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 21, 1973 - The Pioneers and Hornets were well acquainted with each other over the years.
They had met 15 times since the Lynnfield program began in 1958 and the Pioneers had eaten Thanksgiving Day dinner as winners 11 times. The only four times the Hornets had been able to enjoy the holiday was in 1966, 1967 and 1968. They also beat the Pioneers in the first meeting between the schools in 1958, but that game was not played on the holiday. Going into the game in 1973, the Pioneers were riding a four game Tday winning streak.
But this time more than bragging rights were on the line for Lynnfield. Locked in a three way tie with Pentucket and Newburyport, the Pioneers could earn at least a share of the Cape Ann League title in their first year in the league with a win over the 4-4 Hornets. The Clippers were expected to easily take care of 4-4 Amesbury and as Villager reporter Geof Simons put it "Pentucket would have to report to the wrong field to lose to winless North Andover." So if the Pioneers had any hope of taking home a piece of the title, they would have to take care of business against North Reading.
The Pioneers came into the game with the dangerouse tandem of quarterback Steve Olsen and the league's leading receiver in Lindsay Ross. The Hornets countered with two way receiving and running threat Greg Stewart, who along with Paul Proudy provided most of the offense for North Reading. Quarterback Steve Hartery manned the controls at quarterback for the Hornets.
The two teams came in evenly matched offensively, with the Hornets 162 points just shy of the 180 scored by the Pioneers. But the big edge for Lynnfield was on defense where their 87 points allowed was half of the 176 points the Hornets gave up. Only Newburyport was able to score more than 14 points against the tough Pioneer D which posted three shutouts in eight games. The Hornets, on the other hand, surrendered more than 40 points twice and more than 20 points two other times. They hadn't shut out a team all season, even allowing North Andover to score a pair of touchdowns.
Simons summed up the situation for Lynnfield:
"But all the stats and all the past games boil down to one inescapable fact," Simons wrote. "North Reading must be beaten, and as always the Hornets are upset-minded. But chances are, when it's over, after the long months of exhausting practices and weekly trials, every Pioneer will share a piece of glory to carry back to Lynnfield and savor like a delicious meal."
They had met 15 times since the Lynnfield program began in 1958 and the Pioneers had eaten Thanksgiving Day dinner as winners 11 times. The only four times the Hornets had been able to enjoy the holiday was in 1966, 1967 and 1968. They also beat the Pioneers in the first meeting between the schools in 1958, but that game was not played on the holiday. Going into the game in 1973, the Pioneers were riding a four game Tday winning streak.
But this time more than bragging rights were on the line for Lynnfield. Locked in a three way tie with Pentucket and Newburyport, the Pioneers could earn at least a share of the Cape Ann League title in their first year in the league with a win over the 4-4 Hornets. The Clippers were expected to easily take care of 4-4 Amesbury and as Villager reporter Geof Simons put it "Pentucket would have to report to the wrong field to lose to winless North Andover." So if the Pioneers had any hope of taking home a piece of the title, they would have to take care of business against North Reading.
The Pioneers came into the game with the dangerouse tandem of quarterback Steve Olsen and the league's leading receiver in Lindsay Ross. The Hornets countered with two way receiving and running threat Greg Stewart, who along with Paul Proudy provided most of the offense for North Reading. Quarterback Steve Hartery manned the controls at quarterback for the Hornets.
The two teams came in evenly matched offensively, with the Hornets 162 points just shy of the 180 scored by the Pioneers. But the big edge for Lynnfield was on defense where their 87 points allowed was half of the 176 points the Hornets gave up. Only Newburyport was able to score more than 14 points against the tough Pioneer D which posted three shutouts in eight games. The Hornets, on the other hand, surrendered more than 40 points twice and more than 20 points two other times. They hadn't shut out a team all season, even allowing North Andover to score a pair of touchdowns.
Simons summed up the situation for Lynnfield:
"But all the stats and all the past games boil down to one inescapable fact," Simons wrote. "North Reading must be beaten, and as always the Hornets are upset-minded. But chances are, when it's over, after the long months of exhausting practices and weekly trials, every Pioneer will share a piece of glory to carry back to Lynnfield and savor like a delicious meal."
Next: Title Time
1973 Flashback
In November, the town was in the midst of the first "Energy Crisis" as a result of the Arab oil embargo in response to the United States support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War in October. In response the to the spiraling energy costs, the School Committee approved a series of energy conservatioin measures. The elementary and junior high school thermostats were set at 68 degrees during the day and 62 degrees at night. At the high school, it was set to 58 degrees at night.
In addition, "shades will be closed at night and teachers will turn off the lights in rooms not in use." Also, "principals are studying traffic patterns in an effort to reduce opening and closing of outside doors."
The extension of the Christmas vacation was also under consideration.
Meanwhile, the senior Powerpuff football team beat the juniors 14-0 at Pioneer Field. Entertainment was provided by the male cheerleaders, made up of many of the football team.
In November, the town was in the midst of the first "Energy Crisis" as a result of the Arab oil embargo in response to the United States support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War in October. In response the to the spiraling energy costs, the School Committee approved a series of energy conservatioin measures. The elementary and junior high school thermostats were set at 68 degrees during the day and 62 degrees at night. At the high school, it was set to 58 degrees at night.In addition, "shades will be closed at night and teachers will turn off the lights in rooms not in use." Also, "principals are studying traffic patterns in an effort to reduce opening and closing of outside doors."
The extension of the Christmas vacation was also under consideration.
Meanwhile, the senior Powerpuff football team beat the juniors 14-0 at Pioneer Field. Entertainment was provided by the male cheerleaders, made up of many of the football team.
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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