To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first Pioneer team to play in the Cape Ann League, I am taking a week by week look back at the 1973 season.
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Wayback Wednesday: The 1973
CAL Champion Pioneers |
October 31, 1973 - Pioneer head coach Bill Rodan probably put it best in the week leading up to the big showdown at Pioneer Field between two undefeated teams - his own underrated Lynnfield Pioneers and the swaggering Sachems of Pentucket, the CAL's defending champions.
"I love to face an overconfident team," Rodan told Steve Farrar of the Wakefield Item referring to Pentucket.
Farrar reported that "according to the Pioneer coaching staff, rumor has it that the Sachems are not concerned with the Pioneers, but rather Newburyport. They feel that Lynnfield lacks a running game."
Farrar went on to write that Rodan "feels that this isn't the first time that his Pioneers have been underestimated."
The Pioneers, Pentucket and Newburyport all entered the week at 5-0-0 locked in a three way tie for first in the CAL with the Sachems and Pioneers tied for sixth place in the Division III Super Bowl rankings.
According to Farrar, Pentucket has a "team slightly bigger than Lynnfield, studded with many veteran players."
The Pioneers were bolstered by the return of Dave DiFillippo to Lynnfield's defense something that would be needed against Pentucket's high scoring offense.
The Pioneers got the home crowd excited early by scoring on their first two possessions. They got on the board six plays into the game after taking the opening kick. Steve Olsen drilled a 35 yard TD pass to Lindsey Ross and Allan Harrington's PAT was good and the Pioneers quickly led 7-0.
The Lynnfield defense held the Sachems to three yards on their first possession pinning the visitors deep in their own end. The Pioneers quickly got the ball back again at midfield. Again it took them only six plays to score.
Olsen found brother Bob to the Sachem 41 yard line and then a personal foul got the Pioneers to the 16 yard line. Brian Rea rumbled through a hole created by Greg Anderson, John Imbrescia and Jeff Silva for a 16 yard TD run to make it 13-0. An offside penalty against Pentucket put the ball at the one and a half yard line for the point after try, and Rodan elected to go for the two pointer. Rea obliged and swept in to make it 15-0.
At this point, Pentucket regrouped and marched down the field getting a first and goal at the eight yard line. But the Pioneer defense stiffened. The Sachem made it to the two yard line but on fourth and goal, Brian McMahon and Imbrescia tossed the Pentucket running back for a one yard loss, turning the ball over to the Pioneers on downs.
"Here's where the game was won," assistant coach Harry Jameson told Villager reporter Geof Simons.
Pentucket held and forced the Pioneers to punt from their own endzone but Harrington was roughed on the kick giving Lynnfield a life. They took advantage of the new set of downs by marching down the field for another score. Rea ran for 31 yards and Steve Celata carried to the Pentucket 44 and then Olsen found Ross again for the 44 yard TD pass. The PAT was blocked, but the Pioneers went in at the half up 21-0 over the stunned Sachems.
Olsen's two TD passes extended both his single season TD passing mark to 12 and his career touchdown record to 22. Ross' two TD catches extended his single season TD reception mark to 8 and his career TD mark to 10.
After a scoreless third period, the Sachems made it interesting in the fourth. They drove 84 yards to finally get on the board with just under four minutes to play to cut the Pioneer lead to 21-8. They tried an onside kick but McMahon recovered, allowing the Pioneers to chew away more time.
Lynnfield made it deep into Sachem territory, but couldn't score and turned the ball over to Pentucket at their own 25. The Sachems quickly marched 75 yards and scored with only 40 seconds left, converted the two points and shockingly had climbed back to within five points at 21-16. They tried another onside kick and this time Rea recovered to nail down the win and vault the Pioneers into a two way tie for first place with Newburyport.
"They're a good team," Rodan told Simons regarding Pentucket. "We were better, that's all. "
Rodan also noted of the frantic finish that "we must learn that games are never over."
The win set up a monumental showdown with the Clippers in Newburyport between two 6-0 teams for undisputed possession of first place in the CAL.
"I love to face an overconfident team," Rodan told Steve Farrar of the Wakefield Item referring to Pentucket.
Farrar reported that "according to the Pioneer coaching staff, rumor has it that the Sachems are not concerned with the Pioneers, but rather Newburyport. They feel that Lynnfield lacks a running game."
Farrar went on to write that Rodan "feels that this isn't the first time that his Pioneers have been underestimated."
The Pioneers, Pentucket and Newburyport all entered the week at 5-0-0 locked in a three way tie for first in the CAL with the Sachems and Pioneers tied for sixth place in the Division III Super Bowl rankings.
According to Farrar, Pentucket has a "team slightly bigger than Lynnfield, studded with many veteran players."
The Pioneers were bolstered by the return of Dave DiFillippo to Lynnfield's defense something that would be needed against Pentucket's high scoring offense.
The Pioneers got the home crowd excited early by scoring on their first two possessions. They got on the board six plays into the game after taking the opening kick. Steve Olsen drilled a 35 yard TD pass to Lindsey Ross and Allan Harrington's PAT was good and the Pioneers quickly led 7-0.
The Lynnfield defense held the Sachems to three yards on their first possession pinning the visitors deep in their own end. The Pioneers quickly got the ball back again at midfield. Again it took them only six plays to score.
