Democrats The' - Southington Library and Museum
Democrats The' - Southington Library and Museum
Democrats The' - Southington Library and Museum
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-- - The Observer, Southin ton. Conn. Thursday, Nov. 4, 1976- 9<br />
, The Observer Eastern Runs Over Blue Knights, 27-8;<br />
Pearsor & Masi Each Totals 100 Yards<br />
I SPORTS ---Dudrow Scores SHS TD:<br />
Chas ngLan e, . : . Has67Yard Scamper<br />
By Jim Senich, Sports Editor ..: , - --'- ,, ,, ,o By Jim Senich<br />
The <strong>Southington</strong> Hi.'gh<br />
line of<br />
Nowak<br />
cente,r<br />
(Sr. 6<br />
Len<br />
200),<br />
football team ra..n into tackles Dave Power (Jr.<br />
its .most explestve<br />
fenslve opponent<br />
ofast<br />
6' 205)<strong>and</strong>JeffPeterson<br />
(Jr. 6'2" 215) <strong>and</strong><br />
Undefeated Falcons Wing Into saturd yasthe n ers guards Gary Klett (Sr.<br />
of Bristol Eastern rip- 6'2" 160)<strong>and</strong> Jeff Lum-<br />
<strong>Southington</strong> Saturday At 1:30 pod into the Blue bra (Soph. 6'1" 215).<br />
Knights to the tune of 27- Just think, Lumbra <strong>and</strong><br />
A news reporter has to<br />
wonder what kind of<br />
quotes he or she would<br />
get in interviewing<br />
some great names from<br />
the past just before they<br />
met their gyeat<br />
matches. For instance,<br />
what would Custer have<br />
said when asked how his<br />
troops felt going into the<br />
battle of Little Big<br />
Horn? Emperor<br />
Napolean, do you think<br />
the weather will affect<br />
your roopsin Russia?<br />
The same feeling<br />
existed when this reporter<br />
approached SHS<br />
football coach Dora<br />
D'Angelo earlier this<br />
week for a quote on the<br />
Blue Knights' opponent<br />
this Saturday at Fantana<br />
Field, the Falcons<br />
of St. Paul• George<br />
Pleau's team is undefeated<br />
at 7-0 <strong>and</strong> has<br />
completely demolished<br />
every team in their way<br />
so far this season• They<br />
have featured a<br />
devastating running attack,<br />
led by senior Brian<br />
McCutcheon (20 TD's),<br />
<strong>and</strong> a smooth passing<br />
'program, with Scott<br />
Dumont leading the<br />
way. As for their defense,<br />
Gary Morin <strong>and</strong><br />
Perry Julius are the<br />
frontrunners of a<br />
"hungry" group•<br />
As for coach<br />
D'Angelo's feelings<br />
gd into th 0n : "We<br />
r b oming off the worst<br />
game we've played this<br />
season (27-8 loss to<br />
Eastern). As a matter of<br />
fact, one of the worst<br />
performances a team of<br />
mine has ever<br />
produced. How will they<br />
react against St. Paul? I<br />
sincerely can't answer<br />
that. However, if they<br />
don't respond, they'll<br />
have theirheads h<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
to them in a hurry.<br />
"St. Paul is one of the<br />
finest high school foothall<br />
teams I've seen in a<br />
long time. They come<br />
off that ball so quick you<br />
"can't imagine it until<br />
you've seen them• That<br />
McCutcheon: he's<br />
owerful; he's quick;<br />
e's speedy; he's fast:<br />
he's aggressive. There<br />
aren't any adjectives in<br />
the book that will fully<br />
describe him•<br />
"Scott" Dumont is the<br />
best quarterback in this<br />
end o the state. I can't<br />
imagine anyone being<br />
better; he is definitely<br />
college material ... a<br />
very fluid quarterback,<br />
if you know what I<br />
mean• At 6', he has good<br />
size. And he's not afraid<br />
to run ... doesn't worry<br />
about getting hurt• He is<br />
smart ... won't throw<br />
the ball up for grabs•<br />
He'll scramble, sprintout<br />
on options <strong>and</strong><br />
freeze the linebackers.<br />
"Their defense is<br />
super on pursuit ... ve<br />
aggressive, • quick, w itr<br />
good size<br />
"This team has no<br />
weakness, <strong>and</strong> I mean<br />
looked but couldn't spot<br />
one weakness! They<br />
just come at 'ya !"<br />
Meanwhile, D'Angelo<br />
laments his team's lack<br />
of effort. "What bothers<br />
me is, the kids never<br />
were flustered this<br />
season, even in the two<br />
ties, but Saturday<br />
against Eastern they<br />
just gave u'p ... mentally<br />
<strong>and</strong> physically. I'll tell<br />
you one thing," continued<br />
an angry Blue<br />
Knight coach, "there<br />
will be some changes in<br />
our lineup this Saturday<br />
