SIDELINES: Recognizing ’46

Don Cantrell

Fifty-five years have passed since the 1946 Newport Harbor High

football team made its mark. Some old fans now favor a tribute to the

squad that stunned the defending CIF champions at Santa Ana High with an

astonishing deadlock, 13-13, in the Santa Ana Bowl.

The teams battled amid one of the most severe Santa Ana dust storms in

years.

Harbor guard Bill Clark still remembers the intensity.

“The win was blowing gravel,” he said.

In addition, the devil winds had blown the chalk line into dust that

swept across the turf. It was also a hot day and most fans were quite

uncomfortable.

Although the Sailors played way over their heads and displayed a

positive edge, the demon winds also played a favorable turn toward the

Saints. One Newport punt by quarterback Stan (Buzz) Chambers flew back

over his head and set the Saints up for a late-hour touchdown.

And, Harbor’s superb runner and kicker, Louis Mello, booted one

potential conversion that could have won the game for the Tars, but it

was blown off course.

Sailor tackle Bob Robins called it, Harbor’s “finest hour.”

Many felt the key factors for the Tars was their rare spirit and

Harbor Coach Wendell Pickens, who sparked his team to a great defensive

stand.

“(Pickens) made sure we understood the talent we were up against,”

Robins said. “But, he stressed that anybody can handle a team if they

give their best. He said, ‘that’s all I can ask.’ I have never seen a

coach that had the respect of a team any more than him.”

The most exhausting challenge for the Sailors was dealing with Saint

tailback Johnny Fouch, a triple-threat player who could often turn rivals

upside down. But, the Tars’ defense made it a long night for the CIF

star.

Harbor’s first score came off a slick screen pass from Roy Ward to Jim

Ashen in the red zone. Ashen then sprinted along the sidelines to score.

Mello added the second touchdown in the second half with a burst up the

middle.

In time, Ward would draw a salute from Newport after he became a

first-string end for the California Bears under famed Coach Lynn (Pappy)

Waldorf. Ward also became the first Sailor to ever play in the Rose Bowl.

At one point, it was clear near the end that Fouch could win the game

on a running attempt for the conversion. However, a rock-ribbed China

Wall blocked his forward move.

Three other Sailors would eventually shine on the All-Sunset League

squad, including tackle Robins, speedster guard Edwin (Doc) Hanson and

end Dick Brace.

Both Clark and Robins always stressed that Mello was not just a

fast-running grid star, but was also a versatile all-league athlete. He

showed excellence in basketball, the low hurdles in track and baseball.

“Louis was one helluva guy and carried the highest regard from all,”

Clark said. “He was the nucleus of the team and an all-around athlete. It

was hard for rivals to tackle him because his legs were like pistons

coming all the way up to his chest.”

Reflecting back, Clark expressed a wide stretch of praise for Mello on

the 1945 Bee team that only lost one game. He was the key runner on that

outfit as well.

Mello stood only 5-foot-3, but ran the football like a giant.

Many of the Class Bee players were small-sized, but came to the 1946

varsity and became solid starters, including the likes of center Bill

(Shiner) Roberts, tackle Roy Ward, halfback Roger Hillhouse, end Bob

Thompson and guard Jim Corbin.

The 1946 team also defeated Riverside, 19-0; Garden Grove, 13-0;

Downey, 21-19; and Orange, 20-6.

Fair to say Mello booted three extra points against Downey and

averaged more than 17 yards per carry, which was astonishing.

The Tars only lost, 6-0, to Fullerton, but they were hurt in the

league race by losing, 13-0, to Anaheim and Huntington Beach. Huntington

finally won the league that season, paced by quarterback Harlo LeBard.

The season marked Pickens’ return from World War II, who would

continue on to coach the 1947 Tars team before advancing to the new

Orange Coast College as baseball coach and athletic director.