The Gloucester Catholic Alumni Association honored Brigadier General Stephen J. Hines, Mrs. JoAnn Walsh and William Popjoy, Esq. at the Annual Alumni Mass and Communion Breakfast on November 2.

General Hines \’70 received the Thomas G. Stewart III Award for Service to the Community; Mrs. Walsh, Assistant Principal for Academics at GCHS, was honored as the recipient of the Dr. Frank and Mrs. Catherine Kelly Award for Service to the Gloucester Catholic Family; and Bill Popjoy was honored with the John and Jackie O\’Donnell Award for a Distinguished Alumnus.

 

 

 

 

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A determined group of Gloucester High School Football players put on an exhibition of desire Monday afternoon and held the highly favored Rams of Gloucester Catholic to a 12-12 tie. Although picked as two touchdown underdogs, and playing against a line that averages 197 to their 165, the Lions made the Rams come from behind to earn the tie.

Coach Manlove\’s fired up ball club served notice from the beginning that it would be a tough afternoon for Coach Murphy\’s charges. The first time Gloucester had the ball they scored as Fran Jannetti raced 46 yards with a quick snap. The Rams countered in the second quarter with Dan O\’ Brien going over from the one. In the third quarter it took Gloucester four plays to score with a 45 yard pass from Toby Frymire to Jannetti being the big play. The Rams scored last in the final stanza with Bob Frizell getting the honors from the 8.

A glance at the final statistics shows that the Rams completely dominated play, but the Lions managed to have the big play when they needed it, and kept the Rams defense guessing. For the Rams, O\’Brien and Frizell sparked the offense while Jack Cafagna, Tom Worrell, Woody Dooley and Lou Atkinson stood out on defense. Fran Jannetti was the offensive standout for the Lions, with Bill Johnson, Al Mester, Frank Mevoli and Harry Aharon doing a good job on defense.

But stealing the spotlight from both clubs was Gloucester\’s George Thorpe. Thorpe stood out on offense and defense as the talented sophomore played the entire 48 minutes. Thorpe opened gaping holes for the Gloucester backs and was the thorn in the side of the Rams as he seemed to be all over the field on every play. Thorpe has to be the game\’s most outstanding player.

The game was the first in the 15 year history of the City Series to end in a tie. The record now stands at 7-7-1.

First quarter: Gloucester Catholic won the toss and elected to receive. Bill Gross took Chico Loebell\’s kickoff on the 14 and returned it to the 16. The Rams moved the ball to the Lion 45 where Gloucester High held and took over on downs. Frymire carried twice through the middle for 9 yards to the Ram\’s 46. Fran Jannetti then took a quick snap and sped 46 yards untouched for the Lions first touchdown. Frymire attempted to run the extra point but was stopped. After the kickoff there was an exchange of punts and the Rams had the ball on their own 22 as the quarter ended.

Second quarter: The Rams moved to the 37 where the Lion defense held and the Lions took over. On the second play Frymire fumbled after a sizable gain and Tony Bertolino recovered for the Rams on the Lion 47. Bob Frizell made 15 to the 32, then Frizell and O\’Brien carried to the one. O\’Brien then took the ball through the middle and scored the Rams first touchdown. O\’Brien was stopped as he tried to run the extra point. After Bertolino\’s kickoff the Lions tried to come back fast through the air but Frizell intercepted a Frymire pass on the Ram 40 and returned it to the Lion 33 and the half ended.

Third quarter: Bertolino\’s kickoff was returned to the Lion 28 by Wayne Smith. Frymire made 6 yards in two carries then hit Jannetti with a 21 yard pass to put the ball on the Ram 45. Frymire then hit Jannetti on the same pattern on the 10 and Fran stepped into the end zone alone to make the score 12-6. Smith\’s attempt at the extra point was off to the right. Gloucester Catholic took the Lions kickoff on their own 19. With O\’Brien and Frizell doing all the running, the Rams moved to the Lion\’s 8 in 17 plays, where the quarter ended.

