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HARRY AGGANIS |
ON THIS DATE (October 10, 1952) ... Harry Agganis led Boston University to an astonishing 9-7 win over the University of Miami at Fenway Park. Agganis' passing set up the B.U. touchdown in the first quarter. His superb punting protected it in the final period, when a punt of
64 yards knocked the life out of Miami at their own 5 yard line, followed by a safety that iced the game with 2 1/2 minutes left to play.
On that play, Don James, the Miami quarterback retreated with the ball looking to pass, but was harassed by B.U.'s end Jim Meredith. Meredith drove James to the goal line where the quarterback bumped into his fullback Bob Mosketti, jarring the
ball out of his hand. Mosketti grabbed for the ball and attempted to run with it. But he was snowed under in the end zone by Boston University's Len D'Errico and Marco Lando for the two point safety.
This was one of the more notable upsets in recent New England football. Miami was a 13 point favorite at kickoff time over a B.U. team which had been shutout by Marquette a week before.
Harry Agganis connected on four successive passes to take the Terriers 65 yards downfield in the first quarter. Don Defeudis took a pitch from Agganis who had faked out the Miami line, and cut inside a block, going upright into the end zone to
give B.U. a 7-0 lead. They held this lead all the way into the final period behind Buff Donnelli's packed B.U. defense. The defensive team managed to contain the hard-hitting Miami attack every time they appeared ready to explode. James finally connected on a 69-yard
pass play to Frank McDonald on the B.U. 35 yard line. McDonald outraced the B.U. defenders into the end zone to tie the score with four minutes left.
After an unsuccessful drive, Agganis who had previously dropped a 57 yard punt out of bounds deep in Miami territory, uncorked a 64 yard bomb that reached the Miami goal line and back flipped back to the 5-yard line where it was downed by the B.U.
players running downfield.
Agganis was outstanding. He started with four perfect passes. His receivers dropped two of then, but then they held on and snatched the ball six times for 88 yards in the first half, setting up one touchdown and almost another. Time after
time Agganis scrambled and gave his receivers time to get free. Other times he tucked the ball in and ran for large gains himself. He averaged 40 yards on eight punts and hit for 11 of his 22 passes. |
