Shea’s Spark Drives Mustangs Past Walpole in Bay State League Victory-November 7, 1966

Junior Halfback Rushes for 227 Yards and Three Touchdowns to Lead Norwood’s Explosive Offensive Display

Norwood High School Coach Art Gulla felt his football team “finally jelled” into a smooth-operating offense Saturday. Gulla would have been just as accurate to name junior halfback Don Shea as the spark that drove the Mustangs to their 40-24 Bay State League victory over Walpole. Carrying 18 times, Shea gained 227 yards on the ground, including runs of 62, 55, 27 and 26 yards. This effort was enough to boost Norwood’s record to 4-2-1, while Walpole’s fell to 1-5-1.

Walpole took the opening kickoff, but after picking up one first down, its offense bogged down and John Todd punted to the Norwood 30. After one first down, a double reverse, with Shea carrying, brought the ball to the Walpole 19-yard line. Tom Donovan carried to the six from where it was first and goal. Kevin Donovan dove to the two, and brother Tom took it in for six points. Kevin Donovan kicked the extra point and it was 7-0. Walpole took a short kickoff at its 40 and quarterback Tom Hamilton started to move his hilltoppers. Two quick passes, one to Todd and one to Kevin Woods, brought the ball to the Norwood 26. From there, the going got tough as Norwood’s Mike Santospago made several key tackles. At that point Norwood was hit with three illegal procedure penalties and Walpole had a third and goal at the 11-yard line. Hamilton rolled right, started to run, then found Woods in the end zone all alone for six points. The conversion put Walpole ahead, 8-7.

Back came Norwood and Shea, who carried a pitch from quarterback Joe Smith, to the Walpole 16-yard line. Smith then scrambled to the 12 and pitched again to Shea, who went in for the touchdown. The score at halftime stood Norwood 13, Walpole 8. Opening the second half, it was Shea again on a double reverse, carrying the ball 62 yards to the Walpole seven. Three plays later, Smith pushed across for the score and Norwood led, 19-8. An offside penalty after the kickoff nullified a dazzling pass from Hamilton to Jeff Johnson, which covered 70 yards to the Norwood 20. Hamilton tried again but Shea intercepted on the 50. Kevin Donovan carried to the Walpole 30. A pitch to Shea covered 27 yards to the Walpole one-yard line, before Kevin Donovan went in for the score. The conversion failed and the score was 25-8.

After the kickoff, Tom Donovan intercepted a Hamilton aerial on the Walpole 49. Kevin Donovan brought it to the Walpole 22 and may have broken away were it not for a fine effort by Walpole middle linebacker John Todd. Shea took another handoff for the score. Walpole began to move after the kickoff, driving to the Norwood 18. A screen to Todd moved the ball over for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and it was Norwood 32, Walpole 16. The on-side kick was taken on the Norwood 45. On the first play from scrimmage, Shea broke off-tackle 55 yards for the touchdown. Shea rushed the conversion, after a poor pass from center eliminated a kick. With less than a minute left in the game, Hamilton fired a screen pass to Todd, who romped 55 yards into the end zone.

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