Tales from the Parochial League - Spinney and Wells

Over the years my dad had taken us to many of the Sunday Parochial League football games at Regis Stadium off 50th Avenue between Lowell and Federal. We would get there for the second half of the preceding game before Regis played or on occasion, if Regis played early, stay and watch half of the later game. We boys loved to go down to the northwest entry gates where the players would gather and wait before taking the field for their game. When you are an 8,9, or10-year-old boy those guys were giants, and with their helmets, pads and cool uniforms were an awesome sight. The sound of their cleats on the asphalt and gravel and the pregame chatter and team chants are still vivid in my memories - they were like gladiators ready to enter the arena.

Regis stadium would host two games and Mullen Stadium would also host two games each Sunday while the southern teams from Colorado Springs (St. Mary's) and Pueblo (Pueblo Catholic) would also get to play home games in their cities. The St. Mary's Pirates were in the Northern Parochial League while Pueblo Catholic played teams from the southern front range.

The Denver parochial league was in its 35th season and would be competing for the 24th and final statewide Parochial League football championship this year. The Parochial League had an amazing history of great teams from Annunciation, Cathedral, Holy Family, St. Francis, St. Joseph, Mt. Carmel, St. Mary's (of Colorado Springs), Walsenburg St. Mary’s, Machebeuf (starting in 1960), Mullen and Regis. This 1965 season was special for several reasons. The Parochial League was in its last few years as athletic and economic pressures began to move these two larger schools (Mullen and Regis) towards participation in the public school leagues. Also, this ‘65 season had two exceptional talents playing quarterback for their teams with Scott Spinney at Regis and Wayne Wells at Mullen. The high school class of 1965-1966 in the state of Colorado that year had many great players - Bob Anderson at Boulder, Bradley at Lakewood and Monte Huber at Poudre but Spinney and Wells were right there with that group and Mullen and Regis had teams that could have contended and won the public school title as well.

Mullen was coming off an undefeated season in 1964 albeit having tied 7-7 with Pueblo Catholic in the Paroke championship game at South High's stadium, and Regis was still glowing from their perfect season in 1963. Mullen had hired Bill Hickey, and John Barone was in his second season for Regis (taking over for the legendary Guy Gibbs). Coach Hickey's program is still noted for its excellence and the huge amount of tough practices and training he brought. Mullen drew it's students and football talents from mostly the southside catholic parishes and schools (Notre Dame, All Souls, All Saints, Presentation, St. Mary's, St. Rose). Regis drew boys from the north side (St. Catherine's, St. Peter & Paul, Mt. Carmel and the east side - St. James, Christ the King, Blessed Sacrament). Coach John Barone had been a student and boarder at Mullen in his youth and was old school tough as well and his team reflected that and executed very well. Coach Hickey was a Notre Dame grad and had some previous success at the high school level before coming to Mullen.

It should be noted that Regis and Mullen had an advantage in their ability to draw from so many of the great Catholic parishes, whereas schools like St. Joseph's, Cathedral, St. Francis and the others drew predominantly from their own grade school and parish and perhaps a bit from close- by neighborhoods. It is a huge tip of the cap that these high schools still put together tough, excellent teams that on any given Sunday could and did go toe to toe with the two football powerhouses. During this 1965 season, Holy Family battled the Mustangs to a 19 - 6 final score with Mullen scoring the only two second-half touchdowns to prevail, and Cathedral held the Mustangs to 23 points in their loss to Mullen. Meanwhile St. Francis battled Regis to a 14 - 0 dogfight as Regis had to dig deep to prevail. These "other" parochial league teams had great athletes as well and loved the opportunity to knock the big boys down a peg.

Scott Spinney grew up in Blessed Sacrament parish near the grade school, and very close to what was then a fairly new Machebeuf High school. Wayne Wells attended St. Elizabeth on what is now the Auraria Campus. Regis getting Spinney and Mullen getting Wells were no accidents as both these 8th graders were well known and woo'd by their respective schools. Even as eighth-graders they had shown extraordinary football talent with their athleticism, toughness, strong arms and superior leadership abilities. Wayne and his brother Duane (both Wells brothers were tremendous basketball players too) arrived at Mullen in an already thriving football environment. Duane concentrated on basketball while Wayne was a tri - sport kid as was Scott Spinney.

