The Press Box
Beverly High School Football's Unforgettable Games
1965-Beverly Ties Sachems 20-20; Survives a Tough Saugus Crew to Remain Unbeaten for 10 straight
The Beverly Panthers came into the second game of the 1965 football season, riding high from a previous undefeated season by the 1964 squad, (considered by some as one of Beverly's best ever). After defeating Haverhill 18-0 to open the 1965 season, the pressure was on the Panthers to keep the winning streak alive (looking for 10 straight) and take on an up and coming, motivated Saugus squad that boasted a future hall of fame backfield that was just about to start a run of success, and make their mark in Saugus football history. So, despite it only being game two in the young season, Hurd Stadium was packed that day (7,000 strong) for the first biggie of the 1965 football season.
The Panthers would trail twice, being forced to come from behind both to start the game and to end it. Beverly went down 8-0 (Saugus had close to a hundred yards rushing in the first quarter), before coming back to take a 14-8 lead at halftime. By game's end, the Panthers had to overcome two Saugus 4th quarter touchdowns, and themselves convert on a 4th down from the Saugus 7 to tie the game 20-20 with 1:10 left in the game. By all accounts, this wasn't a masterpiece by any stretch; it was ugly. The Panthers gave up over 200 (214 while Beverly had 130) yards of rushing for the game, including 83 in the first quarter, fumbled 6 times (no typo-3 lost fumbles with 2 interceptions), and were out rushed for the game by close to a hundred yards. How then did the Panthers not lose this game?
Charlie Bulger
The Beverly Panthers saw greatness that day in their young (sophomore), future hall of famer QB Charlie Bulger. Despite being outgained on the ground, the Panthers out-passed Saugus (97 yards in the air); but it wasn't just the yards. It was the fashion in which Bulger was able to direct the Panthers into the end zone in high pressure moments that enabled the Panthers to scratch and claw, hitting a couple huge pass plays to Jim Corbett and Phill Carr at opportune times. Right before the half, Bulger drove the Panthers down the field and into the end zone, completing 3 of 4 passes, and marching the Panthers to 14-8 lead at the break on a TD run by the gutsy QB (Bulger kept it on a bootleg when all WRs were covered); but more importantly, later on in the 4th quarter, being down 6 points with minutes to go, and a ten game winning streak at stake, Bulger drove the Panthers down the field and tied the game with about a minute left, the scoring drive ending on a 4th and 2 play at the 7 yard line, with a TD pass to Phil Carr.
Saugus
The 1965 Saugus Sachems came into the game determined and gritty. Led by their two stalwart junior running backs Jim Paolini and Ed Maquire, and their savvy QB Chris Serino, Saugus was confident and physical. They played about as hard as you could play without coming out with a win on the road-they gave everything they had and ran the ball all over Hurd Stadium that day. Basically, the chatter going into the game was how dangerous Saugus was, and how they were treating this as their game of the year.
Resiliency
The 1965 Panthers did everything they could not to lose that day, and in doing so, played an uncharacteristically sloppy game. The Panthers were forced to overcome adversity more than once, most of their own doing. But the Panthers came up with the big plays; Myles McPherson (captain) has a huge 4th down hit on Saugus' QB Serino that stopped a late 3rd quarter drive deep in Beverly territory. George Copelas and Jim Corbett had big days, and Beverly's defense forced a few turnovers of their own. Plus, both teams had relatively few penalties (4 total between the two teams)
Out of all the mistakes came a determined Beverly crew that showed that they could get knocked down, but not out. After this game, the Panthers lost their next two, losing to Peabody and Lawrence, before coming back to win their last five straight (bunch of shutouts) to close out the season 6-2-1. Not bad for a team that was faced with the task of defending a championship the year prior. Looking to carve out a identity of their own (team lost a lot to graduation from the 64 squad), on this day in October at Hurd Stadium, the 1965 Panthers showed the heart and resiliency of a champion.
(Information gathered from original article-Beverly Times-10/2/65)
Sensational Saugus
Charlie Bulger
Star Power
Movies, TV, and Music..
Music-1965...Rolling Stones "Satisfaction", "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher, and "Mrs Brown, You Have a Lovely Daughter" by Hermin's Hermits
TV-Green Acres, I Dream of Jeanie, and Hogan's Heroes
Cutting Edge..
News of the day...
The Press Box-(1965 Saugus/Beverly)
Email: morency.andrew@gmail.com
Website: beverlypanthers.com
Location: Beverly High School, Sohier Road, Beverly, MA, United States
Phone: 978-335-0944
Twitter: @bevpanthers
1982-Mike Andreas Powers Beverly Over Undefeated Gloucester 20-7
Three Blocked Punts by Andreas, Defense Rule the Day in Big 20-7 Road Win
Down Early
Gloucester jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, thanks to an opportunistic offense that capitalized on a Beverly fumble, when Paul Pasquina snuck in the end zone from the 1 yard line. But the lead would not last long; on the next series, Beverly QB Dan MacLeod hit junior Joe Miller on a short out pass on his first pass attempt of the day; Miller did the rest racing 71 yards for a TD that tied it up. From, there, it became a slugfest of defenses, but a battle that the Panthers were starting to control.
Mike Andreas
Then came Mike Andreas, with a huge blocked punt late in the 3rd Quarter (3rd of day) that eventually set up a Jay Rennicks 8 yard TD run. Andreas also had a couple tackles behind line of scrimmage and helped be a part of a dominant performance in the trenches. Meanwhile, Panther RB Rennicks would finish the day with 24 carries and 106 yards in his second game back from injury. (The workhorse junior would prove to be a key cog in the offense as his partner Chuck Manuel would go down with a nagging injury early in the game). In the 4th, junior John Putur would pick off a Pasquina pass a race 65 yards to ice the game at 20-7. It was a fitting ending to the scoring, considering the Beverly defense and special teams ruled the day. Beverly walked out of Newell 3-2, while Gloucester dropped to 4-1.
Going out on a limb..three blocked punts in one game by one player could be a record that has yet to be broken in Beverly High School football history.
Questions Answered
Mike Fall, David Smagalia, Ed Smith, Steve Pascucci (Hall of Fame), Bill Hamor Jr., Randy Shields...the offensive and defensive lines of the 1982 Beverly Panthers knew they had potential coming into the season, and the coaches also knew that they would have to carry the load until the more inexperienced secondary and offensive backs could get their feet wet. On this day, the lines came through with flying colors and dominated the Fisherman throughout the afternoon. But the offensive and defensive backs also came up with the big plays. Rennicks had a monster day, rushing for over a hundred yards. Also QB MacLeod not only threw a big TD pass, but had an interception as well. Junior John Putur had a huge 65 yard TD interception that sealed the game. All in all, the defensive unit controlled the line of scrimmage and held Gloucester star Mike Powers (future GHS Hall of Fame) to 61 yards on 23 carries.
(Information gathered from original article-Salem Evening News-10/14/82)
N.E.C. Powerhouses
Gloucester Fishermen
Beverly Coaching Legends
Movies, TV, and Music...
Music-Musically speaking, super group "Asia" dominated the charts, along with the duo "Hall and Oates", and musical hit "Ebony and Ivory" (McCarthy and Wonder).
TV-TV shows were booming, which included the hits "Family Ties", "Cheers", "St. Elsewhere", and even "the Smurfs".
Sports and Fashion...
News of the Day...
The Press Box-(1982 Gloucester-Beverly)
Email: morency.andrew@gmail.com
Website: beverlypanthers.com
Location: Sohier Road, Beverly, MA, United States
Phone: 978-335-0944