Withstanding the winds

Don Cantrell

Football spirits were on the rise with the return of Coach Wendell

Pickens from World War II in ’46 across the Harbor High campus.

Before departing for a military assignment after the ’42 grid

season, he had closed his initial prep coaching career with a

colorful football championship, Newport’s first-ever varsity grid

title.

Hence, it was no surprise to find harbor area grid fans happily

expected a repeat of championship football with ample optimism.

However, the record book would confirm for Pickens that the Sunset

League was stronger that it had ever been and three big schools,

Santa Ana, Anaheim and Fullerton could still stack up a much higher

enrollment against Newport.

In fact, Santa Ana, which joined the Sunset in ‘43, had a

fantastic grid season in ’45 and had no trouble capturing the CIF big

schools championship.

Santa Ana, under the direction of Coach Bill Cole in 1945, easily

took the Sunset, then raced to the CIF title by defeating the

following giants in the playoffs: Pomona, 19-2, Long Beach Wilson,

14-0 and Alhambra, 34-21.

Cole’s Saints featured one of the most dazzling offenses in the

CIF. It included a sophomore triple-threat named Johnny Fouch,

fullback “Bullett Bill” Turley and dazzling breakaway halfback Chuck

Daniels.

Fortunately, for Newport, numerous Saint stars had graduated, but

they still had the constant touchdown threat named Fouch.

Unfortunately, the Tars were just an average-sized team, which

featured numerous Bee team standouts, such as tackle Roy Ward, and

Bob Thompson, guards Ed (Doc) Hanson and Ordean Munson, center Bill

(Shiner) Roberts, halfbacks Louis Mello and Roger Hillhouse and

quarterback Stan (Buzz) Chambers.

The Tars did have strength returning from Brian Hanzal, a

200-pound fullback who ran the century in 10.1; a stout end named

Dick Brace and two strong tackles in Bob Robins and Bill Weatherwax.

Newport was blanked by St. Anthony, 12-0, and Fullerton, 6-0,

early on, but did whip Riverside, 19-0, and Garden Grove, 13-0,

before the Saints arose on the slate.

The Sailors knew it was going to be an intense night since the

Saints were at home and severe Santa Ana winds were blowing. Tar

guard Bill Clark remembers the fierce, hot winds and took note of the

constant flow of small rocks. The wind had also blurred the field by

spreading the white-chalked lines in every direction.

And the punting drills told Chambers what to expect in the game.

Some punts were blowing back over his head while Mello’s practice

conversion boots were blowing off to the side.

At any rate, Robins recalled the talk Pickens delivered to the

Tars.

“He made sure we understood the talent we were up against, but he

stressed that anybody can handle a team if they give it their best.”

Robins added, “He said, ‘That’s all I can ask.’ I have never seen a

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

The Saints were astonished from beginning to end as the Sailors

consistently drove a China Wall up against Fouch & Co. It was 7-7 at

the half. Then a score by Mello on a short plunge made it, 13-7, in

the third.

With little time left, a wind-buffeted punt went out of bounds at

the Newport 22. With that break, the Saints scored five plays later

with four minutes remaining. However, Fouch’s conversion running

attempt collapsed before the Sailor line and the contest ended in a

13-13 deadlock. Newport had tied the defending CIF champions. Robins

said it was considered a victory by Newport.

Mello had a grand night later against Downey, averaging 17 yards

per carry and booting all three conversions, giving the Tars a 21-19

triumph.

Robins once said, “Louis Mello only stood 5-foot-3 and weighed 145

pounds. He was also outstanding in basketball, the low hurdles in

track and baseball.

Years later would find Ward earning a first string end spot with

UC Berkeley under Coach Lynn (Pappy) Waldorf and becoming the first

Sailor to play in the Rose Bowl.

Newport lost to Anaheim and Huntington Beach by 13-0 counts but

closed the season with a 20-6 win over Orange. Harbor wound up with a

4-4-1 record in ’46.