Olsen found brother Bob to the Sachem 41 yard line and then a personal foul got the Pioneers to the 16 yard line. Brian Rea rumbled through a hole created by Greg Anderson, John Imbrescia and Jeff Silva for a 16 yard TD run to make it 13-0. An offside penalty against Pentucket put the ball at the one and a half yard line for the point after try, and Rodan elected to go for the two pointer. Rea obliged and swept in to make it 15-0.
At this point, Pentucket regrouped and marched down the field getting a first and goal at the eight yard line. But the Pioneer defense stiffened. The Sachem made it to the two yard line but on fourth and goal, Brian McMahon and Imbrescia tossed the Pentucket running back for a one yard loss, turning the ball over to the Pioneers on downs.
"Here's where the game was won," assistant coach Harry Jameson told Villager reporter Geof Simons.
Pentucket held and forced the Pioneers to punt from their own endzone but Harrington was roughed on the kick giving Lynnfield a life. They took advantage of the new set of downs by marching down the field for another score. Rea ran for 31 yards and Steve Celata carried to the Pentucket 44 and then Olsen found Ross again for the 44 yard TD pass. The PAT was blocked, but the Pioneers went in at the half up 21-0 over the stunned Sachems.
Olsen's two TD passes extended both his single season TD passing mark to 12 and his career touchdown record to 22. Ross' two TD catches extended his single season TD reception mark to 8 and his career TD mark to 10.
After a scoreless third period, the Sachems made it interesting in the fourth. They drove 84 yards to finally get on the board with just under four minutes to play to cut the Pioneer lead to 21-8. They tried an onside kick but McMahon recovered, allowing the Pioneers to chew away more time.
Lynnfield made it deep into Sachem territory, but couldn't score and turned the ball over to Pentucket at their own 25. The Sachems quickly marched 75 yards and scored with only 40 seconds left, converted the two points and shockingly had climbed back to within five points at 21-16. They tried another onside kick and this time Rea recovered to nail down the win and vault the Pioneers into a two way tie for first place with Newburyport.
"They're a good team," Rodan told Simons regarding Pentucket. "We were better, that's all. "
Rodan also noted of the frantic finish that "we must learn that games are never over."
The win set up a monumental showdown with the Clippers in Newburyport between two 6-0 teams for undisputed possession of first place in the CAL.
Next: Pioneers first ever trip to World War Memorial stadium for the battle for first place
Checkin' on the Young 'uns
The Pioneer JV's picked up where the Varsity left off by blanking the Sachems 24-0 scoring all their points in the second half.
Glen Dolbeare led the way for the Pioneers, rushing for over 200 yards including a 75 yard touchdown run. Frank Guarino (70 yard run), Mark O'Hearn (four yard run) and Nick Costas (65 yard pass from O'Hearn) also scored for Lynnfield.
Leading the defense in posting the shutout were Ed Andrews, Steve Reinstein, John Carlson, Jim Gaffney, Dave Pivear and Bill Wind. Richard McMahon picked off an interception.
The win lifted the JV record to 4-2.
The Pioneer JV's picked up where the Varsity left off by blanking the Sachems 24-0 scoring all their points in the second half.
Glen Dolbeare led the way for the Pioneers, rushing for over 200 yards including a 75 yard touchdown run. Frank Guarino (70 yard run), Mark O'Hearn (four yard run) and Nick Costas (65 yard pass from O'Hearn) also scored for Lynnfield.
Leading the defense in posting the shutout were Ed Andrews, Steve Reinstein, John Carlson, Jim Gaffney, Dave Pivear and Bill Wind. Richard McMahon picked off an interception.
The win lifted the JV record to 4-2.
1973 Flashback
In another "my how times have changed" article, the Villager reported that the "policy which permits outside smoking at the Junior and Senior High Schools will continue, but with a review in several months after the cold weather sets in."
The article noted that "although smoking has been substantially cut down in the lavatories, it is feared that the chilly weather might bring the smokers inside and repeat the old problem."
Clean up outside is still and issue, but was being aided by a program "which reduces demerits for cleaning up cigarette butts in the grass and other areas outside the schools."
Superintendent of Schools Bernard Huntley, said he "had no sympathy with the student who gets a chill when he wants a smoke" and hoped that such students would not defy the rules when winter set in.
The article also reported that a campaign was being started "to deter students from smoking for health reasons." Details hadn't yet been worked out but the plan could include "posters, assembly and 'rap' sessions."
In another "my how times have changed" article, the Villager reported that the "policy which permits outside smoking at the Junior and Senior High Schools will continue, but with a review in several months after the cold weather sets in."
Clean up outside is still and issue, but was being aided by a program "which reduces demerits for cleaning up cigarette butts in the grass and other areas outside the schools."
Superintendent of Schools Bernard Huntley, said he "had no sympathy with the student who gets a chill when he wants a smoke" and hoped that such students would not defy the rules when winter set in.
The article also reported that a campaign was being started "to deter students from smoking for health reasons." Details hadn't yet been worked out but the plan could include "posters, assembly and 'rap' sessions."
If you played on or were involved with the 1973 Pioneers and would like to share a memory, please pass it on to me at tcondardo@gmail.com.
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