Fourth quarter: On the first play of the last period Frizell swept around left end and went 8 yards for the tying touchdown. FrizelPs attempt to run for the extra point was stopped just inches from the goal. The score was tied but both teams threatened again. After the Rams kicked off their defense forced the Lions to punt from the Lion 48. Loebell boomed one 47 yards to the Ram 5 where Al Mester downed it for the Lions. The Rams drove to the Lion 33, taking 16 plays and most of the quarter to do it. With time running out the Rams took to the air and Fran Ferry intercepted Garcznski\’s pass on the 15, and returned it to the 27. Frymire raced 38 yards to the Ram 35, but failed to connect on 2 pass plays and time ran out.

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Note: A series of articles about the history of the Gloucester Catholic vs. Gloucester High football games was published in a booklet released in 1993 entitled \”The Renewal of Friendship\”. This great history of the series was put together my members of the Gloucester High Alumni Association.

Unfortunately I don’t have the entire book. But over the next couple of weeks leading up to this year’s game on Thanksgiving Day I will post the articles and photo pages that are in my possession. Drawing on front cover of booklet by Todd Whitten

~ Bill Cleary

(The Year 1948) Gloucester City High School captured its first victory of the current season last Friday evening at the Charles St. Stadium when they took Gloucester Catholic into camp by an 18 to 12 count. 

 

A crowd of about 3500 looked on as the visitors broke a 12-12 deadlock with a third period touchdown. The Catholic kickoff was returned to the Gloucester 36. Sooy picked up one yard. City High was penalized five yards for offside. Harris picked up two yards. After a pass had fallen incomplete, Weichman punted to the Catholic 40. McQuillan gained five, Phelps three, and Gibison three for a first down on the Gloucester 49.

 

McQuillan was thrown for a three-yard loss by Whitmore, and after two incomplete passes, O\’Neill punted to the Gloucester 33.

On the very first play, Harris broke through the center of the Catholic line, cut to the sideline, and raced 37 yards to the Catholic 20. Farrell broke up the threat by intercepting on his own 20. Gibison picked up six yards and Gloucester was penalized five, to give Catholic its second first down on its own 31. McQuillan was thrown for a three-yard loss again by Whitmore, and Catholic was penalized five yards back to the 23.

Hagan then intercepted on the Catholic 30. Sooy bulled his way for 11 yards and a first down on the 19. Harris picked up three and on the very next play Don Hammer streaked through his own left side and outraced the Catholic secondary into the end zone for the score. Hagan\’s kick for the extra point was wide.

Weichman\’ s kickoff was returned to the Catholic 42. Gibison gained five yards on a delayed line buck. McQuillan was thrown for a three-yard loss and Hagan again intercepted McQuillan\’ s pass and returned it to the 46. Sooy picked up two.

As the quarter ended, Gloucester was penalized 15 yards for an illegal formation. Weichman picked up 11 yards on an end around. A pass, Hagan to Sooy, was good for nine. Weichman then punted to the Catholic 15. Gibison picked up three and McQuillan four, but Phelps was stopped short of a first down on his own 24, and O\’Neill punted to the Catholic 46.

Harris picked up two yards. Sooy also gained two, and after a pass fell incomplete, Weichman punted to the Catholic 17. Gibison plunged through for five. Catholic was penalized five yards for backfield in motion. McQuillan was thrown for a two-yard loss but Gloucester was detected roughing and penalized 15 yards.

 

(November 15th, 2008: Gloucester City NJ)

Gloucester Catholic scored first, with seven minutes left in the second quarter quarterback Zach Barlage found teammate Jacob Yates an connected with a 68 yard TD pass.

As the half approached with 12 seconds on the clock Barlage hit Yates again with a 24 yard TD pass. At the end of the first half Rams led Pope John 14-0.

Also scoring for Gloucester Catholic: Ryan Alcott, Mike Gartland and Alex Christ.

Rams will play Immaculata Friday at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. Kickoff is 7 PM.

Immaculata beat Holy Spirit today 21-20 in overtime.

~Ryan Murphy Gloucester Catholic Assistant AD

See Gridiron New Jersey for other scores