1960s Decade in Review: Games of the Decade Top 10

1960s Decade in Review: Games of the Decade Top 10

#10 - 1962 Week 12: Louisville Thunder - 29, London Tigers - 30 - Thunder Stadium - September 8, 1962 - 7 PM ET - SNF - Weather: Cloudy
1st Q
0-3 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
7-3 LOU - PTD QB Leonidas Dumont -> WR Piers Key
2nd Q
7-6 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
14-6 LOU - RTD RB Rodney Clark
14-12 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Russell Wilcox
3rd Q
17-12 LOU - FG K Donald Brewer
17-15 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
17-22 LDN - RTD RB Clifford Russell
23-22 LOU - RTD RB Rodney Clark 
4th Q
26-22 LOU - FG K Donald Brewer
29-22 LOU - FG K Donald Brewer
29-28 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Jack Duncan
29-30 LDN - 2PT QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Russell Wilcox

For the final Saturday Night battle of the season, the Tigers and Thunder would battle for the West Division, as the winner of the game would get the bye to the West Division Final.
It was a back-and-forth affair with each team trading blows heading into the final quarter with Louisville holding onto the 1-point lead. 
The Thunder defence would hold the Tigers back while the offence would get a couple of field goals to hold onto a 7-point lead.
The Tigers would have one last push in the tank and QB Riley Kiernan would lead them down the field for a touchdown to make it a 1-point game. 
Now, if the game ended in a tie, the Thunder would get the division so the Tigers gambled and went for 2 points.
Kiernan would roll out and find WR Russell Wilcox in the endzone to get the 2-point attempt and give the Tigers the lead and eventually the West Division.

#9 - Long Island Raiders 34, London Tigers - 37 - OT - Long Island Stadium - September 24, 1960 - 7 PM ET - Weather: Partly Cloudy
1st Q
0-7 LDN - PTD QB Christian Stewart -> TE Paul McDowell
3-7 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
2nd Q
6-7 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
13-7 LI - RTD RB Johnnie Stafford
20-7 LI - RTD RB Johnnie Stafford
20-10 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
3rd Q
20-17 LDN - RTD RB Clifford Russell
20-24 LDN - PTD QB Christian Stewart -> WR Max Sutton
4th Q
27-24 LI - RTD RB Johnnie Stafford
27-27 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
Overtime
34-27 LI - DTD PNT BLK DB Slay Mitchell
34-34 LDN - RTD RB Clifford Russell
34-37 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth

The Raiders beat the Tigers in the final game of the 1960 season to win the West Division, but the biggest impact from that contest was that both QB Lyle Painter of the Raiders and QB Riley Kiernan of the Tigers left that game with injuries. 
Two weeks later QB Brian Meadows, LI, and QB Christian Stewart, LDN, would face off in the West Division Final.
RB Johnnie Stafford was also having his best season and would make an impact in the first half for the Raiders with a pair of touchdowns to give the team a 20-10 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Tigers would storm back with a pair of touchdowns in the 3rd.
The Raiders would get back in front with Johnnie Stafford’s 3rd touchdown of the game, but the Tigers would get a last-minute field goal to send the game to overtime.
A blocked punt from DB Slay Mitchell would give the Raiders the lead in OT, but the Tigers bounced back and QB Christian Stewart would lead the Tigers' offence to a touchdown to tie it yet again.
The Tigers would get a stop and would go down and get the game-winning kick to send the team to their 2nd straight McCallister Cup.

#8 - 43rd McCallister Cup: London Tigers - 24, Boston Independents - 25 - Royals Stadium at Brewer Park - October 1, 1961 - 6 PM ET - Weather: Clear
1st Q
0-3 BOS - FG K Johnnie Berg
7-3 LDN - QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
2nd Q
10-3 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
10-6 BOS - FG K Johnnie Berg
11-6 LDN - Single K Nimrod Handsworth
3rd Q
11-12 BOS - RTD RB Kendall Morgan
18-12 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Benedict Spencer
4th Q
18-19 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Ellis Lindholm
24-19 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
24-25 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Clyde McIntosh

The Tigers returned to the McCallister Cup for the 3rd straight season and Boston made their first since 1954.
The first half would be a bit slow as both defences were managing to hold their own and make some big plays.
Both teams would score touchdowns in the 3rd to start up the more offensive 2nd half.
In the end, the game would come down to a clutch drive, led by QB Nathaniel Braddock, who had gotten the team in position to take the lead.
The game-deciding play would be a pass to veteran WR Clyde McIntosh, who would hurdle over DB Bob Ellis and then dive into the endzone.

