Undefeated Norwood Eleven Blanks Braintree, 12-0-This Day In Norwood History-October 20, 1965

Sheehan, Costello Star Defensively For Locals

FEARSOME FOUR — These four defensive stalwarts have been instrumental in holding the opposition to eight points in the first four games for the undefeated Norwood High Football Team.

Left to right Ken Sheehan, Steve DiCicco, Captain John Solomon, and Tommy Costello. (Polaroid Photo)

By FRANK WALL

The Norwood High School football team staged its worst performance of the year offensively, but again the powerful defense, led by Keh Sheehan and Tom Costello, came to the rescue Saturday as the Locals won their second game by defeating Braintree High. 12-0, before 3200 fans at Norwood’s H. Bennett Murray Field.

The Locals, undefeated in four starts and with two ties on their record, now eagerly await Saturday’s game with undefeated and untied Framingham South at Framingham Saturday afternoon.

The Norwood forward wall pounced on five more opponents’ fumbles, making it 21 fumbles recovered in the first four games. The scoring for the Gullamen came in the third, and fourth periods as Tom Donovan bulled over from the one, and Kevin Raftery in the final frame plowed across from the three. Both td’s were set up by Chris Effertz to Raftery passes.

Norwood faced a tough Braintree team, that proved a big surprise with a solid defense. Braintree had the best back on the field in quarterback Tom Semino, who scored on a 35-yard jaunt in the first half, but the score was called back and this proved to be the break that Norwood needed. The Locals woke up in the second half and played the type of ball that they did in the first three games.

Norwood Captain Johnny Solomon set up the first score as he charged in and blocked a Wamp kick on the Braintree 31, and six plays later Donovan carried it in.

The Norwood line was again a solid block of granite as they held the Wamps scoreless, making it three shutouts in the first four games for the Locals. Sheehan pounced on two of Braintree’s five fumbles, with Tom Costello, Mike Bradley and Tom Cassidy recovering the other three.

Kevin Houchun, John Higgins and Carl Johnson were the top defensive standouts, for the Wamps.

Norwood mentor Art Gulla had praise for the defensive unit and was well pleased by the work of Sheehan and Costello. The Norwood Coach was disappointed, however, by the offense, which showed very little.

After missing the Wellesley game, Chris Effertz returned to the Norwood backfield and was the leading Norwood ball carrier, with 42 yards gained. Kevin Raftery, who has, improved steadily in the first four games, was the leading Norwood gainer in total yardage as he picked up 28 yards on the ground and 24 more at the end ‘of Norwood passes from Effertz. The Locals had a golden chance to score in the first period as a Joe Smith to Effertz bomb brought the ball down to the 3-yard line with a first and goal to go. But the Locals were stopped cold by the alert Wamp defense.

Dennis. Roberts, Norwood punter, improved considerably as he kicked twice for a 39-yard average.

First Period

Braintree won the toss and the Wamps took over on their own 50 after a poor kickoff. Dave Morse went off tackle । for 7. With a 2nd and three, ‘ Solomon, DiCico, and Cassidy dumped Semino for a 6-yard loss, and after a 6-yard gain on the 3rd Braintree elected to go for the first down with two yards needed. But Solomon and Tom Costello piled in and stopped Morse in his tracks. It looked like a golden chance for Norwood with the ball on the visitors’ 43. Chris Effertz rolled out for 13 yards with Mike Griffin throwing the key block plays later Ken Sheehan decked Jones and Tommy Cassidy recovered for Norwood on the visitors’ 31. After three plays were stopped cold, Junior Joe Smith tossed a 28-yard pass to Chris Effertz as Chris snatched the ball out of mid-air as it bounced off Tom Semino’s hands. The ball was now on the three-yard line with a first and goal to go as the first period ended.

Second Period

Here the Wamp defense put on a great goal-line stand as they stopped Donovan and Effertz and took over on their own 6 On the second down, Jones went for 9 yards and it was third and one. Ken Shee-‘ han then stopped Morse in । his tracks and the Wamps had to kick. The Locals could get nowhere as all they could muster was an 8-yard completion from Joe Smith to Mike Griffin The Locals then put on their best drive of the day with Kevin Raftery and Tom Donovan carrying to the opponents’ 37-yard line. Then it was another fumble with Braintree recovering on the 34. Tom Semino tossed a 35-1 yard strike to Steve Cook for a first down on the Norwood 35. On the next play, Semino made a twisting run of 35 yards for a score, but a 15-yarder against the Wamps brought the ball back to the midfield stripe. Ken Sheehan again came to the rescue as he dove on a Semino fumble and it was Norwood’s ball again with one minute remaining in the first half. The Locals gave the pigskin right back to the Wamps via. fumble and the first half ended with a scoreless deadlock. It was a very sloppy half with the Locals playing their worst football of the year.

Third Period

Braintree kicked off and on the very first play Joe Smith fumbled and the Wamps had the pigskin again. Here the Norwood line put on its best show of the afternoon. On the first down, Mike Bradley threw Morse for 6 yards. Then it was Frank Danieli, Costello, and Sheehan dumping Semino for 15 more yards,. It was now 4th and some 30 yards for a first down. Frank Tricomi went back to kick but he saw a blue jersey with number 65 pouring in on him and Captain John Solomon did a spread eagle and blocked the kick. It was Norwood’s ball on the Braintree 31. The Local line had thrown Braintree back 35 yards in the series of downs.

This time the offense came alive and marched down to break the deadlock With a 3rd and 15, Joe Smith unleashed a strike to Mike Griffin, who hauled it in on the Braintree 14 for a first down. Effertz then took the throttle as he threw a strike to Kevin Raftery and it was Norwood first goal on the 2. On his second try Tommy Donovan took five Wamp linemen with him into, the end zone and Norwood was in charge 6-0. An Effertz to Bradley pass was complete for the 2 points but it was called back and the score remained 6-0. Braintree took the kickoff as Morse was belted by Kevin Orme and Kevin Donovan. The Wamps had the ball for exactly one play as the ever-present Sheehan pounced on another Wamp fumble and Norwood took over. An Effertz to Griffin pass was intercepted by Morse as the 3rd period ended.

Fourth Period

After a 33-yard kick by Dennis Roberts, Braintree took over on their own 18. They had the ball for five plays. Jones went, for 9 and Bogni rushed for the two points and that proved to be all the Whiz Kids needed. Jack Pierce put it out of reach with a short score in the third period as Milton had the ball in the Walpole end throughout the last period., Saturday, Wellesley at Walpole, Milton at Needham.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)