The 1962 Football Season
The start of the 1962 season was a tough one for many members of the squad, as well as members of the community. The year before we lost a teammate and friend in David ”Red” Coughlin.
As I recall, spring practice that year was held at Fishermans’ Beach at low tide, as the fields had too much snow on them. Sand under the shoulder pads made it even more fun then just having Coach Bondelevtich, Dick Lynch and Bill Gillis persuading you to do a little more. The phrase that Stan used often this year was that He was “going with the kids”—few Seniors and mostly Juniors and Sophomores (some as young as 15)
I can not say weather we had a tough schedule of not, as everyone in the Northeast Conference was capable of beating anyone . It was at this time that a scheduling error occurred. The 1st game of the season was scheduled on a Jewish Holiday and many of us in the conference could not participate.
The first game of the season we opened up with Andover .We were fortunate to come out with our 1st win SHS 18 Andover 14.
Week 2 had us at home again against Woburn. They seemed to have a defensive line that averaged over 225 and were shaving for 5 years. As an offensive center I noticed most of the defensive line and I never realized that defensive tackles could come as large as Billy Lewis, Needless to say we had our hands full and lost. SHS 8 Woburn 12.
Game 3 (Danvers) was supposed to be played on Saturday, but rain postponed it until the following Monday---Another Jewish Holiday and many could not play. Due to injuries we had ends playing half-back, tackles playing guard, and guards playing tackle. . We LOST 6-0.
We had great teammates in no specific order: Bill Hinch, Rocky Rothwell, John Ladick, myself (Frank Challant), Paul Legere, Tom Bufalino, Peter Cohen, Butch Bissette, Steve Santanello, Bob Marino, Barry Gallup, Billy Conigliaro,
Game 4 WINTHROP is my strongest memory. It was played in Winthrop, in a sea of mud during a North ‘easter rain storm. The winds were blowing from one end of the field to the other and kept each team scoreless in the first half. During the second half we had the ball on our own 2 yard line with the wind at our backs. Forth down came and we HAD to punt. Billy Hinch was our punter and did a good job all season. As center (long snapper in todays language) I had to snap the ball INTO the wind—only 12 yards, and Billy (with the wind) connected on a great punt…it went out on the Winthrop 2. 96 yards from the line of scrimmage. It was a defensive game and some how we managed a safety and WON SHS 2 Winthrop 0. We would take a win any way that we could get it
Game 5 AMESBURY (home). I am sorry that I can not find the write up for this game. We WON SHS 20 Amesbury 14
I believe that it was before this game that some of the cheerleaders and drill team were riding around before the game and the car skidded on wet leaves and they hit a tree. It left many hurt and cut. It was a lousy way to start off the day.
Game 6 SAUGUS---I can not find anything on this game except the score SHS 35 SAUGUS 0. It must have been a good game.
Game 7 LYNN CLASSICAL ---SHS 8 LCHS 6 this was a big upset and once more it was played in the driving rain. 1200 people paid to see us spot Lynn Classical 6 points in the 1st qtr, after a 70 yd drive on their 1st possession. In the second quarter Bob Marino took the hand off from Peter Cohen and went up the middle for a 17 yard score. We elected to go for a 2 point conversion and Peter Cohen threw a short pass over the middle to Billy Hinch. We are now 5-2-0
Game 8 NEWBURYPORT This game was a big upset, but not in our favor. On the 1st play of the game Newburyport scored on a 70 yd run. The 2nd qtr they scored again on an intercepted pass. They scored again on a 9 yd run after a 30+ yd drive. The second half was ours and we dominated the landscape, however we were only able to score once—28 yds from Peter Cohen to Billy Hinch.
Game 9 MARBLEHEAD. Probably the longest day of my youth. It was cold like I had not felt before. The 1st half was a push with both teams playing hard, yet no one could score. For the start of the second half, we kicked off. We had practiced this until we knew it cold, but something/someone blew an assignment and Marblehead ran 70 yards straight up the middle for 6 points and the only score of the day. Enough said on that. I still can see it unfolding.
