Philadelphia Eagles

Vs.

Boston Patriots

September 2, 1968

Eagles Tumble Pats

By George McGuane

Lowell (MA) Sun

BOSTON- Philadelphia's Eagles' Coach Joe Kuharich said, "Don't sell the Patriots short. They're truly great on defense and once they get their offense jelling, they'll have themselves a pretty good ball club."
 

A perspiring Kuharich was running down some of the fine point's of yesterday's Philadelphia 22-20 victory over the Pats before more than 30,000 fans on hand for the Cardinal Cushing Ecumenical Charities Game played at Harvard Stadium.

"Actually," continued the Eagles mentor, "We're situated the same as Boston. Our defense is good but since we lost Veteran Norm Snead, our offense lacks smooth functioning ability. Boston hasn't a Parilli any more and is trying to break in newcomers like Taliaferro and Sherman. Our King Hill and John Huarte are having the same troubles on offense as the Boston quarterbacks."

Although mighty perplexed by his team's inability to get going offensively, Coach Mike Holovak still believes his club will be ready for its opener against the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo next Sunday. "With a little break here and there," said Mike, "We could have won easily against the Eagles. Every time we got rolling our momentum was crushed by a penalty or a foolish mistake. The Pats were penalized six times for 108 yards against only one pass interference call for 16 yards against Philly."

Boston scored three touchdowns and two points after, while the Eagles had two TD's, two field goals and a safety, with the latter two pointer proving the margin of victory.

Both clubs battled on even terms under perfect playing conditions in Harvard's beautiful stadium in the first period and the score was zip to zip. However, the second period had just started when King Hill threw a 47-yard pass to Izzy Lang that ended up on the Patriot's one yard stripe. In two tries, Tom Woodeshick made it into the endzone. Hill then passed to Pete Emelianchik for the extra point making the score 7-0. In this game, neither team could try for the extra point by placement but had to run or pass for a one-pointer.

Just before the half ended, Gino Cappelletti's try for a field goal from the Eagles' 32 went wide to the right.

Nate Ramsey wasted little time intercepting a Boston pass thrown by Taliaferro in the third quarter. He made the grab on the Pats 29 and returned it to the Pats three. Boston's defense was stalwart and held for three plays forcing Rick Duncan to go for a field goal from the Patriot 12 yard line. This put the Eagles ahead 10-0. On the ensuing kick-off, Bobby Leo fumbled the ball out of bounds on the Pats two yard line. Taliaferro went back to pass and was smothered in the end zone on the first play from scrimmage after the kick-off and it was another two points on the board for the Eagles via a safety. The count was now 12-0.

The Eagles scored again quickly in the same period, when Johnny Huarte, from Notre Dame, who spent a season with New York and a couple with Boston, started pitching for the Eagles, his new pro team. He threw a 42 yard strike to Ben Hawkins for a score. The conversion pass was grounded and Philadelphia
was now out front 19-0.

Boston's great defense finally reared up and forced a fumble by Huarte on a rugged tackle by Ed Philpott. The recovery was on the Eagles' 40. After four plays, Taliaferro hit Jim Whalen on a perfectly executed tight-end delay, over the middle for a score. Whalen could have gone all the way to Somerville on the play he was that wide open. Taliferro then passed to Bobby Leo for the extra point. The third quarter closed with the score 19-7, Eagles.

Rick Duncan opened the fourth period by booting a 46 yard field goal, which ulimately proved the margin of victory. At the time it gave Philly a 22-7 lead. Boston made it an interesting closing quarter when John Charles intercepted a King Hill pass at the Pats 36 yard line and raced it 64 yards into pay territory. Tom Sherman, now in at quarterback for Boston, passed to Gene Thomas for the extra point and the score was Eagles 22-Boston 14. Sherman later threw to Aaron Marsh in the endzone. The latter, made a great diving catch for the third Boston touchdown. The try for extra point missed when Garron attempted a rush off right tackle. The count was 22-20, Boston made a valiant bid to get into field goal position but just didn't have enough time. A fourth down pass to Gene Thomas was knocked down by Mel Tom to end the Boston threat.

SHORT STUFF . . . The crowd of more than 30,000 exceeded the 25,000 anticipated. The weather was perfect . . . Too many youngsters on the field, striving to grab stray footballs made things kind of awkward for police and everyone concerned . . . Because it was an inter-league game, the balls had to be changed if team possession changed. Boston insisted on an American League ball and the Eagles on a National League ball . . . Three officials were used by the NFL and three from the AFL . . . Statistically, Boston had the much better of the game with 12 first downs to the Eagles' 8 . . . Many Greater-Lowell folks attended the game as each parish had tickets given to pastors for distribution after Masses lost Sunday . . .
 

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

PHI- Woodeshick 2 yard run (Emelianchik pass from Hill)

Third Quarter

PHI- FG Duncan 12

PHI- Safety Taliaferro tackled in endzone

PHI- Hawkins 42 yard pass from Huarte (Hill pass from Huarte)

BOS- Whalen 19 pass from Taliaferro (Leo pass from Taliaferro)

Fourth Quarter

PHI- FG Duncan 46

BOS- Charles 64 interception (Thomas pass from Sherman)

BOS- Marsh 23 pass from Sherman (run failed)

Att- 31,404

RETURN