Due to unforeseen circumstances - an awesome Super Bowl run by the 2012 Pioneers! - I put off this last post on the 1973 team. But never fear, here is is.
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.
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 28, 1973 - The Lynnfield Pioneers capped a highly successful debut into the Cape Ann League by dropping North Reading 30-14 to earn a piece of the league title.
As expected, Newburyport routed Amesbury 32-8 and Pentucket pounded North Andover 49-7 resulting in the crowning of CAL TriChampions.
The Pioneers, however, didn't have as easy a time as their fellow champions. The visitors fell behind by two scores and trailed 14-8 at the half. But they settled down after the break and dominated the final two quarters to take home their fifth straight win over North Reading and their 12th in the 16 game series.
The Hornets, buoyed by the home crowd, played the Pioneers even in a scoreless first quarter then drew first blood. North Reading's "All Everything" Greg Stewart got things started by picking off a Steve Olsen pass. The Hornets drove to the Lynnfield 25 after the turnover and appeared to be stopped facing a fourth and 20, but according to Villager reporter Geof Simons, Lynnfield "drew a penalty on a disputed call and somehow it was first and ten for North Reading."
Hornet Peter Mastro plowed in from the one, Stewart added the PAT and North Reading led 7-0.
The Pioneers appeared shaken up by the score and fumbled on their next possession, setting up the Hornets on the Lynnfield 35 yard line. Three plays later, Stewart sliced in from the ten yard line, added the point after and the Hornets led the stunned Pioneers 14-0.
Lynnfield regrouped and mounted a 55 yard scoring drive, with Olsen taking it in from the six. Lindsay Ross took in the two point conversion to cut the Hornets' lead to 14-8.
North Reading nearly scored again before the half on a bizarre play.
"North Reading quarterback Steve Hartery threw under great pressure by Lynnfield's defense and the pass was nowhere near its mark," Simons wrote. "Two Pioneer defenders were just waiting for the ball to drop into their arms but the ball popped out and into the hands of the intended receiver who was brought down on the one yard line."
The Hornets had a first and goal from the one, but "it would have been easier for the North Reading offense to penetrate a stone wall" according to Simons as the Lynnfield defense held the Hornets three times and the clock ran out to end the threat.
The goal line stand seemed to energize the Pioneers who came out for the second half as a different team.
The Pioneers took the lead for good on their first possession with a 52 yard march. Olsen snuck it in from the one and Ross converted the two pointer as Lynnfield took a 16-14 lead.
Two series later, the Pioneers recovered a fumbled Hornet punt on the North Reading 25 yard line. They cashed in six plays later on a Brian Rea four yard run to put the Pioneers up 22-14. Ross recoved another Hornet fumble on the next North Reading possession and again Rea made the home team pay, this time from three yards out. Olsen ran in the conversion to make it 30-14 Lynnfield and it was all over but the celebrating.
Olsen and Ross didn't connect on any touchdown passes in the game but their 1973 season stamped an indelible mark on the Pioneer record book. Olsen's 13 touchdown passes in 1973 stood as a Lynnfield record for 38 years until Gino Cohee broke it with 17 TD's in 2010. Olsen's 23 career TD throws also stood for the same length of time until Cohee broke it with 30 touchdown passes from 2007-10.
Ross' nine TD catches in 1973 still stands as a Pioneer record after 40 seasons. Rick Berardino came close with seven in 2010 but no one has been able to top Ross' single season performance. His 11 career TD receptions also still stands with only Justin Haskell (1994-96) coming close with 10.
Three members of the 1973 Pioneers were named to the CAL All League team - quarterback Olsen, kicker Allan Harrington and Ross. Harrington was one of only three juniors selected to the team. Ross was also named to the Boston Globe's first string All Scholastic team.
At a banquet at St. Maria Goretti Hall held in honor of the 1973 champs, varsity letters were awarded to Greg Anderson, John Callahan, James Carabello, Steve Celata, David DiFillippo, Paul Fitzgerald, Craig Franklin, Allan Harrington, John Imbrescia, Frank McHugh, Brian McMahon, Paul Millen, Steve Millen, Larry Mitkus, Jim Neumann, Robert Olsen, Steve Olsen, Jim Peterson, Brian Rea, Rick Rosenthal, Brian Robinson, Lindsay Ross, Jeff Silva, Mark Stone and Gary Wolfe.
JV certificates were given to Ed Andrews, Mike Carmody, John Carlson, Nick Costas, Jim Cronin, Dave Dodwell, Glen Dolbeare, John Fusto, Jim Gaffney, Fran Guarino, Steve Hansen, John Kerber, Steve Klimowicz, Richard McMahon, Dan Moore, Jim Nelson, Mark O'Hearn, Dave Pevear, Steve Reinstein, Steve Rosenthal, John Shea, Steve Stickney, Brian Voke, John Wallace and Bill Wind.
