Coach John Doherty Eyes Repeat of 1977 Perfect Season
Channeling the spirit of his legendary 1977 squad that roared to an undefeated 11-0 mark and a Super Bowl title, Norwood High School football coach John Doherty watched his Mustangs put on another masterclass performance on Saturday, trouncing Bay State League rival Framingham South 35-8 to remain undefeated at 7-0.
Reflecting on the team’s championship aspirations, Doherty noted: “I think we might just be as good as the ’77 team, both on offense and defense. At least it looks that way now, but there’s still a ways to go.”
Despite racking up 428 total yards (including 273 yards rushing), the Mustangs had nearly 100 yards wiped out by infractions. “We’re sometimes a little too aggressive and excited, which I think accounts for most of those penalties,” Doherty admitted. “But, overall, I’m very pleased. We had a balanced attack today and came up with the big plays when we needed them.”
Norwood vs. Framingham South Game Statistics & Scoring
Norwood Mustangs
- Rushing Yards: 273 yards
- Passing Yards: 155 yards
- First Downs: 20
Framingham South Flyers
- Rushing Yards: 112 yards
- Passing Yards: 35 yards
- First Downs: 8
Scoring Summary
- 1st Quarter (Norwood): Junior running back **Mike Pusateri** caps a 59-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run (kick wide). (6-0)
- 2nd Quarter (Norwood): Coach’s son **John Doherty** plunges in from 1 yard out; John hits **Kevin Doherty** for a two-point conversion. (14-0)
- 3rd Quarter (Norwood): John Doherty tosses a TD pass to **Joe Travers**; John connects with Kevin Doherty again for two points. (22-0)
- 3rd Quarter (Framingham): **Andre Garron** scores on a 1-yard run. (22-8)
- 4th Quarter (Norwood): John Doherty throws a 15-yard TD pass to **Don Whitney**; Tom Cronan kicks PAT. (29-8)
- 4th Quarter (Norwood): Backup quarterback **Mike Conti** breaks through on a 26-yard QB sneak TD. (35-8)
Balanced Attack and Sights Set on Needham
Quarterback John Doherty engineered the offense brilliantly, passing for 155 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another. Key offensive contributors included Kevin Doherty (102 rushing yards), Mike Pusateri, and Don Whitney, who also earned praise from Coach Doherty for exceptional blocking. Second-string quarterback Mike Conti capped the scoring in the final period with a dazzling 26-yard touchdown run.
With the victory secured, the Mustangs immediately turned their attention to next week’s grudge match against Needham. The Rockets handed Norwood its sole blemish last season in a heartbreaking 21-19 defeat, interrupting an otherwise flawless 9-1 campaign.
“We have a special dedication to perform next week,” Coach Doherty warned. “We will definitely be up for it, especially after last year. But we’ll be up for everybody this year.”
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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