“FOOTBALL AT FENWAY”
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FOOTBALL AT FENWAY
November 6, 1964 ... With just one second left and with the chances of winning the division just about gone, Gino Cappelletti provided a storybook ending by kicking a 41-yard field goal to rescue the Patriots at Fenway. The league's top scorer and the man who has kept this team alive all season, hoisted a perfect kick to give Boston a bizarre 25-24 victory and keep hopes alive for a little while. The kick not only won the game, but it saved Babe Parilli from having to wear the goat horns. Parilli had a great night both passing and running, but almost blew the game on the next to last play. Only 31 seconds before Cappy saved it all, Houston's George Blanda had booted a 10-yard field goal, which looked as good as gold. In three plays the Babe had moved his club from the Boston 20 to the Houston 40 and then was looking for a receiver for either a touchdown or field goal position. He ran around and then headed for the sidelines where ho should have thrown long to kill the clock. He just finally made it to the sidelines and managed to get out-of-bounds as the clock stopped with only one tick left for Cappy to work his magic. Cappy had kicked two field goals in the first quarter to put the Patriots ahead 13-7. In the third quarter, George Blanda connected with Willie Frazier on an 80-yard bomb. The Patriots got the ball back and Cappy got his team out front once more, 16-14.
The Patriots put a touchdown on the scoreboard with four minutes left. After a Houston score that gave them a 21-16 lead, Boston marched for 80 yards with Parilli rolling around right end for five yards and the touchdown to give the Patriots the lead by one point, 22-21. Instead of kicking the extra point, the Pats decided to go for two to at least insure a tie. Parilli put the ball right in Artie Graham's hands in the end zone. Graham was clobbered by Sammy Odom and the ball was jarred loose and fell to the ground, for an incomplete pass. Blanda came through as Houston marched down the field kicking his 10-yard field goal to give Houston a 24-22 lead with only 32 seconds left. Parilli got the ball back and it was a 50-1 shot that the Pats could pull it out especially since the Houston defense made finding an open receiver impossible for Babe and forcing him to make his hectic dash for the sideline. Cappy's windup took the shine of a great game by Blanda. He threw 44 passes with 20 completions for 328 yards and two touchdowns. He was the star of the game until the last play. |