Winds were strange in ’46

DON CANTRELL

The Santa Ana wind often has a staggering impact on events within

reach when they arise from the desert floor and roar across the

Southland.

It was no different during the fall of 1946 at the Santa Ana Bowl

when Newport Harbor High lined up to confront Santa Ana High,

defending CIF champions.

One statistic alone provided an indication of how shocking it

would be throughout the contest before an estimated 4,000 fans.

That one statistic came early after Harbor quarterback Buzz

Chambers, who averaged 45 yards per punt, booted the ball on fourth

down, then found the gusting wind whipping the pigskin back over his

head. It developed into a minus 13-yard punt and the Saints took

charge in fair scoring position.

“This was the most miserable game I had ever played in,” said Tar

guard Bill Clark, who recalls the slight stings of gravel through the

air.”

In addition, Clark said the wind had blurred the field with lime

from the yardage markings.

“It must have been blowing 75 miles an hour,” he said.

He recalled that schools, in time, switched to chalk mixed with

water that would dry and hold its place among all the field lines.

Even the Harbor High band director had sensed the storm brewing

before the contest plans for big bus transportation to the bowl, and

called it off.

Roy Ward, a talented senior who would eventually advance to first

string end at California and visit the Rose Bowl, remembered the

night in fair detail.

He recalled that Santa Ana was led by superb triple-threat Johnny

Fouch, who was frustrated that night by the intimidating Tar defense

and the blistering wind. Newport intercepted two of his passes and

one put Newport into a solid position by tailback Louis Mello, who

stole an aerial at the Tar 36.

The Tars, guided by signal-caller Chambers, drove on down to the

Saint 7-yard stripe from where a tricky screen pass from Chambers hit

Jim Ashen on the left sidelines and he sprinted into the end zone

with ease.

Ashen held the ball for a conversion attempt by Mello an it sailed

clearly through the uprights with no wind interference. Newport led,

7-0, in the second quarter.

The two clubs continued battling through the severe wind condition

until the Saints opened up some holes and drove to the goal. It took

four downs to cover two yards, but Fouch finally broke through for

the score. The Saints chose not to kick against the wind and Fouch

managed to bust through for the conversion run, making it, 7-7.

The second half was only two minutes old when Newport moved

quickly for another score after center Bill Roberts intercepted a

Saint pass.

In short order, Ward threw a sharp aerial to fullback Brian

Hanzal. It covered 25 yards and pushed the Tars deep into Saint

territory.

After moving close to the Saint goal line, Ward bucked the middle

before Hanzal drove across for the second Tar touchdown.

Some claimed that Mello’s conversion kick was true to the mark

before the devil winds blew it away, making it 13-7 for Newport.

The Saints managed to push for another score in the second half,

but they were consistently bottled up by the fired-up Sailor defense

throughout the league contest. The Saints failed on another

conversion run attempt.

The late Newport Coach Wendell Pickens extended lofty praise for

his Newport troops and felt it was outstanding how the Tars contained

a shifty runner like Fouch.

In essence, the Tar outfit had upset the Saints, not simply tied

them.

Newport out-rushed the Saints, 184-152, and out-passed the Saints,

47-40 yards.