North Attleboro High School - Northern Light Yearbook (North Attleboro, MA)

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Saturday Afternoon at N.A.H.S. Saturday afternoon at the football field. A time for old and new classmates alike to cheer for the Big Red. The autumn leaves fall slowly to the ground while the older people in the bleachers look back to their playing days at NAHS. Confetti fills the air when North scores, pride runs throughout the bleachers. Red Fever” is all around. Students know that some- day they too will return to watch their town play.

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Football The 1976 Red Rocketeers opened their season with a 34-6 victory over traditional rival Bishop Feehan. After a close first half. North’s new wide-open offense, led by Quarter- back Carl Hebert, struck for two T.D. passes and one T.D. run. The victory was dampened when Tri-Captain Bill Cavalieri hurt his knee, an injury that sidelined him for the season. North next met the Sharon Eagles under the lights at Community Field, where they built up an easy 21-0 halftime lead and held on to win, 21-14. The key play of the game was a 5 5 -yard return of a blocked point-after- touchdown kick by Tri-Captain Rick Sanville. North next travelled to Canton, only to be shutout by a tough Bulldog defense, 7-0. North bounced back the next week with a 7-6 win over Stoughton. In that game. North scored the first time they had the ball on a 17-yard pass from Hebert to Wide Receiver Mike Redding. Although North had a wdde edge in the play, it took a great defensive play by Tri-Captain Mitch Meyer to save the victory. North’s next game was against the King Philip Warriors where they lost a 21-13 thriller. The fans were treated to a great passing show as Hebert completed 15 passes for the day, ten of them to Redding for 183 yards and two T.D.’s. North was behind for much of the game but ended play on the K.P. one-yard line as time ran out. After this, the Red Rocketeers were due for an easy game, and got it in a 28-6 win over the Foxboro Warriors. Returning home the next week to play Oliver Ames, North’s ground game compiled 336 yards in rushing as the offensive line tore huge holes in the Tigers’ defense. The next game was one that will be remembered for many years to come. The undefeated and heavily-favored Mansfield Hornets paid a visit expecting to take out years of frustrations on the Rocketeers. Big Red” had different ideas, however, and won an astoundingly hard-fought vic- tory, 21-20. Scoring highlights of the game included a 26- yard pass from Hebert to Fullback Jay Gaboury and a one- yard plunge by senior Mike Schmidt. North then played Franklin and suffered a controversial loss to the Panthers, a protested pass-interception call set- ting up Franklin’s go-ahead score. For the fourteen Rocketeer Seniors, Thanksgiving Day symbolized the dream of all NAHS football players — a win over Attleboro. Led once again by the passing combina- tion of Hebert and Redding — good for five completions, 164 yards, and two T.D.’s, North scored a come-from- behind victory over the favored Bombardiers, 13-7. Mike Redding received the L. G. Balfour trophy as the game’s Most Valuable Player. Post-season honors went to Mike Redding and Mike Schmidt, All-Hockomock-League Selections. Chosen to the Sun-Chronicle All-Star Team were Mitch Meyer, Gary Viera, Mike Redding, Carl Hebert, and Gary Carter. North’s Annual Unsung Player Award went to Dave Paulhus, while the Defensive Player Award went to Gary Carter. Above: Slippery little devil, isn’t he. ’’ SEASON REC;ORDS X’arsHy N.A. A Bishop Feehan 6 N.A. 21 Sharon 14 N.A. 0 Canton 7 N.A. 7 Stoughton 6 N.A. 1,S King Philip 21 N.A. 27 Foxboro 8 N.A. 27 (Oliver Ames 0 N.A, 21 Mansfield 20 N.A T Franklin 14 N.A. 13 Attleboro 7 . I ' N.A. 18 Bishop Feehan 6 N.A. 18 Sharon 6 N.A. 0 Canton 6 N.A. 0 Stoughton 0 N A 6 King Philip 22 N.A. 0 Foxboro 20 N.A. 0 Oliver Ames 2 N.A. 21 Mansfield 20 N.A. 0 Franklin 6 26