The Boston Patriots have won their first game in franchise history and it came at the expense of Sammy Baugh's New York Titans. Thinks looked bleak for Patriots Head Coach Lou Saban's crew when they trailed 24-7 in the third quarter. Titans quarterback Al Dorow had tossed three touchdown passes and Bill Shockley kicked a 23 yard field goal to give the Titans what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. However, the Patriots scored first on a Walt Livingston 1 yard plunge followed by a Gino Cappelletti extra point. Then backup quarterback Tom Greene tossed a 15 yard touchdown to Oscar Lofton to end the third quarter down 24-14. Butch Songin fired a 6 yard touchdown pass to Jim Colclough to bring the Patriots to within three and then the Titans literally fumbled the game away. The Titans were punting with seconds remaining but Rick Sapienza fumbled the snap. Chuck Shonta of the Patriots scooped up the fumble and rumbled 52 yards for the go-ahead score. The Patriots defense held and Boston had come away the victors 28-24 at the Polo Grounds.
Boston struck first in the first quarter when the Patriots drove all the way to the goal-line. Walt Livingston's one yard rumble was enough for the touchdown. Gino Cappelletti banged home the extra point and the Patriots had their first lead in franchise history. The Titans answered with a Bill Shockley 23 yard field goal, but the Patriots led 7-3 going into the second quarter.
The Titans dominated in the second quarter as Titans quarterback Al Dorow found Dewey Bohling for an 8 yard touchdown. Shockley kicked the extra point and the Titans had the lead. The Titans scored before the half ended as Dorow hit Ted Wegert with a 16 yard pass to give the Titans a 17-7 lead at the half.
The third quarter started the same way the second quarter ended, with a Titans touchdown. Dorow found Thurlow Cooper for a 38 yard score, and with Shockley's extra point....the Titans led 24-7. Time to pack it in, right? WRONG! Patriots head coach Lou Saban refused to quit and backup quarterback Tom Greene passed to Oscar Lofton for a fifteen yard touchdown pass. Cappelletti's extra point pulled the Patriots down 24-14 at the end of the third quarter.
Patriots quarterback Butch Songin was back for the fourth quarter and he started it with a six yard strike to Jim Colclough to pull the Patriots within three. Things looked bleak when the Titans had the ball with seconds remaining but were forced to punt. Somehow Titans punter Rick Sapienza fumbled the snap and Chuck Shonta ran the fumble back 52 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Just like that it was 28-24 Patriots. Linebacker Bill Brown managed to pick off Dorow in the game and fullback Alan Miller was the Patriots leading rusher with 44 yards on the ground for this one. Run Burton also had 23 yards rushing as well. Dick Christy had a 17 yard reception as well and it added up to a 28-24 Patriots win, their first in franchise history.
Reaction:
In a 14 game season, every win counts and this was very important. Saban's crew pulled off a 17 point comeback against the Titans who won last week. The Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos are the only teams that are 2-0 so the Patriots are only a game behind them. Butch Songin sitting for Tom Greene is a bad sign but they both got important touchdowns in this one. That fumble return sealed the deal and hats off to the defense for not breaking. They allowed 24 points but zero once the Patriots mounted their comeback. Winning in the final seconds is always thrilling and its a shame the game was at the Polo Grounds. Nickerson Field would have been rocking if that happened there. The defense needs some work because they can't be allowing 24 points by the third quarter every game. Not even Mike Holovak's offense can overcome that kind of deficit every single game. The Patriots come home to play a very important Week 3 game against Buster Ramsey's Buffalo Bills. The game is this coming Friday night (because the New York Giants play on Sunday) at Nickerson Field.
