Traditional Rivals Clash At Dedham At 10 A.M.
Norwood and practically the entire student body of both high schools, along with thousands of their alumni, will sit In at the contest.
On paper, the teams are not too far apart on the defense. Dedham High held their opposition to a total of 85 points while Norwood had only 94 points scored against them. On the offense, Dedham is out in front with a season’s record of 110 points scored while Norwood’s offensive tacUcs enabled them to register only 58 points. Of course, It is understood that Dedham plays teams of far greater strength than Norwood with their opposition on opening day being the strong Weymouth outfit that won out 12 to 0 and with Watertown coming at them in the second game on their schedule to whip them again, 31 to 12. In their third game, North Quincy eked out a slim 8 to 7 win. This same North Quincy team defeated Norwood also, by the score of 13 to 6.
Both Bowed To Milton
Both teams played Milton and both went down to defeat, Milton edging Dedham, 21 to 13, while Norwood lost their battle with Milton, 21 to 6. Both teams also played Belmont high with Dedham winning their contest, 20 to 6, while Norwood and Belmont played to a scoreless tie.
It is 11 years since Norwood defeated Dedham at football. But the long famine has to end sometime, and the Norwood fans and players alike hope this year will mark a halt In the Dedham string of successive victories. Back in 1939, Norwood won a 6 to 0 decision and since that Thanksgiving Day the famine has continued. In 1940, the game was cancelled with the Norwood field was snowed under and for the next six years, Norwood failed to cross the Dedham goal line. In 1947, Dedham piled up 32 points to Norwood’s 18 and the following year mw a closer contest with Dedham winning out by the score of 18 to 13. Last year, Norwood again was whitewashed by a 12 to 0 score.
The lines of both squads are really stone walls on the defense as their season record, shows. In weight they are on fairly even terms with the Dedham line totalling 1104 pounds and Norwood’s line totaling 1204 pounds. The heaviest man in either Une is Norwood’s co-captain, Joe Minkivitch, who tips the scales at 210. BiU O’Neil, the Dedham centre, is their heaviest man, weighing 175.
Dedham Will Watch DeRose
When it comes to the backfield, the comparisons are more difficult. Salvy DeRose, the Norwood RHB, is one of the boys Dedham will have their eyes on. His shifty maneuvers when carrying the ball have gained Norwood plenty of yardage and and with better blocking during the season he could have been one of the standout scorers. For Dedham, Carl Peterson Is a constant threat and he also plays in the RHB position. Richard Sanford, a Dedham substitute guard, has been playing sensational football and he also will bear watching. There really is no outstanding star on either team and it may develop that a dark horse may emerge from the game to take the laurels and the spotlight for outstanding play.
Coaches ’’Andy” Scafati and Jack Heaphy are well aware of each other’s strategy and when it comes to the annual Turkey Day classic they pull no punches and shoot the works. Regardless of wliich team wins, the fans will have their appetites whetted and will see a thrilling game.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)