BY TIM LAMBRINOS
It is said that great persons are ones that do not remind us of anyone else. In the case of the 1976 Emery Hillmen, few comparisons can be made about a group of young men who didn’t remind you of anyone else while they attempted to reach for the impossible. Yet, the success of this football team started long before that faithful fall-day in 1976, when the Emery Hillmen Senior Boys’ Football Team finally got the chance to oppose the Victoria Park Panthers for the city title.
The tradition of excellence in football at Emery began with the 1968 team. Some players were recognized as North York all-stars, including linebacker Bill Davis and offensive linemen Charlie Ramanauskas and Don Page.
More recognition continued for the 1972 team, coached by former U.W.O Mustangs’ great and history teacher Gary Cranmer and assistant coach and physics teacher Bert Clarke. This squad is considered one of the most exceptional teams in North York historyhighlighted by an outstanding record-setting running back.
Jim Sayer thrilled all cheering for Emery that year and led the team to a remarkable five game undefeated regular season while scoring 20 touchdowns. Some hard-hitting players on the team included John Hengs, Angelo Sperdutti, John Valente, Bruce Clarke, Rob Davis, Ed Knox and irreplaceable kicker Aldo Valenzano.
The team outscored their opposition an impressive 174-3 in five regular season games. In four games, the Emery Hillmen did not give up a single point and yielded only a single field goal to Fleming C.I.
Regrettably, the team’s storybook ending wound up on a muddy field at Earl Haig, where they lost 14 – 7 in the North York semifinal.
Mr. Cranmer’s reputation for coaching excellence had been established, setting high standards with great expectations for new students. Over the next few years, a group of young players attempted to prove to everyone that they had what it would take to win the North York Championship. However, none of these teams ever got past a quarterfinal playoff game. In 1976, three players decided to return to Emery for an extra year of high school in hopes of capturing that elusive championship (Warren Verge, Al Davidson and Chris Lambrinos).
The team’s running game was complimented that year by Bruno Scodellaro, a Grade 10 stand out tailback. Other starring runners included Steve Babour (who also played middle linebacker) and fullback Eric “O.J.” Paisley. Defensive line specialists included Davidson, Bill Pritchard, Caspar Verre, Jim Mazluk, Elio Giampietro and Paul Barrett. Defensive linebackers were represented by Babour, Lambrinos, Harry Pfluegl, Rob Rossiand and Benny Iammatteo. Defensive back whizzes included Mike Prete, Joe Vetere, Mike St. John and Chris Hood. Key receivers included St. John, Brent Gordon and backup QB, Randy Lambe. Chief Offensive Lineman included Italian heritage players Jerry Adamo, Peter Zilli, Domenic Vetere and Claudio Palombo and notable competitor, Mike Ebert. Primary quarterbacking duties were handled by star player Warren Verge who was also the team’s place kicker, punter and defensive linebacker.
The 1976 Emery Hillmen ended their regular season in first place in the west with a 4 – 1 record. Newtonbrook was their first postseason test in the quarterfinals held at the superior quality field at Newtonbrook. The tough Emery Hillmen were victors in their first quarter-final victory in four seasons, by a score of 8 - 6.
At the semifinal game, the Bathurst Bears were Emery’s opponents.
They featured a passing attack considered by many to be the best in the city. The tough Emery defence turned the tide of the game by stopping an end around reverse play, sliced down by linebacker Rob Rossi. Emery had decisively defeated Bathurst 12 – 0, to advance to their first ever North York final.
The Victoria Park Panthers had been riding their own wave of success while winning all their games in a most impressive fashion. The championship game was held at Northview Secondary School – the only school in North York that had stadium seating. Emery Collegiate Principal, Marsh Morris, cancelled the school day so that all students and teachers would be able to attend the game. The south side of the stadium at Northview was jam-packed with a couple thousand of fans from Emery. The north side, where Victoria Park students were to be, had a mere spattering of students and fans.
The game was an excellent one with Victoria Park playing tough against Emery’s impressive running attack and Emery’s defense dominating the Victoria Park offense. Victoria Park scored first with a sustained drive that delivered a well-earned touchdown. The scoring was immediately followed by Emery with a bootleg run and pass play from Verge to Lambe, that evened the game at seven for halftime. In the third, Victoria Park attempted an end-around reverse on a kick return that caught all Emery defenders gridlocked against a wall of blockers on the far side of the field. The trick-play went for a 65 yard touchdown return, giving the Panthers a seven point lead. Both teams then seemed to match opposing drives evenly, neither able to sustain balanced offense against well executed, tough defensive stands. The game became more of a smash-mouth heavyweight prize fight than a boys’ football game. The game ended with a victory for Victoria Park, the final score 14 – 7. The Hillmen did not win the North York championship that day but they had finally earned the respect of many for their first-rate ball playing and high standard of excellence, arguably establishing themselves as the best football team in Emery’s history.
The Hillmen name was changed to the “Emery Eagles” in the early 1980’s to allow gender-suitability on all teams. The Emery Eagles senior boys’ football team was reinstated in 2006 but scratched after the 2012 season due to a lack of overall interest by students and coaches. Emery school officials report that basketball and cricket remain sports of choice for current student-athletes.
1976 EMERY HILLMEN SENIOR BOYS’ FOOTBALL TEAM:FIRST ROW: Joe Vetere, Jerry Adamo, Ass’t Coach Mr. Mike Diamond, Benny Iammatteo, Steve Babour, MarioGelli, Mike St. John. MIDDLE
ROW: Caspar Verre, Harry Pfluegl, Warren Verge, Randy Lambe, Elio-Giampietro, Peter Zilli, Peter Michl, manager Dale Glynn, Ron Paolucci. TOP ROW: Al Davidson, Chris Lambrinos, Domenic Vetere, Jim Mazluk, Claudio Palombo, Eric Paisley, manager J. McKenzie, Chris Hood, Head Coach Mr. Gary Cranmer. ABSENT: Bruno Scodellaro, Brent Gordon, Mike Prete, Bill Pritchard, Rob Rossi, Mike Ebert, Mike Medwid, Benny Ciallella. (Top) #29, Eric “O.J.” Paisley in 1976.