!"<br />
Fightin' Falcons<br />
St Paul started their<br />
season with a blistering<br />
win over Buckly of Hartford<br />
(44-6) <strong>and</strong> followed<br />
that with clobberings<br />
over Kennedy of Waterbury<br />
(42-10), Berlin (34-<br />
6), Bristol Eastern (41-<br />
8), Northwest Catholic<br />
(40-6), Bristol C n ral<br />
(42-'[4) <strong>and</strong> S6uth<br />
Catholic (39-14). And,<br />
said Falcon coach<br />
George Pleau, "We are<br />
yet to play our starters<br />
more than three quarters<br />
in one game•"<br />
This is Pleau's first<br />
year at the helm of St.<br />
Paul, having come down<br />
from Mass. to take over<br />
a post vacated by Al<br />
Pellegrinelli, who<br />
moved on t6 Berlin High<br />
School• Pleau coached<br />
high school football<br />
teams in the Bay State<br />
for 14 years, so he<br />
comes in with a wealth<br />
of experience. "I just<br />
love it down here," commented<br />
the coach who<br />
sounds like the prover-<br />
bial coach with the<br />
golden apple What<br />
coach anywhere<br />
wouldn't love to come<br />
into a situation such as<br />
his? St. Paul is a school<br />
with great spirit• You<br />
can feel it in the<br />
hallways <strong>and</strong> at their<br />
games -- all sports -- win<br />
or lose• It's a spirit<br />
<strong>Southington</strong> High School<br />
used to have, but exists<br />
no more. Walk through<br />
the corridors of SHS <strong>and</strong><br />
see if you can spot one<br />
Foster on the walls<br />
yping the football<br />
team's next game?<br />
As for coach Pleau's<br />
comments of the<br />
Falcons for '76: "Our<br />
kids have put out right<br />
from our first practice. I<br />
couldn't ask any more<br />
from them. McCutcheon<br />
is a fine example,<br />
coming_ )ff ! year of<br />
non-activity. Brian had<br />
a lower back problem<br />
last season <strong>and</strong> couldn't<br />
play. He was a<br />
scorekeeper last year<br />
<strong>and</strong> a scorer this season.<br />
He is a heck of a kid ...<br />
dedicated, great determination<br />
<strong>and</strong> will<br />
power.<br />
"As for our quarterback,<br />
Scott Dumont,<br />
he is the finest high<br />
school quarterback I<br />
have ever coached,<br />
throwing <strong>and</strong> running.<br />
"Our leader on defense<br />
is Gary Morin<br />
(6'1"-185), an outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
defensive end. If<br />
there is one better<br />
around here, I have yet<br />
to see him. Then we<br />
have Perry Julius<br />
(5'10" - 265), a tackle.<br />
Perry is , big _<strong>and</strong><br />
quick, anetaoring the<br />
center of., our line.<br />
Another btg p,layer on<br />
defense for u . iS Our<br />
other end, Mike Miller,<br />
a junior. Mike played a<br />
great game last<br />
weekend. Then there's<br />
Chip Snow, a safety,<br />
who also played a great<br />
game against South<br />
Catholic."<br />
George Pleau isn't<br />
about to downgrade<br />
SHS. "I saw them agains{<br />
Central (14-14tie)<br />
<strong>and</strong> I thought they were<br />
the better team. They<br />
impressed me on defense.<br />
I don't know what<br />
happened to them<br />
against Eastern, but<br />
they sure looked good<br />
when I saw them," concluded<br />
the undefeated<br />
coach.<br />
As for Saturday's<br />
game, it will mark the<br />
first of three left for the<br />
Knights, who are now 3-<br />
2-2 overall <strong>and</strong> 2-2-1 in<br />
Colonial Conference<br />
play. Whether they<br />
choose to give up_ <strong>and</strong><br />
die is up to them.<br />
Anything less than a 100<br />
per cent effort wilt spell<br />
an embarrassing afternoon<br />
for them at Fontana<br />
Field•<br />
8 at Fontana Field. Both Pearson will be coming<br />
teams traded quick<br />
touchdowns at the outset<br />
of the game, but th.ea<br />
Eastern's aggressive<br />
front line opened huge<br />
holes for their speedy<br />
backs - Gary Pearson<br />
(123 yards on23 carries)<br />
<strong>and</strong> Nick Masi (106<br />
yards on 14 tries) - <strong>and</strong><br />
the game belonged to<br />
Dave Mili ' t am.<br />
Thundering Beginning<br />
at the Knights the next<br />
twoyears!<br />
Lancers Score Again<br />
Eastern was to score<br />
ag.ain .in the first h tf,<br />
th|s tune late tnthe<br />
second period, when<br />
Grechko sneaked in<br />
from the one,<br />
culminating a 43 yard<br />
drive on eight plays•<br />
