The team was led by Joe McHugh, a fiery and competitive coach in his fifth season at the Blue Devils’ helm. He was assisted by Tom Hunt, Babe Amendola and Felix DellaRocco. he coaching staff knew they had a good solid squad, but how good remained to be seen. The team captains were QB Harry Conlan, linemen John Befus and Peter Chirico as they were poised to lead the Westies through their 10 game schedule.

Conlan, along with HB Tom Lavery, FB Steve Johnson and Flanker Ed Francis gave the Blue Devils an imposing backfield. Add a rugged group across the offensive line and the West Haven offense looked very tough. The Defense led by Befus, Chirico, Bert Siclari and Ted Williams up front and Senior DB Rich Mcinnis in the secondary gave the Blue Devils a formidable defensive unit.

The Westies traveled to Milford High for its season opener. They came away with a 62-6 victory. The game opened some eyes, but they knew the next game would be a real test. The Westies were perennial underdogs to the Notre Dame Knights, the second team on the schedule.

It was off to Quigley Stadium, the place that two years before saw the famous “phantom catch” by All-Stater Art Spence. That “catch” cost the Westies the game and it was many years before the game was played at night again. McHugh had yet to beat legendary coach Ray Tellier and his tough Green Knights. And it started out looking as if the week before was another flash in the pan.

But not so! The Westies offense clicked and the defense sacked QB Ray Tellier, Jr. numerous times. West Haven led at the half, and the Blue Devils faithful wondered if this could be the year. In the end their hopes were realized. the Westies stunned ND by a 50-12 score. People began to think there was something special in the works.

The third game of the season was against another District League foe, the Wilbur Cross Governers. While this game was close at halftime, the Devils prevailed by a 42-6 final score.

Next up was another league rival-Hamden Green Dragons at Ken Strong Stadium. This was one for the ages. The Westies scored on every possession, including the JV and frosh squads.Hamden would leave with a 95-6 defeat, which would make state and national headlines.

Just a note of interest, to those who may have never heard of the infamous “Attack Team.” This was a group of players put together by the staff to run the offense when the final outcome was never in doubt. The problem was they were good enough to put points on the board, even with players playing out of position. They did and got pulled early in favor of the sub-varsity squads.

The next game was against Lee High School and West Haven posted another victory by a 58-20 score. That was in a pouring rain at Ken Strong. Despite the downpour fans and the student body watched another big win and a 5-0 record.

The next week the defending State Champs Stamford High came to town in a game that would prove how good the Blue Devils really were. The buzz was starting about the Blue Devils, and the Black Knights’ visit was going to be the toughest test yet.

The Blue Devils rallied from behind twice to win 37-22 in a game that some say, was the best high school game ever played. With this win, West Haven was gaining on No. 1 ranked New London in the Register Poll.

The Blue Devils traveled to the Valley to play always-powerful Ansonia. They cruised over the Lavender (the nickname changed in the mid-70s), by a 72-16 rout.

The next game, unknown to many, was against Central Catholic. The game was canceled due to an impetigo epidemic at the Norwalk school. This gave the Devils a week off to prepare for a showdown with No, 7-ranked Jonathan Law of Milford. The Devon school always played the Devils tough, and that was what was expected that afternoon.

West Haven shut out the tough Lawmen 34-0 in a game that propelled the Westies into the number one spot in the Register’s Poll. All that stood between an undefeated season and possibly a State Championship was long time rival Hillhouse Academics on Thanksgiving morning.

Old-timers feared this one. They remembered the many years West Haven had great teams march into the Yale Bowl on Thanksgiving, only to be topped by the Academics.

A huge crowd assembled that gray Thanksgiving morning. So large was the line, West Haven Athletic Director Whitey Piurek was selling tickets off a roll and stuffing exact change into his pocket. The crowd was estimated in excess of 8,000 in every nook and cranny of Ken Strong.

The Blue Devils blasted Hillhouse 76-6 to finish the season with a 9-0 record. It was West Haven’s first undefeated season since 1929. The team was ranked No. 1 in the final State Poll giving West Haven its first football State Championship.

The Blue Devils scored 526 points in nine games for an average of 58.4 points per game. The defense would allow 94 points scored for an average of 10.4 per game. They were presented the Waskowitz Trophy in a senior assembly at WHHS, symbolic of the state championship in those years before the playoff.

In fact, it was this team and its yearlong battle with New London that spurred interest in the formation of a state playoff. Newspapers, TV outlets and fans wanted to see a New London-West Haven clash for all the marbles. Seven years later it became a reality.

The Blue Devils were surprised to find out that they were ranked No. 5 in the nation by the National News and Sports Service.

When this outstanding team reunites, it promises to be a special evening. A video is in production and it will be a nice look back at this incredible team.

Admission to this event is free and is open to the public. A cash bar will be available. Anyone seeking information may contact AD Jon Capone at WHHS, 937-4360.