LEGENDARY GREETING

2008: BC High 17, Catholic Memorial 7

There was a massive line forming around a white van just beyond the end zone at BC High.

They were there to greet legendary former BC High football coach ad athletic director Jim Cotter. His body ravaged by ALS at the time, the 71-year-old Cotter was confined to a wheelchair, but his spirit was far from beaten. He’d accepted his fate and enjoyed each day to its fullest, preferring to focus on positive events.

“It’s a beautiful day for football and I’m so happy to see Jon Bartlett coaching BC High football,” said Cotter, who was on hand to watch his beloved Eagles clinch a Catholic Conference title with a 17-7 win over Catholic Memorial. “This has always been a special day and I have so many wonderful memories of Thanksgiving Day football.

“I still remember the 1977 game with Catholic Memorial where we kept Paul Heinsohn (son of the late Tommy Heinsohn) inbounds on the final play of the game. If he got out of bounds and stopped the clock, they could have a kicked a game-winning field and we wouldn’t have gone to the Super Bowl.”

A native of Dorchester’s Savin Hill neighborhood, Mr. Cotter attended BC High from 1951-1955 and would later return as the school’s most successful football coach. Cotter coached his beloved Eagles from 1964-2004, amassing an overall record of 236-145-17.

The game itself was fueled by BC High’s impressive ground game. Billy Kiley and Kyle Ewanouski ran for touchdowns, while Tyler Horan lugged the ball 21 times for 122 yards.