As I recall, spring practice that year was held at Fishermans’ Beach at low tide, as the fields had too much snow on them. Sand under the shoulder pads made it even more fun then just having Coach Bondelevtich, Dick Lynch and Bill Gillis persuading you to do a little more. The phrase that Stan used often this year was that He was “going with the kids”—few Seniors and mostly Juniors and Sophomores (some as young as 15)
I can not say weather we had a tough schedule of not, as everyone in the Northeast Conference was capable of beating anyone . It was at this time that a scheduling error occurred. The 1st game of the season was scheduled on a Jewish Holiday and many of us in the conference could not participate.
The first game of the season we opened up with Andover .We were fortunate to come out with our 1st win SHS 18 Andover 14.
Week 2 had us at home again against Woburn. They seemed to have a defensive line that averaged over 225 and were shaving for 5 years. As an offensive center I noticed most of the defensive line and I never realized that defensive tackles could come as large as Billy Lewis, Needless to say we had our hands full and lost. SHS 8 Woburn 12.
Game 3 (Danvers) was supposed to be played on Saturday, but rain postponed it until the following Monday---Another Jewish Holiday and many could not play. Due to injuries we had ends playing half-back, tackles playing guard, and guards playing tackle. . We LOST 6-0.
We had great teammates in no specific order: Bill Hinch, Rocky Rothwell, John Ladick, myself (Frank Challant), Paul Legere, Tom Bufalino, Peter Cohen, Butch Bissette, Steve Santanello, Bob Marino, Barry Gallup, Billy Conigliaro,
Game 4 WINTHROP is my strongest memory. It was played in Winthrop, in a sea of mud during a North ‘easter rain storm. The winds were blowing from one end of the field to the other and kept each team scoreless in the first half. During the second half we had the ball on our own 2 yard line with the wind at our backs. Forth down came and we HAD to punt. Billy Hinch was our punter and did a good job all season. As center (long snapper in todays language) I had to snap the ball INTO the wind—only 12 yards, and Billy (with the wind) connected on a great punt…it went out on the Winthrop 2. 96 yards from the line of scrimmage. It was a defensive game and some how we managed a safety and WON SHS 2 Winthrop 0. We would take a win any way that we could get it
Game 5 AMESBURY (home). I am sorry that I can not find the write up for this game. We WON SHS 20 Amesbury 14
I believe that it was before this game that some of the cheerleaders and drill team were riding around before the game and the car skidded on wet leaves and they hit a tree. It left many hurt and cut. It was a lousy way to start off the day.
Game 6 SAUGUS---I can not find anything on this game except the score SHS 35 SAUGUS 0. It must have been a good game.
Game 7 LYNN CLASSICAL ---SHS 8 LCHS 6 this was a big upset and once more it was played in the driving rain. 1200 people paid to see us spot Lynn Classical 6 points in the 1st qtr, after a 70 yd drive on their 1st possession. In the second quarter Bob Marino took the hand off from Peter Cohen and went up the middle for a 17 yard score. We elected to go for a 2 point conversion and Peter Cohen threw a short pass over the middle to Billy Hinch. We are now 5-2-0
Game 8 NEWBURYPORT This game was a big upset, but not in our favor. On the 1st play of the game Newburyport scored on a 70 yd run. The 2nd qtr they scored again on an intercepted pass. They scored again on a 9 yd run after a 30+ yd drive. The second half was ours and we dominated the landscape, however we were only able to score once—28 yds from Peter Cohen to Billy Hinch.
Game 9 MARBLEHEAD. Probably the longest day of my youth. It was cold like I had not felt before. The 1st half was a push with both teams playing hard, yet no one could score. For the start of the second half, we kicked off. We had practiced this until we knew it cold, but something/someone blew an assignment and Marblehead ran 70 yards straight up the middle for 6 points and the only score of the day. Enough said on that. I still can see it unfolding.