Ruiu's conversion kick<br />
was off to the left <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Southington</strong> received Eastern had to be con-<br />
I ,d n t w ?wa 20-8 margin<br />
HELP IS ON THE WAY--as the Knights' MattFIorian asa o on " _. " __ .-- --<br />
Eastern's Gary Pearson while Hon BohJ-gian (22) comest en Eastern's Nick South n."g[..on's defense<br />
.............. ] Masirecei opp.e..d th.e Lancers<br />
• [ his ownl8 he ha_ d . .the.y. first had the<br />
• sophomore.. ball. s.t r,ti.ng-the third<br />
• : *. " . i " - " ' " Gary Pearson whowen period, but the Knight's<br />
,, ,,-- - down the r ght sideline offense still couldn't get<br />
like a man possessed, untracked, <strong>and</strong> when<br />
running 82 yards for a Eastern got the ball<br />
touchdown. Ra , Ruiu's back they scored when<br />
extra point kick was Nicl Masi "ble,w, ' by<br />
good <strong>and</strong> Eastern had a <strong>Southington</strong>'s "D <strong>and</strong><br />
DRAIniNG A CROWD" ig East rn Gary t-earso Ss<br />
Knight defenders converge on the talented sophomore running back.<br />
LOOKING FOR N OPENING -- is the Knights" George Peck (32) as he<br />
tries to elude a bunch o " Bristol Eastern players. Peck's 64 yards on 13<br />
carries was tops for <strong>Southington</strong> last Saturday.<br />
--Staff Photos by Craig Baggott<br />
quick 7-0lead. their bench on his way<br />
Not to b outdone, after<br />
Rob Archacki returned<br />
the Lancers'<br />
to a 48 yard TD run.<br />
Ruiu was on the beam<br />
with his kick <strong>and</strong><br />
kickoff to the Southing- Eastern had opened up<br />
ten 33, quarterback Bob a gigantic 19 point lead,<br />
Dudrow went around<br />
right end all the way to<br />
27-8.<br />
Knights Come Close<br />
daylight for a 67 yard<br />
TD gallop. Bob also<br />
carried in for two points<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Blue Knights<br />
<strong>Southington</strong> almost<br />
scored in the fourth<br />
period when they start-<br />
ed a drive that took<br />
were up,8-7, them to the Eastern<br />
However, before the three yard line, but they<br />
<strong>Southington</strong> fans could<br />
couldn't cash in. On a<br />
thoroughly enjoy the ex- fourth <strong>and</strong> goal from the<br />
-e ir g 2av .. " of three, .Jay<br />
Easier'n-start-' was d en-.bv,ck tO-the-<br />
. ed "a'd*rTvi -lhat carried, six yard line <strong>and</strong><br />
80 yards on I0 plays for Eastern had the ball<br />
another touchdown. The hack. They were an insurge<br />
included a swing spired bunch, the Law<br />
pass to Pearson that cers were, <strong>and</strong> they<br />
covered four yards <strong>and</strong> easily have to be called<br />
four other Pearson the best <strong>Southington</strong> has<br />
carries that covered 19 faced so far this season.<br />
yards; Nick Masi George Peck (64<br />
picked up I0 yards on. yards on 13 ca_tries)<br />
three tries <strong>and</strong> split end Bobby Dudrow<br />
Rick Gleason, one of the yards on three tries)<br />
best in the Colonial Con- led the Knights on the<br />
fereflce, caught two ground. Total rushing<br />
passes from quar- stats indicated Eastern<br />
terback Mike Grechko, covered 248 llards to<br />
one a 21-yarder for the SHS's 181. Dudrow was<br />
-TD. Ruiu's kick was 2-7 through the air for 27<br />
good <strong>and</strong> Eastern was yards while Grechko<br />
up again; this time, 14-8, was 3-7 for 36yards. The<br />
with 5:42 left in the first Lancers had 16 first<br />
period, downs to the Knighls'<br />
While Southingtan's six. The hometown club<br />
offense spun its wheels was penalized for 75<br />
<strong>and</strong> went nowhere, their yards while Eastern<br />
defense looked ira- subtracted 40 yards in<br />
pressive on only one oc- that negative departcasion,<br />
spurred by a QB meat.<br />
sack when Dean Wayton The victory left<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bill Badgley drop- Eastern at 3-3-1 overall<br />
ped Grechko for a 17 <strong>and</strong> 3-1-I in<br />
yard loss Otherwise, play• <strong>Southington</strong> drop-<br />
Bristol East 'n's run- pedro 3-2-2 overall <strong>and</strong>,<br />
ning game was 2-2-1 in Colonial Con-'<br />
awesome; their front fereaceaction.<br />
Parade Of The Victorious ,Blue Knight Cross Country Team<br />
Brian Pa low Ricl Bach<strong>and</strong> Tom Mareinlec Jim Archa cki John Giza Bud Taracan| Dana Hushak<br />
BrettPreston