Norwood vs. Walpole Showdown Hailed as “Better Than the Super Bowl”-October 21, 1981

Unbeaten Bay State League Rivals Prepare for Clash

When undefeated Bay State League rivals Norwood High School and Walpole face off at Norwood on Saturday, the stakes extend far beyond local bragging rights. With both the BSL championship and a coveted berth in the Division I Super Bowl on the line, coaches and players alike recognize the magnitude of the matchup.

“It has become more than just a game. It has become an event. A rivalry that brings a week ‘altogether different from all the rest,'” said Norwood head coach John Doherty. Walpole head coach John Lee echoed the sentiment, calling the contest “better than the (Division I) Super Bowl.”

Both teams enter the game with stellar records:

• Walpole Rebels: Ranked first in Division I with a 5-0 record, boasting a stifling defense that surrendered just 24 points alongside an offense that piled up 138 points.
• Norwood Mustangs: Ranked fourth in Division I at 4-0, scoring 148 points while allowing only 22.

Key Players and Defensive Matchups

Walpole’s defense will face the formidable task of containing Norwood’s explosive backfield tandem, Joe Pusateri and Keven Doherty, who combined for 52 points over the season. “The only way to stop them is to tackle them, simple,” Lee remarked. “They are the two best backs in the league.”

In addition to their offensive prowess, the Mustangs lean heavily on a punishing defense anchored by senior guard Harry Ward—who recorded four sacks and 14 tackles against Framingham South—alongside defensive standouts Michael Degnan, John Sullivan, and co-captain John Cavanaugh.

For the Rebels, the offense runs through 6-2, 180-pound senior quarterback Ken Moriarty and 6-1, 175-pound running back Paul DiPillo, who contributed six touchdowns and a two-point conversion for 38 points. While playing on their home turf gives the Mustangs a traditional edge—supported by a home winning streak stretching back to 1979—Doherty and his squad remain wary of Walpole’s relentless attack.

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