshiro lead the Norwood High School football team to a thrilling 28-20 comeback victory over rival Brookline at Parsons Field.
Norwood Dominates Needham 24-0 to Remain Unbeaten-October 17, 1983

Wenstrom and Mustangs Stifle Rockets The Norwood High School football team put on a masterclass in all-phases dominance on a crisp autumn Saturday, defeating Needham 24-0 to improve their stellar record to 5-0. With the shutout victory, the Mustangs captured a coveted tie for first place in the Bay State League standings alongside Natick. The…
Norwood High Football Opens Bay State League Play with 29-13 Victory Over Milton-September 28, 1981

Defending Super Bowl champs Norwood High open their Bay State League football season with a hard-fought 29-13 victory over Milton behind strong ground performances.
Football Team Opens Season With Dominant Defense-September 13, 1980

Norwood High School’s football defense shuts down Don Bosco over the final three quarters, propelling the Mustangs to a 26-7 opening-game victory under coach John Doherty.
Norwood Football Defeats Milton 20-6 Behind Junior Quarterback John Doherty’s Aerial Attack-October 1, 1979

Junior quarterback John Doherty throws three touchdown passes to lead Norwood High football to a 20-6 victory over Milton in Bay State League play.
Norwood Defeats Natick 7-3 Behind Lockdown Defense and Late John Armour Touchdown-September 24, 1979

John Armour scores the game-winning touchdown with two minutes remaining as Norwood’s defense seals a hard-fought 7-3 victory over Natick.
Top Billing for Norwood vs. Natick: Unbeaten Clash Highlights Eastern Mass. High School Football-October 8, 1976

Unbeaten Norwood High School travels to face fourth-ranked Natick in a premier Eastern Mass. high school football clash between BSL leaders.
Norwood Mustangs Edge Out Needham 12-7 Behind Defensive Stand and Mike Gulla’s Two Touchdowns-September 29, 1975

Mike Gulla scores two touchdowns and the Norwood defense holds firm as the Mustangs defeat Needham 12-7 in a hard-fought Bay State League football contest.