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“FOOTBALL AT FENWAY”
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FOOTBALL AT FENWAY
October 23, 1966 ... The Patriots scored three touchdowns in the final 16 minutes and scurried back into pennant contention by ripping the San Diego Chargers, 35-17 in a sun soaked Fenway Park. By winning, the Pats moved to within one half game of the front running New York Jets, who lost to Oakland. Lance Alworth was the only Charger that the Patriots couldn't contain. He caught passes from John Hadl of 42 and 66 yards for two touchdowns. But with the day the Boston offense was having, they weren't enough. Larry Garron, playing his finest game in two seasons, more than countered Alworth's performance by scoring three touchdowns. Coming into the game the league leading Sand Diego defense had not given up a single long touchdown pass. Garron, on almost identical plays, latched on to two Parilli 53-yard scoring passes. Parilli, after a slow start, was brilliant with three touchdown passes and 254 passing yards. Jim Nance was big on the field, carrying 25 times for 108 yards and another touchdown. The Chargers were concentrating on Nance, allowed Parilli to pick apart the San Diego pass defense, and Dick Degan in particular. Degan had a gimpy ankle and when Parilli saw him hobbling, he went after him. Parilli put Garron on him and the speedy Garron easily got past him and caught both long touchdown passes.
For nearly three periods it was Alworth vs the Patriots and Alworth was winning. In the first period he took a screen pass and raced 42 yards to put his team in front 7-0. The Patriots tied the game in the second quarter on Garron's first touchdown pass. Parilli then completed eight in a row, moving the Pats 77 yards and another touchdown and a 14-7 lead. This one was a pretty over-the-shoulder catch by Gino Cappelletti. The Chargers added a field goal and the Patriots went into the locker room with a 14-10 lead. Back came Alworth in the second half. He ran away from his Tom Hennessey and put himself under a perfect pass from Hadl to cover 66 yards putting the Chargers up 17-14. If there was a turning point, it happened when Charlie Hall picked off a deflected pass at the San Diego 37-yard line and ran it back to the three. Garron slashed over on the second play to put the Pats back in the lead 21-17. Two minutes later Garron was again running by Degan for another long touchdown score, putting the Pats up now, 28-17. This time it was Nick Buoniconti who stepped in. The Chargers still had time left to get back in the game until Buoniconti intercepted another pass with a great move on the sideline and rambled 41 yards to the Charger 19. Nance and Garron took four shots at the San Diego defense with Nance slamming over from the two for the final score of the day. |
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