Now that big Dave has progressed into the ’60s with his research, we’re able to revisit the long-ago games and teams from our city’s other high school, Bishop Feehan.

When I first spotted this compelling contest among Dave’s treasure trove, I was only too happy to feature it as a column, since not only was it an exciting game in what became a storybook season for Feehan, but the gridders prominently mentioned have long been some of my favorite people and some very old and dear friends. So, with no further malarkey, from the autumn of 1966 I offer up Paul Jost’s account of the game when:

Shea passes Shamrocks

to fourth straight win

The Bishop Feehan Shamrocks remain in the undefeated, unscored-on 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, Pete Phipps and Tim Cronin. Shea’s passing was some of the best seen in high school ball in years. Completing his first eight attempts, he continually found receivers in the open and picked up the necessary yardage. Shea completed 10 for 15 on the day.

Dave Kirby scored for the Shamrocks early in the second period on a spectacular catch, and 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 at his own 40 and returned it to the Cumberland 40 until being taken 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 in 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, he got off a 72-yard boot that rolled to the Feehan three.

The Shamrocks were unable to get a sustained drive going and had to call on the services of their own punter, Paul Merry, who boomed away some wonderful boots as well. Merry was called on six times in the game and came away with a 42.6 yard average per punt.

Defensively, Feehan was at its best. For the most part. Bruce MacDonald and Pete Cosgrove held the middle of the line, with Dan Blake pitching in to help throw the Cumberland quarterback for considerable lost yardage. The Feehan defense held Cumberland for no yardage gain in the second half and only allowed them a net of 13 yards in the first.

It was a see-saw battle in the first stanza as the ball changed hands four times before either team got a sustained drive going. Feehan took over on the 49 after recovering a Cumberland fumble and began its drive to paydirt. Shea hit Phipps with a pass to the 44, and came back with another to Cronin for a first down on the 37. Thorpe bucked the middle for three and Shea hit Kirby with a bomb to the 17. On the next play, Shea spotted Kirby all alone in the end zone. A Cumberland defender closed fast and deflected the ball over his head, but Kirby came through with the amazing catch of the day — he fell to his back and gripped the pigskin for the tally. Merry’s try for the point after was partially blocked.

Later in that same period, Feehan had another drive going, but was stalled on the 10 yard line. Feehan called on Merry again to attempt a field goal, but the hard-charging Clipper line moved in and blocked his try.

Driscoll came up with this save of the day with his interception and return to the Cumberland 40. Thorpe picked up a first down to the 28 and Cronin ripped off eight to the 20. Thorpe again slammed the middle for a first and goal at the nine. Again, Thorpe got the call and this time swept around right end. The flashy back shook off two tacklers, going in standing up for their second tally, and Merry’s conversion try was good.

* * *

Yessiree, ladies and gentlemen, and that was all the action fit to summarize on that apple-crisp fall afternoon now 49 years in the rearview mirror. As my old friend, the late Ray Sanford would say: “Jeekers!”

Hats off and thank you to State Rep. Paul Heroux for his very timely response to an issue which I had raised. Oh, and Paul also have a very happy birthday.

Want to see your blood pressure reading blow sky-high into heretofore uncharted regions? Pick up your phone and try lodging a report to the Medicare fraud hotline.

As the mercury plummets please bear in mind the plight of the hungry and the homeless. Please take a moment to urge our Department of Public Utilities to deny or at the very least, slash the requested rate increases with which National Grid burdens their customers each year, just as Jack Frost peeks through our front door. Mercy, already we have spiraling cost increases across the board. Where does it end?

I guess it’s all the more reason to be good to one another and try to ease the burden upon your neighbor’s back. Peace.

Thomas McAvoy looks back at the past each Tuesday. Contact him at [email protected].