Today we continue to chronicle Bishop Feehan High School's undefeated 1966 season with this account from the Attleboro Sun.
The Bishop Feehan Shamrocks remain in the undefeated, unscored-upon ranks in high school football today by stopping Cumberland High 13-0 Saturday.
Quarterback John Shea passed the Shamrocks to their fourth straight win with aerials to Dave Kirby and Pete Phipps. Shea's passing was some of the best seen in high school ball in years. Completing his first eight attempts, he continually found his receivers in the open and picked up the needed yardage. Shea completed 10 for 15 on the day.
Kirby scored for the Shamrocks early in the second on a spectacular catch. Speedy Rick Thorpe accounted for their other tally on an end sweep in the waning minutes of the game. The key to Thorpe's TD was on an alert play by Phil Driscoll. Cumberland, threatening throughout the second half, was on the move again after completing a 35-yard pass play to the Feehan 38. Driscoll picked off the next Cumberland pass on his own 40 and returned it to the Cumberland 40 being pulled down from behind. Four plays later Thorpe went in for the score.
Statistics show Feehan had it all over Cumberland, but in reality this was not so. Feehan compiled about 90 percent of their statistics in the first half. Cumberland constantly had the Shamrocks with their backs to the wall during the second half.
The Cumberland punter was uncanny. He put the ball inside the five-yard line and on a third down, quick-kick situation, cut off a 72-yard boot that rolled to the Feehan three. This Shamrocks were unable to get a sustained drive going and had to call on the services of their own punter, Paul Merry, who got off some excellent boots, too. Merry was called on six times during the game and came up with a 42.8 average per punt.
Defensively, Feehan was at its best. For the most part, Bruce MacDonald and Pete Cosgrove held the middle of the line while Dan Blake pitched in to help throw the Cumberland quarterback for much lost yardage. The Feehan defense held Cumberland for no yardage gained for the second half and allowed them a net of 13 yards in the first.
It was a see-saw battle in the first, as the ball changed hands four times before either team got a sustained drive going. Feehan took over on their 49 after recovering a Cumberland fumble and started their drive to paydirt. Shea hit Phipps with a pass to the 44 and came back with another to Tim Cronin for a first down on the 27. Thorpe bucked through the middle for three and Shea hit Kirby with a bomb to the 17. Cronin picked up one yard and Thorpe lost one back to the 17. On the next play, Shea spotted Kirby all alone in the end zone. A Cumberland defender came up fast and deflected the ball over his head, but Kirby came through with the catch of the day. He fell to his back and held onto the football for the tally. Merry's try for the point after was partially blocked.
Later in the same period, Feehan had another drive going, but was stalled on the 10-yard line. They called on Merry again to try a field goal, but the hard-charging Cumberland line moved in and blocked the kick.
Driscoll came up with this save up the day with his interception and return run to the Cumberland 40. Thorpe picked up a first down to 28 and Cronin tore off eight to the 20. Thorpe again went around right end. The speedy back, shook off two tacklers, and went in standing up. Merry's try for the point after was good.
What they served at JC's
For generations following the game, the crowd would flock to JC's (Jolly Cholly's) to eat, rock 'n' roll, race and sometimes fight. But no one ever got badly hurt, and to stir the memories, here is a menu for JC's from an April 1959 ad:
Jolly Cholly's
PIZZA - at its best, 18 varieties and combinations
Meatball and sausage sandwiches - spaghetti - flame broiled hamburgers - frankfurts - fried Ipswich clams - fries - fried chicken - Rhode Island clam cakes
Acres of parking - comfortable inside service
Thursday and Friday - fish and chips - R. I. clam chowder
Delicious frozen treats at our super dairy bar
Extra thick cabinets and frappes
Call by phone - take some home
For pizza call MY5-5042
For grill and dairy bar MY9 - 8061
Don't know about the rest of you, but it sure makes me hungry.
I would say to all who are reading - peace.
Thomas McAvoy looks back at the past each Tuesday. Contact him at [email protected].