This Week in Benedictine Football, Week 14

November 25, 1965

Charity Game

Benedictine 29, South 8

                CLEVELAND – Voted unanimously as the top team in the Cleveland area by The Plain Dealer, Benedictine was a heavy favorite to return to championship glory in the 35^th annual Charity Game against South High at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

                After the game, you would not get any arguments from South High coach John Gentile after his Flyers lost to the Bengals 29-8 in front of a crowd of 36,202 fans.

                “They deserve to be No. 1. They’re tough all the way around,” he said.

The victory increased Benedictine’s record to 7-4-2 in these title games.

In a three-minute span late in the second quarter, the game turned in favor of the Bengals

A bad snap from center on a punt by South gave the ball to the Bengals on the four and then Larry Zelina took it in from there. His place kick gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead with 3:56 left in the second.

Forcing South to punt, the Bengals struck again covering 57 yards in just four plays. Halfback Glenn Novak burst through the line, after a great fake by quarterback Jim Betts, and raced 38 yard for another Bengals touchdown. Zelina’s extra point gave the Bengals a 14-0 halftime lead.

With South driving to the Bengals five-yard line, the Benedictine defense made the play of the game. On a fourth down play, the Flyers all-scholastic halfback Mickey Gallegos took a flip and tried to skirt right end. He was met four yards behind the line of scrimmage by all-scholastic 240-pound tackle Tony Russ, who was backed up by five other Bengals defenders.

Benedictine then drove 91 yards to reach the end zone once again on Zelina’s one yard run. His extra point kick made it 21-0 with 45 seconds left in the third.    

Zelina had three big plays in the drive, a 13-yard dash, a 19-yard run, and a 49-yard pass reception from Betts.

Zelina set up the Bengals final score as he ran 50 yards to the South one. From there, Novak took the ball over. A surprise two-point pass from Bill Scanlon to Glenn Novak gave the Bengals a 29-0 lead.

With less than one minute remaining in the game, South finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Don Lamka, who also threw for the two-point conversion.

Zelina, who won the game’s MVP award, finished the game with 101 yards rushing on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Glenn Novak added 95 yards rushing on 15 carries and two scores.

This was the highest scoring team to date in Benedictine history with 380 points in 10 games while allowing only 97 points.

Only a 29-12 loss to Massillon in the second game of the season marred a perfect record.

Glenville coach Phil Crawley, whose Tarblooders played both teams, said, “I think if Benedictine and Massillon were to play again, Benedictine would take them apart. Benedictine played Massillon too early,” he added.

Massillon was the Associated Press wire service state champion.

Even Augie Bossu, who was not known for his use of superlatives, admitted that “this team has to rate with our best. It’s ONE of our best. You can’t compare teams of different years. This one had more depth than our ’57 team which won the state championship.”

NOTES: Larry Zelina won the game’s MVP award and did it again in the next season in the Bengals 32-6 victory over South High. He is the only player in Charity Game history to win two MVP awards.