HC vs BC: The 1942 Upset

This fall marked the 70th anniversary of one of the biggest upsets in college sports history. It was November 28, 1942, and rival Boston College entered the game against Holy Cross at Fenway Park undefeated, outscoring eight opponents 249-19 and with an almost guaranteed bid to the Sugar Bowl to face unbeaten Tulsa for the mythical national championship. The valiant Crusaders had a mediocre 4-4-1 record. Eagles fans were already making plans for their trip to New Orleans. But the Crusaders, employing their new single-wing offense, rambled past the Eagles, whose highly touted T-formation never got untracked. Holy Cross, led by starting quarterback Ray Ball '48, took a quick lead as their initial 48-yard TD drive was capped off by a Bobby Sullivan '48 one-yard plunge. Right halfback Johnny Grigas '43 threw a 15-yard TD pass to left halfback Johnny Bezemes '43. Then Bezemes tossed a 23-yard TD pass to Captain Eddie Murphy '43 to give Holy Cross a 20-6 halftime lead. In a 1992 story about the 50th anniversary of the game, New York Times columnist Dave Anderson '51 reported that as the halftime score was "rattled by Morse code across Western Union wires," editors requested a clarification, certain that it was BC in the lead, not Holy Cross. In the second half, the blitzkrieg continued. Grigas scooted for a 7-yard TD and 15 yards for another. Bezemes took an interception 67 yards for another score, then caught a 23-yard toss from Grigas for another. Andy Natowich '43 scored the final TD on a 7-yard scamper. The Boston College team, knocked from its No. 1 perch, did not attend a victory party at Boston's Cocoanut Grove nightclub as planned. That night, a horrific fire at the club claimed 492 lives. BC players have said the loss probably saved their lives. ■