#7 - 1969 West Division Semi-Final: Indiana Victors - 24, Pittsburgh Blacksmiths - 38 - OT - Victory Stadium - September 21, 1969 - 6 PM ET - Weather: Clear
1st Q
0-3 PIT - FG K Al Highlander
7-3 IND - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> WR Ed Edwards
2nd Q
14-3 IND - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> TE Eric Peterson
17-3 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
3rd Q
17-10 PIT - RTD RB Tresean Jones
17-17 PIT - PTD QB Louis Vaughn -> WR Orlando Barrack
4th Q
24-17 IND - RTD RB Raymond Green
24-24 PIT - PTD QB Louis Vaughn -> WR Justin Dubuque
OT
24-31 PIT - RTD RB Ronald O’Sullivan
21-38 PIT - DTD INT DB Zed McLaughlin

Pittsburgh’s first playoff game was one to remember.
It was an ugly start for the Blacksmiths, as the Indiana Victors took off with a 17-3 lead in the first half.
However, the Blacksmiths bounced back in the second half with a pair of touchdowns in the 3rd to suddenly tie the game.
Indy would go back up by a touchdown to start the 4th, but 1969 MVP, QB Louis Vaughn, would pull it together and find a way to score a touchdown with less than 30 seconds left in the game.
Pittsburgh would keep the momentum into the extra frame and take their first lead of the game.
They would then clinch the game with a big interception by LB Quinn Masters and then pitch to DB Zed McLaughlin who took it into the endzone for a touchdown.

#6 - 1962 East Division Semi-Final: Ottawa Royals - 34, Montreal Rouge - 38 - OT - Royals Stadium at Brewer Park - September 16, 1962 - 3 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy
1st Q
0-7 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
2nd Q
0-14 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
7-14 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
3rd Q
10-14 OTT - FG K Maurice Lafayette
10-21 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
17-21 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Chester Bennett
4th Q
17-28 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Taylor Karis
23-28 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
29-28 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> TE Jervonte Howell
31-28 OTT - 2PT QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
31-31 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
OT
34-31 OTT - FG K Maurice Lafayette
34-38 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Taylor Karis

The classic Royals-Rouge rivalry would have one of its best installments in the 1962 East Division Semi-Final.
Montreal jumped out to a 0-14 lead in the first half, but Ottawa would answer back with the next 10 points. 
Montreal would eventually take an 11-point lead early in the 4th quarter, but QB Jean Matieau and the Royals would not go down without a fight and they would rally with a pair of 4th quarter touchdowns to take the lead.
Luckily for Montreal, they would be able to recover from the blown lead and get a field goal to send the game to overtime.
Ottawa would strike first to take a 34–31 lead in the extra frame, but a big play from WR Derek Cross would set up WR Taylor Karis for the game-winning score to give Montreal their first playoff win since the 1953 McCallister Cup.

#5 - 50th McCallister Cup: Halifax Mariners - 24, Indiana Victors - 20 - Richardson Stadium - October 6, 1968 - 6 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy
1st Q
0-7 IND - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> WR Ed Edwards
0-14 IND - PTD QB Tom Applewhite -> WR Evan Clanton
2nd Q
7-14 HFX - PTD QB Lyle Painter -> RB Ronald O’Sullivan
7-17 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
10-17 HFX - FG K Albert Wickerweaver
3rd Q
10-20 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
17-20 HFX - PTD QB Lyle Painter -> WR Shane Steadman
4th Q
24-20 HFX - PTD QB Lyle Painter -> WR Jav Kerrigan

For the 50th McCallister Cup, two franchises that had gone through many tough years in the early 60s met in Boston.
The Victors would come out swinging with a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter while their defence held off the Mariners.
The Mariners would bounce back in the 2nd quarter with 10 points of their own, but they were still down by 7 going into the 2nd half.
Indiana would take a 10-point lead early in the 3rd, but eventually, Halifax would pull to within 3 points heading into the final quarter.
Indiana would pin the Mariners down on their own 14 late in the game, but they were able to get up to midfield before being forced to a 3rd down.
On the play, Painter would lose the football on a hit from DL Ron Prumple, but the play was called back for offside on Prumple.
Halifax would take advantage and soon enough Lyle Painter would find WR Jav Kerrigan for the game-winning score to clinch them their first title in the NAAF.