Congrats to the 1973 CAL Champion Pioneers. Happy Fortieth.
As expected, Newburyport routed Amesbury 32-8 and Pentucket pounded North Andover 49-7 resulting in the crowning of CAL TriChampions.
The Pioneers, however, didn't have as easy a time as their fellow champions. The visitors fell behind by two scores and trailed 14-8 at the half. But they settled down after the break and dominated the final two quarters to take home their fifth straight win over North Reading and their 12th in the 16 game series.
The Hornets, buoyed by the home crowd, played the Pioneers even in a scoreless first quarter then drew first blood. North Reading's "All Everything" Greg Stewart got things started by picking off a Steve Olsen pass. The Hornets drove to the Lynnfield 25 after the turnover and appeared to be stopped facing a fourth and 20, but according to Villager reporter Geof Simons, Lynnfield "drew a penalty on a disputed call and somehow it was first and ten for North Reading."
Hornet Peter Mastro plowed in from the one, Stewart added the PAT and North Reading led 7-0.
The Pioneers appeared shaken up by the score and fumbled on their next possession, setting up the Hornets on the Lynnfield 35 yard line. Three plays later, Stewart sliced in from the ten yard line, added the point after and the Hornets led the stunned Pioneers 14-0.
Lynnfield regrouped and mounted a 55 yard scoring drive, with Olsen taking it in from the six. Lindsay Ross took in the two point conversion to cut the Hornets' lead to 14-8.
North Reading nearly scored again before the half on a bizarre play.
"North Reading quarterback Steve Hartery threw under great pressure by Lynnfield's defense and the pass was nowhere near its mark," Simons wrote. "Two Pioneer defenders were just waiting for the ball to drop into their arms but the ball popped out and into the hands of the intended receiver who was brought down on the one yard line."
The Hornets had a first and goal from the one, but "it would have been easier for the North Reading offense to penetrate a stone wall" according to Simons as the Lynnfield defense held the Hornets three times and the clock ran out to end the threat.
The goal line stand seemed to energize the Pioneers who came out for the second half as a different team.
The Pioneers took the lead for good on their first possession with a 52 yard march. Olsen snuck it in from the one and Ross converted the two pointer as Lynnfield took a 16-14 lead.
Two series later, the Pioneers recovered a fumbled Hornet punt on the North Reading 25 yard line. They cashed in six plays later on a Brian Rea four yard run to put the Pioneers up 22-14. Ross recoved another Hornet fumble on the next North Reading possession and again Rea made the home team pay, this time from three yards out. Olsen ran in the conversion to make it 30-14 Lynnfield and it was all over but the celebrating.
Olsen and Ross didn't connect on any touchdown passes in the game but their 1973 season stamped an indelible mark on the Pioneer record book. Olsen's 13 touchdown passes in 1973 stood as a Lynnfield record for 38 years until Gino Cohee broke it with 17 TD's in 2010. Olsen's 23 career TD throws also stood for the same length of time until Cohee broke it with 30 touchdown passes from 2007-10.
Ross' nine TD catches in 1973 still stands as a Pioneer record after 40 seasons. Rick Berardino came close with seven in 2010 but no one has been able to top Ross' single season performance. His 11 career TD receptions also still stands with only Justin Haskell (1994-96) coming close with 10.
Three members of the 1973 Pioneers were named to the CAL All League team - quarterback Olsen, kicker Allan Harrington and Ross. Harrington was one of only three juniors selected to the team. Ross was also named to the Boston Globe's first string All Scholastic team.
At a banquet at St. Maria Goretti Hall held in honor of the 1973 champs, varsity letters were awarded to Greg Anderson, John Callahan, James Carabello, Steve Celata, David DiFillippo, Paul Fitzgerald, Craig Franklin, Allan Harrington, John Imbrescia, Frank McHugh, Brian McMahon, Paul Millen, Steve Millen, Larry Mitkus, Jim Neumann, Robert Olsen, Steve Olsen, Jim Peterson, Brian Rea, Rick Rosenthal, Brian Robinson, Lindsay Ross, Jeff Silva, Mark Stone and Gary Wolfe.
JV certificates were given to Ed Andrews, Mike Carmody, John Carlson, Nick Costas, Jim Cronin, Dave Dodwell, Glen Dolbeare, John Fusto, Jim Gaffney, Fran Guarino, Steve Hansen, John Kerber, Steve Klimowicz, Richard McMahon, Dan Moore, Jim Nelson, Mark O'Hearn, Dave Pevear, Steve Reinstein, Steve Rosenthal, John Shea, Steve Stickney, Brian Voke, John Wallace and Bill Wind.
Congrats to the 1973 CAL Champion Pioneers. Happy Fortieth.
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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