St Sebastians School - Arrow Yearbook (Newton, MA)

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In Good Hands Center Bill Harwood and Quarterback Jack Mulhcrn Waiting for the Whistle The Red and Black about to go into action against Roxbury Latin

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at the hands of Browne and Nichols by a single point, 13-12, and Noble and Greenough, 20-O, when superior reserves enabled them to tally all their points late in the fray. Even the Monday morning quarterbacks would have to admit that this record of achievement in the face of such advanced opposition was highly satisfactory. The Class of 1946, in particular, was proud of the fact that its three Sophomore representatives were very instrumental in compiling this satisfying glory. We suspected that John, Bob and Paul would be important factors in St. Sebastian's athletic future. The season offi- cially closed when Bob Baker's Blues proved better mudders thanjimmy Collins' Reds by a 19-13 margin. Historians of the future will probably date the rise of St. Sebastian's gridiron prominence from the Autumn of 1944. That Junior year of ours saw the institution of pre- School practice, the entrenchment of the T formation as our standard tactic, and the compilation of a glorious record. Cap- tained by Bob Baker from the quarterback slot, the season's starting team had Don Gibbons and john Pickard for half-backs and Tony Anzuoni as the No. 4 man. The line featured Mulhern and Ellard, ends, Courtney and Ed Murphy, tackles, Dan Sullivan and Phillips, guards, while Paul McGrath held down the pivot berth. Rolling with in- creased power over each of five successive opponents, the Red and Black iuggernaut vanquished Roxbury Latin 6-0, Browne and Nichols 15-2, Rivers School 18-O, St. Charles of Waltham 28-O, and Cambridge School of Weston 53-7. It seemed ironical that such a season should end on a note of heart-breaking defeat. Such proved to be the case, however, for, after journeying to Rhode Island, we lost, 7-6, to Portsmouth Priory on a mem- orable f1rst-down decision, and Winter's premature arrival in the Berkshires forced a cancellation of our final appearance against Cranwell. Consolation was found, to be sure, in a scrutiny of the relative scoring powefs of St. Sebastian's and its opponents. Chalking up 126 points against 16, we had pushed across 19 touchdowns to our combined op- ponent's 12. Such figures were proof positive that our School would be a potent factor in future Football campaigns. In the Red-Blue annual struggle, Bob Shea of '46, chiefly by means of Bob Baker's two scores, led his Blues to a 13-6 victory. The hopes engendered by our gridiron per- formances of 1944, were definitely fulfilled in the laurels gained by the 1945 St. Sebastian team. Undoubtedly the finest eleven produced in the School's five-year history, the story of its arduous campaign deserves a detailed recording. ST. SEBASTIAN'S 131LAWRENCE AcADEMY 0 Opening their season against Lawrence Academy, the Red and Black gridmen made a most auspicious start by subduing a stubborn home team 13-0. The first St. Sebastian athletes to travel by bus, the players dressed only to find the game delayed by a driving rain-storm. That the soggy condition of the field would be an important factor in the contest was proven in the first quarter when St. Sebastian's failed to score after Neelon's blocked kick and Mulhern's two successive quarter-back sneaks had given the Newton lads a golden opportunity. Having lost the powerful Pickard on the first play of the second quarter through injury, we resorted to the air but the passes just failed to click, although Ellard barely missed a finger-tip clutch in the end zone. After the intermission and with the field considerably dried out, a blocked kick by Harwood, coupled with a sweeping end run by the recovered Pickard, set up a 2 yard scoring plunge by Benny , The pass conversion attempt failed. This 6-O score in our favor endured until, late in the final quarter, McGrath plunged over through center and Pickard bent back the Groton line for the extra point to make the final tally 13-0. Outstanding in our triumph was the end play of Neelon and Ellard, the tackling of Shea and the play selections of Mulhern.

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ST. SuBAsTiAN's TYTABOR 7 Accompanied by a bus-load of enthusiastic fans, our eleven made its second appearance of the season on Tabor's field at Marion, Mass. Facing a crimson-clad opponent that was really of college-freshman calibre, the Red and Black lighter and more deceptive team outplayed its heavier rival. Failing to take advantage of an early Tabor fumble, we pene- trated to their 12 yard stripe in the opening quarter but surrendered possession. Early in the second stanza, a beautiful 25 yard pass The Iron Hand in the Velvet Glove Tackle Bob Shea from Mul to Neelon enabled us to threaten again, but this advantage was wiped out when Tabor took over and managed to shake the colossal Perry loose for a 70 yard jaunt that paid off six points. On the conversion try, they made the distance only by inches. Carrying the fight to the enemy in the third quarter, we were temporarily checked by an inopportune fumble at the enemy 22. Set back by a 50 yard kick, Mul lugged it to our 39, sent McAuliffe and Pickard slashing off tackle and then, on an electrifying quarter- back sneak, chewed up 25 yards. Losing no time in the fourth period, Piekard swept right end for 17 yards and then plunged over from the two yard line. With Tabor stif- fening in expectation of another Pickard plunge, Mul coolly tossed to Neelon for the equalizing score. The remainder of the game saw us dominate the play completely, with McGrath's recovery of a fumble, Pic's four consecutive tackle thrusts and Mul's in- genious, last-second signalling for a fair catch being the features. The contest ended dra- matically with Freda's gallant attempt at a field goal from the 15 yard line. The angle was a 45 degree one, however, and Elmo's toe could not quite make it. After the game, the Tabor coach, players and supporters were unanimous in declaring that they were lucky Captain and Coach John Ellard and Mr. Murphy My Kingdom for an Arm The wounded Pickard