1969 Football Team
The 1969 football team was the fifth undefeated and untied team in school history and the second 10-0 squad coached by late Prep Athletic Hall of Fame coach Earl Lavery.
“To win takes a complete commitment of mind and body,” Lavery was quoted as saying. “When you don’t have the desire to make that commitment, they don’t call you champ anymore.”
That team backed Lavery’s words, rolling to Prep’s fifth consecutive MBIAC title and winning by two touchdowns or better in all but one game, a nail-biting 6-0 triumph over then-arch rival Law in Milford in Week 4.
Led by junior quarterback Chuck Lemieux, all-MBIAC running back and co-captain Pete Brawley, all-MBIAC center and co-captain Dave Lincoln, all-MBIAC fullback Greg Gintoff, speedy running back Paul Mitchell, ends John Ramos and Tim Burns, and linemen Kevin Beardsworth and John Friar (who also did the kicking), the Jesuits outscored the opposition 290-56. The defense, anchored by all-MBIAC nose guard Walter Welch, tackles Rich Ryan and Ken Pruzinsky (an all-MBIAC choice at offensive tackle), linebacker Dave Tucker and cornerback Dave O’Connor, posted five straight shutouts to start the season and six overall.
In victories over Bassick, Central, Harding, Law and Bunnell, the Jesuits outscored the opposition 134-0. Non-league foe – the defunct Rippowam – finally broke through with 14 points, but Prep countered with 34. Its next opponent, Notre Dame, also scored 14, but the Jesuits netted 27. Stratford was Prep’s final shutout victim, and the Jesuits wrapped up their undefeated season with victories over another long-gone school – Milford – and Stamford on Thanksgiving Day at Boyle Stadium.
The team:
Head coach Earl Lavery; assistant coach Bob Mastroni; chaplain Fr. Eugene Brissette, S.J.
Seniors: Pete Brawley, co-captain; Dave Lincoln, co-captain; Joe Aubin; Tom Bepko; Tim Burns; Paul Mitchell; Dave O’Connor; John Ramos; Tom Roche; John Rounds; Dave Tucker.
Juniors: Greg Barron; Kevin Beardsworth; Ricky Bellitto; Dan Davis; John Friar; Greg Gintoff; Jim Hannan; Tom Kristy; Chuck LeMieux; Ken Pruzinsky; Joe Quinn; Rich Ryan; Bob Saloomey; Joe Serino; Walter Welch.
Sophomores: Russ Adamchak; Tito Ciotti; Colan Connolly; Bob Hellauer; Al Stanczyk.