GHS59-Glory-To-Gardner

1958: One Of The Greatest Of Them All, The Fabulous 58ers

     Do you remember the hula hoop? What about the Edsel? How about Connie Francis, The Big Bopper, Elvis, "Leave It To Beaver" and Nixon's dog Checkers?

     If you do, chances are you remember the year 1958 with fondness. Chair City football fans do, anyway.

     It was no doubt the golden age of football at Gardner High, the Wildcats posting a 72-13-2 mark for the decade. After capturing the Class B state title in 1950, and an undefeated 9-0 mark in 1954, the Wildcats were 6-1-1 in 1955. The next two years saw Leominster the lone culprit placing Gardner in the loss column. A near perfect 7-1 slate in 1957 (only a 6-2 loss to the Devils spoiling the record) and an 8-1 campaign in 1956 (again Leominster prevailed, 13-12).

     However, everything seemed to come together for the 1958 'Cats- perhaps the greatest defensive squad Gardner has ever seen, allowing but six points to Nashua, the only squad to dent their armor.

     The '58'ers boasted a front wall of left end Bob Weeks, left tackle Bob Dill, left guard Gordon Dickie, center Norman Beauregard, right guard Ed Nobrega, right tackle Stan Gemborys and right end Ray Stewart. Tom Ryan was the quarterback, while the other backfielders were Paul Hagen at fullback, and halfbacks Walt Dubzinski, Jr. and Johnny Minns.

     It was a perfect blend of the bone-crushing tacklers up front, and the hard-driving runners which showcased one of the best single-wing outfits of their era, anywhere.

     So powerful and well-respected was this squad that nearly 25 years later, it was ranked as one of the top ten greatest Central Mass football teams of all time, in a poll taken by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

     Here's a game-by-game breakdown of one of Gardner High's greatest football seasons.

Sep. 27: GHS 26 - Worcester Trade 0. It was a rainy and dreary day in Worcester, but the Wildcats made things all the more miserable for Trade. Walt Dubzinski scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a 46-yard interception, and Paul Hagen and Bud Smith had the others. Stan Gemborys, the 235 lb. tackle got Gardner on the board slamming a Trade punt returner at the one, and when the ball popped loose, fell on it for a safety.

Oct. 4: GHS 29 - Wachusett 0. The Wildcats ripped the Mountaineers in every way possible. Tom Ryan got things rolling with a 70-yard punt return, Johnny Minns tallied on a 73-yard run from scrimmage, Bob Weeks hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass from Dubzinski, and Hagen bulled over from the five for the other score.

Oct. 11: GHS 20 - New Bedford 0. Powerful New Bedford came to town with a reputation which preceded them, but the Wildcats took control of the ball and dominated on some short bursts into the endzone. Hagen scored twice from the one, while Dubzinski had the other TD from two-yards away.

Oct. 18: GHS 32 - Fitchburg 0. Over 5,000 fans crammed Stone Field for this annual tussle, won by the 'Cats with relative ease. Hagen scored three times, all three on short blasts from the one-yard line. Minns had the other score from the one. The old Walt Dubzinski adage "three-yards and a cloud of dust" seemed to fit the game, as the Wildcats spent much of the tilt in control of the ball.

Oct. 25: GHS 28 - Turners Falls 0. For the fifth week in a row, the Wildcats shutout their opponents as Minns scored a pair of touchdowns- one on a 20-yard pass from Dubzinski. Hagen also scored on a pass from Bob Weeks, while sophomore Dan Alisauskas scored late in the game.

Nov. 1: GHS 13 - Nashua 6. It was billed the toughest test of the season, and there was no denying that Buzz Harvey's squad (which crushed Leominster 40-6) was ready for this one. Over 6,000 fans at Stone Field saw the Panthers take a 6-0 lead into the locker room on sophomore Don Grandmaison's touchdown- the only one scored against the 'Cats all season long. In the second half, Dubzinski got Gardner on the board with a one-yard sneak, and Hagen answered with the kick to put the Wildcats ahead 7-6. Later, Gardner got some insurance when Minns' two-yard touchdown sealed the victory.

Nov. 8: GHS 6 - Leominster 0. Doyle Field was packed for this one, which would decide the North Worcester County Championship. The Wildcats held the Devils to a total of 20 yards and won the thriller when Dubzinski slanted off tackle from a yard out.

Nov. 15: GHS 36 - Athol 0. The Wildcat arsenal continued on the Raiders, which hadn't beaten Gardner since 1949 and certainly were not about to spoil this party. Dubzinski got the locals on the board with a seven yard run. Later, Tommy Ryan, Weeks, Hagen and Jim Bessette scored for the winners.

Nov. 27: GHS 40 - Shrewsbury 0. The dream season culminated on Thanksgiving Day with the rout at Dean Park before 5,500 fans. Dubzinski scored a pair of touchdowns, on a 42-yard run and a 27-yard pass from Ryan. Minns, Hagen, Weeks and Marcel Clavien also tallied for the champion Wildcats- unquestionably one of Gardner's best squads.

     Omer Cormier of The Gardner News recalled the merits of the team in a "Flicker Flashback" segment of the 1988 Gardner High football yearbook.

     The coaching staff had the highest regard for the team, and the coaches and media of North Worcester County dittoed the motion with a near Wildcat sweep of the all-stars.

     Cormier recalled approaching assistant coach Bob Duncan after the '58 season ended in the center of the Shrewsbury gridiron and inquiring "'How good was this team?'

     Duncan looked up swiftly to see if anyone, especially Coach Dubzinski, were around for his answer.

     'Give them a football,' he said, or words to that effect, 'let them make up plays in the huddle and they'd still win the way they did.'

     High praise indeed and the writers did not fail to recognize their talents in the balloting for all-stars a few weeks later.

     Six of the spots came easily for the first team, end Bob Weeks, tackle Bob Dill, guard Ed Nobrega, backs Paul Hagen, Walt Dubzinski and Johnny Minns. The last ballot was for center, a post manned by Norman Beauregard.

     Ballots were cast on numerous occasions. A tie persisted. Our GHS lad and a Leominster performer always getting the same votes. Gardner had won everything all year, reasoned a few of the writers, they would not carry away everything. Into the late evening the meeting went, no resolution in sight.

     Finally, one scribe called for a coin flip, and all agreed. Heads it would be Beauregard, we recall, tails to the Leominster lad.

     The Wildcats and Beauregard won that one too!"

1958: C- Norman Beauregard, G- Gordon Dickie, Ed Nobrega; T- Bob Dill, Stan Gemborys; E- Bob Weeks, Bud Smith, Ray Stewart; QB- Tom Ryan; HB- Walt Dubzinski Jr., John Minns, Dan Alisauskas, Marcel Clavien; FB- Paul Hagen.