1960: Gloucester Catholic Wins City Crown; Beat Lions 34-0
Thursday, November 13, 2008
RAMS WIN CITY CROWN; BEAT Lions 34-0
1960
Gloucester Catholic High not only won the city championship by defeating Gloucester High 34-0 on Thanksgiving morning, but the Rams finished the season matching the second-best record in the history of the school.
The victory was Catholic's seventh in nine games, equaling the 7-2 mark recorded in 1953. An 8-1 log notched in 1955 is the best the Rams have ever posted.
Few people would contest the fact that when it is remembered that the Ram schedule this year was far tougher than that faced by either the 1953 or 1955 teams, the '60 club rates the best in Catholic history.
By winning on Thanksgiving, Gloucester Catholic took a 7-6 lead in the city series.
More than 4000 fans sat in bright sunny weather to watch the Rams dominate the play most of the way. Only passes from Pete Raskis to Ron Middlcton, Dan Cassidy and Pete Pitzo enabled the Lions to move the ball at all.
The tough Catholic forward wall, featuring Bob Bender, Al Carelli, Hank Parker, John Pilkauskas, Jay Wolf, Tony Bertolino, Bill Savidge, Ed Ferry, Hugh Vogel, Bill Gross, and Rich Hancock, held Gloucester High to a net of 31 yards on the ground.
With halfbacks Jim Heverly and Tim McCarthy reduced to part-time operators by injury, fullback Ed Hlopak and sophomore halfback Dan O'Brien carried the brunt of the Ram attack.
Hlopak chewed up 174 yards on the ground, scoring three touchdowns and two extra points. The teedees were from the one (twice) and the seven.
O'Brien picked up 60 yards rushing, caught two passes and scored a touchdown (from the one) and an extra point.
The other touchdown came on a seven yard pass from Terry McCarthy to Henry Parker. Tim McCarthy also scored an extra point on a pass.
