Irwin’s ’48 return a success

DON CANTRELL

In 1948, a stout alum named Al Irwin was returning to his alma mater,

Newport Harbor High, 12 years after his graduation.

And a large number of longtime friends, school mates and harbor

area grid fans were wishing him the best as the new grid chief at

Harbor High.

Since his departure from the area, Irwin had chalked up a terrific

rough-water swim over international swim star Buster Crabbe, played

major-college ball for the famed Amos Alonzo Staff, served as a

flight deck officer in World War II aboard the USS Lexington and

coached a future pro football Hall of Famer named Gino Marchetti.

It seemed Dame Fortune was already smiling in his direction.

But his 1948 return to Newport found little promise on paper for

the Sailor grid team.

There were only three lettermen, a future All-CIF end named Bob

Thompson, a powerful junior fullback named Bob Berry and a strong

guard named Cliff Tripp.

There was also the 250-pound kid brother of Manuel Muniz, Al

Muniz. Manuel was an All-CIF tackle on the 1942 team.

Irwin’s clipboard showed that five starters were only 16 years

old, while eight players were only 15.

There were no 18- or 19-year-old players. It was one of the

youngest teams to take the field in the early days.

In addition, Irwin had to ponder a tough, rock-ribbed schedule

that started with the eventual CIF co-champion, St. Anthony of Long

Beach, and three other eventual champions in Fullerton, Carpenteria

and Bonita.

Irwin was realistic, but felt it would be a success if his Tars

finished with a winning record.

Irwin only had 24 days to prepare for St. Anthony, which featured

a future All-American fullback named Johnny Olzewski, an All-CIF

quarterback named Bill Mais and a crack line.

The Sailors were ready and scored within two minutes on Davidson

Field. Three things flustered the Saints: superb line play by

Thompson, heavy line bursts by fullback Berry and big Al Muniz

leaping over center and grabbing the back of quarterback Mais’

trousers time and again.

Late in the third, however, a St. Anthony pass-lateral play set up

a touchdown and the visitors led, 7-6.

Nonetheless, Newport followed with a 66-yard march to paydirt.

Berry finally slashed 8 yards over right tackle to score. The

Thompson conversion failed, but the Tars led, 12-7.

Then came the nightmare with four minutes remaining. Tar punter

Bog Watts had his punt deflected and the Saints recovered at the

Harbor 12-yard line. Martin Peterson scored on the next play and the

Saints won, 14-12.

St. Anthony later tied Santa Barbara, 7-7, to end the season and

share the CIF title.

Newport would advance and defeat two eventual champions in Bonita

and Carpenteria, but lose to Fullerton in the final four minutes,

14-6.

Two weeks after leaving Newport, St. Anthony hammered rugged

Compton, 26-12. In reflecting back, Saints Coach Jacque Grenier told

the media, “We were lucky to win at Newport.”

Incidentally, the impressed Saints players voted Berry and

Thompson to a starting spot on their all-opponent team. Thompson was

later voted ALL-CIF and Berry was named All-Sunset League.

But Irwin got his wish for the a winning season. The Tars defeated

Bonita, 13-6, Carpenteria, 13-7, Huntington Beach, 13-7, Orange, 7-0,

and Downey, 12-7. Newport lost to Santa Ana, 13-0, and Anaheim, 14-0.

Other backs who played vital roles for the Sailors included

quarterbacks Bud Mears and Don Ward, as well as halfbacks Don Knipp

and Bill Gustafson.

Top linemen included Ivan Caley, Chuck Hanson, Keith Burch, John

Kingston, Jim Kline, Maurice Langdale and Art Killion.