As both quarterbacks developed and matured in their freshman and sophomore seasons (both got lots of playing time as Sophomores) their skill sets became top - of - the - state caliber. Scott, though only 5ft 7 inches was a gifted athlete with great speed, quickness, and Russell Wilson type escapability, accuracy on the move and the uncanny ability to make a play under pressure. He (like Wayne) had the ability to throw the long ball (each had tremendous arm strength) so defenses could not shorten the field on either Mullen or Regis. It was a different offensive era where the running game still dominated the ratio of play calls, but having a great passing and ball-handling QB has always been a huge advantage. Wayne was a more standard-sized 5-11 QB but had such an athletic/square-shouldered/perfect posture that ( like Spinney) his virtuosity was unique and fun to watch.

After watching them play a couple of sets of downs the fans knew they were in for a treat, they were quickly mesmerized by the football talent and their abilities to make their teammates know they were going to win and provide electrifying plays. If Wells and Spinney were playing it was time to buckle up. Wayne had extraordinary ball fakes and was an absolute precursor to the modern threat of the play fake now so popular in the NFL. Mullen could run plays off tackle, end sweeps, and counter plays where Well’s ball-handling left the fans (and opponents) stumped as to where the ball was. He could put the ball on his hip after a fake handoff - roll out and create such open space that many times his receivers would be running unchecked into open spots, and even when diagnosed by the defense his accuracy and arm strength still prevailed. For a high school QB, his footwork and pocket presence were dazzling. And Spinney just made you hold your breath because everyone knew that although completely competent in his footwork and ball-handling skills he made plays with his uncanny quickness, mobility, and arm strength. Scott always kept his eyes downfield even in full scramble mode so pass defenses that bit too quick on the run got burned.

This game would determine the Paroke northern league representative to play for the state title. The ride out to the stadium on the recently completed I-70 was filled with energy and angst in our family. My dad took the exit and turned on Lowell to proceed over to the stadium. The parking lots adjoining the stadium on the Regis College campus were packed, and as Dave Nelson of the Rocky Mountain News reported “A crowd of 5514, standing three deep in the end zones” was ready and raucous. Indeed the stadium was packed with the seats crammed full of scarved and bundled cherry red cheeks on the windblown faces of grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins, friends and classmates and the legions of local sports enthusiasts and faithful Mullen and Regis alumni and faculty, hoping to add another chapter to the high school legends from the Parochial League that they had come to cherish.

On the home field (west) side stood the undefeated Regis Raiders in their red and white linens; on the other side were the undefeated Mullen Mustangs in their blue and gold uniforms. It was the stuff of boyhood dreams and for many, the prospects of college opportunities, more glory and maybe a chance to carry that dream onto a professional team in some distant far away stadium. The players themselves were ready and had anticipated this contest since last year's game and worked very hard to hone their skills - they intended to be the dominant team and winner. Both squads were loaded with talent at all positions and the two defenses had been flawless for both clubs. With Wells and Spinney running the offenses it was as coach Barone and Hickey agreed in pregame interviews “if we can’t beat them with what we got, then they are the better ballclub”.

“It was a dead even head knocker” reported Dave Nelson. The Mustangs opened the scoring in the second quarter after intercepting a Spinney pass at midfield and mixing the pass and run until Dave Baker bulled in from the three for the touchdown. The Mustangs threatened again right before the half but were turned back for the 7-0 Mullen halftime lead.

As it turned out a couple of quick kicks (a strategy that is not seen much these days but was a highly-skilled play that could change field position - so prized in tightly fought games) had a huge impact for both teams in this one. Regis had the first possession of the second half (going south to north) but could not get yardage on two plays so a quick kick by Steve Hall was called and he sent it 70 yards to flip the field and two plays later Regis capitalized with an interception of their own at the Mullen 18. On fourth and goal from the five Spinney led Hall with a nice swing pass into the right end zone. The extra point was good and the game was tied up at 7. The next quick kick came also in the third quarter and as Joe Sanchez of the Denver Post reported “ a Mullen quick kick by Dan Jarvis resulted in a Regis fumble at their own 13-yard line. Four plays later Mullen was ahead 13-7 on another Baker bash into the middle, this time from the two. Rich LeDuc blocked the extra point.”

