BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

November 21

1952 Coach Earl Lambert’s Saint Raphael Academy grid forces racked up their fifth straight Thanksgiving Day triumph over neighboring Pawtucket East by pinning a 13-6 defeat on the Redjackets at McCoy Stadium before one of the biggest crowds (6,500 fans) to ever to turn out for the annual classic. Ron Thibodeau, East’s flashy halfback, took the opening kickoff on a reverse and streaked 83 yards for a touchdown. The Saints’ Bob Marshall responded two minutes later crashing over from a foot out for the equalizer and then dashed 34 yards for a TD and rushed the PAT to give SRA a 13-6 first quarter advantage.

1962 Steve Leavitt, a 15-year-old sophomore, picked up 123 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns while Saint Raphael Academy’s tremendous defense held Tolman to a net 21 yards rushing as the Saints blanked the Tigers 21-0 in the rain and mud at McCoy Stadium before 6,500 spectators. A 35-yard pass play, John Hulme to Frank Quinn, gave SRA its first score and Leavitt went over from the three and the one-foot line for his two TDs. The line play of Henry Petcavage, Dick Kryzek, Phil Vecchio, Mike Cahir, Mike Danesi, Mike Ferguson and Quinn was outstanding for the Walcott Streeters.

1972 QB Bob Messier scored three touchdowns, passed for another, clicked on two aerial PAT, kicked an extra point and intercepted a pass in one of the best individual displays the Tolman and Saint Raphael Academy series has ever witnessed in leading the Tigers to a 35-0 whitewash over the Saints. Messier tallied on runs of 56, eight and three yards and hooked up with Andy Asermely on a 13-yard scoring strike, while Wayne Elderkin chipped in with a 27-yard TD scamper. It was the ninth straight series win for Tolman.