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 |
November 14, 1973 - Well they can't say they weren't warned.
The North Andover Scarlet Knights got a taste of the potent Pioneers in the CAL Jamboree two months earlier when they were smothered 33-0 in a two period scrimmage.
You would have to say they improved when the squads met for the final game before Thanksgiving Day. The Pioneers crushed North Andover 35-0, but this time it took them four full quarters to do it.
Or as Villager reporter Geof Simons aptly summed it up:
"As far as the North Andover game is concerned, nothing terribly earth shattering took place," Simons wrote. "The Pioneers did as expected and walked all over the Scarlet Knights."
The Pioneers did all their damage quickly and efficiently.
The Pioneers scored their first TD on a 52 yard march capped by a Steve Olsen five yard run. Brian Rea ran in the two point conversion and Lynnfield led 7-0.
The Pioneers then scored their next four TD's by forcing Knight turnovers and turning them into points. The scenarios were all basically the same.
- Larry Mitkus recovers fumble on the NA 36 yard line. Four plays later Steve Celata runs it in from the 12 for the score. Allan Harrington boots the first of three PAT's and the Pioneers lead 15-0.
- Craig Franklin intercepts a Wayne Alexander pass and returns it to the NA 13. Rea waltzes in from the eight for the score. The PAT was blocked but the Pioneers lead 21-0.
- Brian McMahon recovers a fumble at the NA 38 yard line. Harrington cashes in on a 37 yard jaunt, adds the extra point and the Pioneers lead 28-0.
- Lindsay Ross recovers a fumble on the NA 39 yard line. Five plays later Olsen hits him for his ninth TD of the year and league leading 60th point. Harrington hits the PAT to conclude the scoring as the Pioneers led 35-0.
The TD pass was the 13th of the year for Olsen and extended his all time LHS TD pass record to 23. Ross extended his all time LHS TD pass reception record to 11 with the grab.
The Pioneer defense was smothering all day, holding the Knights to only 69 yards of offense until a meaningless 75 yard drive in the second half.
The final two quarters were all about the Pioneers' second team which played the Knights' varsity even the rest of the way.
Where the Pioneers figured to beat North Andover to move to 7-1, 6-1 in the league, what wasn't expected was a 15-7 upset win by Pentucket over Newburyport. That dropped the Pioneers, Sachems and Clippers back into a three way tie for first with the league champion to be determined on Thanksgiving Day.
With the win, the Pioneers remained in sixth place in the Division Three Super Bowl standings with a rating of 64.37. Newburyport was right behind in seventh place. Pentucket jumped over both squads into third place.
Next: Preparing for the Hornets
Or as Villager reporter Geof Simons aptly summed it up:
"As far as the North Andover game is concerned, nothing terribly earth shattering took place," Simons wrote. "The Pioneers did as expected and walked all over the Scarlet Knights."
The Pioneers did all their damage quickly and efficiently.
The Pioneers scored their first TD on a 52 yard march capped by a Steve Olsen five yard run. Brian Rea ran in the two point conversion and Lynnfield led 7-0.
The Pioneers then scored their next four TD's by forcing Knight turnovers and turning them into points. The scenarios were all basically the same.
- Larry Mitkus recovers fumble on the NA 36 yard line. Four plays later Steve Celata runs it in from the 12 for the score. Allan Harrington boots the first of three PAT's and the Pioneers lead 15-0.
- Craig Franklin intercepts a Wayne Alexander pass and returns it to the NA 13. Rea waltzes in from the eight for the score. The PAT was blocked but the Pioneers lead 21-0.
- Brian McMahon recovers a fumble at the NA 38 yard line. Harrington cashes in on a 37 yard jaunt, adds the extra point and the Pioneers lead 28-0.
- Lindsay Ross recovers a fumble on the NA 39 yard line. Five plays later Olsen hits him for his ninth TD of the year and league leading 60th point. Harrington hits the PAT to conclude the scoring as the Pioneers led 35-0.
The TD pass was the 13th of the year for Olsen and extended his all time LHS TD pass record to 23. Ross extended his all time LHS TD pass reception record to 11 with the grab.
The Pioneer defense was smothering all day, holding the Knights to only 69 yards of offense until a meaningless 75 yard drive in the second half.
The final two quarters were all about the Pioneers' second team which played the Knights' varsity even the rest of the way.
Where the Pioneers figured to beat North Andover to move to 7-1, 6-1 in the league, what wasn't expected was a 15-7 upset win by Pentucket over Newburyport. That dropped the Pioneers, Sachems and Clippers back into a three way tie for first with the league champion to be determined on Thanksgiving Day.
With the win, the Pioneers remained in sixth place in the Division Three Super Bowl standings with a rating of 64.37. Newburyport was right behind in seventh place. Pentucket jumped over both squads into third place.
Next: Preparing for the Hornets
1973 Flashback
The Refuse Disposal Committee recommended "replacing municipal rubbish collection with a voluntary system of recycling, home disposal of other wastes and yearly pickup of residues and large articles."
The committee noted that "home gas incinerators could be purchased on a group basis for $150."
Also, the League of Women Voters launched an Equal Rights Amendment bracelet campaign "to raise additional monies for ERA ratification activities in non-ratified states." The $3.00 purchase will be used to fund the effort to get the amendment, which would ensure equal rights for women, passed in the rest of the country.
Massachusetts ratified the amendment in June of 1972 but eight more states would be needed to enact it into law.
The bracelet is a band of nickel silver with the letters E.R.A pierced into it. "It is purposely neutral in design so that it can be worn by both men and women."
The Refuse Disposal Committee recommended "replacing municipal rubbish collection with a voluntary system of recycling, home disposal of other wastes and yearly pickup of residues and large articles."
The committee noted that "home gas incinerators could be purchased on a group basis for $150."Also, the League of Women Voters launched an Equal Rights Amendment bracelet campaign "to raise additional monies for ERA ratification activities in non-ratified states." The $3.00 purchase will be used to fund the effort to get the amendment, which would ensure equal rights for women, passed in the rest of the country.
Massachusetts ratified the amendment in June of 1972 but eight more states would be needed to enact it into law.
The bracelet is a band of nickel silver with the letters E.R.A pierced into it. "It is purposely neutral in design so that it can be worn by both men and women."
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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