Regis opened the fourth period with a 70-yard drive for the go-ahead touchdown on a pass from Spinney to Hoch from the 10-yard line to take a 14-13 lead and what appeared to be perhaps the pivotal drive of the contest. However with 8:15 left to play “it took all the moxie of two-time all paroke QB Wayne Wells to bring Mullen back from the brink of defeat as he engineered a glittering 65-yard comeback touchdown drive” as written by Dave Nelson. The drive had included some of the most hard-fought runs and staunch defense of the game. Wayne moved the Mustangs into Regis territory with a couple “Wells- esque” play fake passes to the Regis 27. Three running plays gained only four yards but on a fourth-down gamble “Wells came up with the play of the afternoon as he rolled to his right and hurtled a bomb to Pat Stauter (who tucked it nicely into his tummy) in the end zone.” The touchdown gave Mullen a 19 - 14 lead. On the final Regis possession, the Raiders attempted a razzle dazzle triple reverse pass from their own 10 yard line that resulted in a fumble that the Mustangs turned into the final score of the game to make it 26-14. The Mustangs prevailed this day.

The game had lived up to all the hype and more - both teams deserved all the accolades they received and Mullen truly was a great team that year*. Regis went down hard but knowing they had their chances and came up just a little short. The game had a feeling of “ the best saved for last” as the Parochial League was quickly winding down in this 1965 season. The championship game would be played three weeks later in Pueblo (in front of an estimated 6500 fans) and Mullen capped their season with a 13 - 0 victory over Pueblo Catholic (who were also 10 - 0 coming into that game) at Pueblo Public School Stadium**. It was to be the final championship contested not only for the proud Pueblo Catholic Irish club and the Southern Colorado Parochial League but also for the Northern Parochial league. Pueblo Catholic would become Roncalli the following year and play an independent schedule. Regis would soon join the Skyline League and Mullen the Will Rogers League and the other Parochial League schools joined new leagues as well. It was the end of an era.

The Parochial League is now long gone but memories still abound and there are so many great stories about the schools and teams that played their roles in this “golden era” of high school sports here in Colorado. If you have an interest I would like to tell you other histories and stories from the Parochial League, and I am asking if you would in return contribute donations to either Annunciation Grade School or St. Rose of Lima Grade School to help support these local area Catholic grade schools and provide tuition and athletics assistance help to their students who provide an excellent education and opportunities for these kids. If you would be so kind as to mail the checks directly to me (Christopher Cella, 2571 So. Dennison Ct., Denver, Colo 80222) I will make sure the schools receive your donation and you get a receipt. All proceeds will go directly to these two schools.

Please see the footnotes page for historical notes and backup information.

 

Footnotes:

*The Mullen Mustangs under Bill Hickey went on to establish an unbeaten win streak of 44 games spanning the 1964 - 1968 seasons which was tied and then broken by Longmont High in 1996. (Rocky Mountain News)

** Mullen and Pueblo Catholic had clashed three times in championship play and all three had wound up in ties. It was 13-13 in 1950, 12-12 in 1958 and 7-7 in 1964. Mullen won outright titles in 1945, 1956 and this 1965 season. Pueblo Catholic won more outright titles than any other team with 5, and also was in four tie championship games (three with Mullen and one with Regis). Walsenburg St. Mary’s had won three crowns between the years 1939 and 1948. Trinidad Catholic took two titles in 1952 and 1954 (sandwiching Cathedral’s lone title in 1953). St Joseph won a title in the second year of parochial league playoffs in 1940. Holy Family lifted their only state title trophy in 1947. Regis won outright titles in 1946, 1949, 1960 and 1963. (Rocky Mtn. News).