#4 - 1964 East Division Final: Montreal Rouge - 26, Long Island Raiders - 30 - Mount Royal Stadium - September 27, 1964 - 3 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy/Windy
1st Q
3-0 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
10-0 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Taylor Karis
10-3 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
2nd Q
17-3 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
17-6 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
3rd Q
23-6 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
23-13 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
4th Q
23-20 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
23-23 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
26-23 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
26-30 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields

Next, we have another epic comeback as the Montreal Rouge would control the game throughout the first half taking a 17-6 lead into the break. 
Montreal would add to their lead early in the end half to go up by 17, but the Raiders would finally answer with a touchdown from RB Dareion Fields.
The tide continued to turn in the favour of the Raiders as Dareion Fields would get his second of the game, to help the Raiders pull within 3 and then tie the game shortly after.
Montreal would get a score back to regain the lead and would hope to hold off the Raiders on their final drive.
Montreal would hold the Raiders to 3rd and 1 around midfield and, of course, the Raiders would go for it.
The Raiders put faith into their RB in Dareion Fields and the star back would find a hole and explode right into the open field.
Fields ran 52 yards to the endzone to give the Raiders their first lead of the game and send them to the McCallister Cup.

#3 - 45th McCallister Cup: London Tigers - 34, Providence Gold Stars - 31 - Long Island Stadium - October 6, 1963 - 6 PM ET - Weather: Clear
1st Q
7-0 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
14-0 LDN - RTD QB Rigobert St-Hilaire
2nd Q
14-7 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Cedric Peterson
14-14 PRO - RTD RB Marcus Devonshire
17-14 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
3rd Q
17-21 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Owen Paisley
17-24 PRO - FG K Ira Foster
24-24 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Jack Duncan
4th Q
24-31 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Cedric Peterson
31-31 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Russell Wilcox
34-31 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth

Long Island was treated to an offensive duel for the 45th McCallister Cup.
The Tigers brought the pressure early with a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter.
The Gold Stars rebounded in the 2nd and tied it up before the Tigers retook the lead just before the break.
The close contest would continue throughout the 3rd quarter with both teams getting a touchdown, while Providence would add a field goal to tie the game going into the final quarter.
An amazing throw from Connor O’Rourke would give the Gold Stars the lead in the 4th quarter, but the Tigers would not go away quietly.
After WR Russell Wilcox tied the game up, the Tigers' defence would stall the Gold Stars and allow the Tigers one last shot before the clock ran out.
QB Riley Kiernan led the Tigers down the field to set up K Nimrod Handsworth for the game-winning kick with no time on the clock.

#2 - 1962 East Division Final: Providence Gold Stars - 24, Montreal Rouge - 29 - September 23, 1962 - 3 PM ET - Weather: Partly Cloudy
1st Q
0-3 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
7-3 PRO - RTD RB Marcus Devonshire
2nd Q
7-10 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
14-10 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Cedric Peterson
3rd Q
14-13 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
21-13 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Cedric Peterson
21-19 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Derek Cross
4th Q
21-22 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
24-22 PRO - FG K Ira Foster
24-29 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Derek Cross

Providence is once again featured in one of the best games of the decade, but once again it comes with heartbreak.
Providence had the early advantage, coming away with the 7-3 lead after the first quarter.
In the second Montreal would gain the lead, but Providence took it right back with a 2nd touchdown.
Providence would start the 2nd half off on the wrong foot, with Montreal getting a pick, but they managed to hold them to just a field goal.
After Providence added to their lead with a touchdown pass, the Rouge would find the endzone with WR Derek Cross to cut the lead to 2.
Montreal would take the lead early in the 4th, but Providence would take it back on the ensuing drive.
QB Gene Bishop was leading the Rouge down the field late and was threatening to score, but the QB got a little too aggressive and would overthrow his target and into the arms of S Shawn Jensen of the Gold Stars.
The crowd in Providence thought the game was certainly over and they would be heading to their 1st McCallister Cup since 1953.
However, one of the craziest turn of events would occur as Providence attempted to get a first down on 2nd and short, but there was an issue with the snap and O’Rourke would fumble with the ball before giving it to RB Marcus Devonshire, but the exchange was interfered with by S Garet deVale, forcing a fumble and giving Montreal another chance.
They would take the field and score a touchdown to give them the lead and the win.

#1 - 42nd McCallister Cup: London Tigers - 38, Ottawa Royals 33 - Western Fair Stadium - October 2, 1960 - 6 PM ET - Weather: Clear
1st Q
7-0 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Benedict Spencer
14-0 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
14-7 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
2nd Q
17-7 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
24-7 LDN - RTD RB Clifford Russell
24-14 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Truman Harry
3rd Q
24-21 OTT - KRTD RB Alexei Volkov
24-28 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Chester Bennett
31-28 LDN - RTD RB Clifford Russell
4th Q
38-28 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
38-31 OTT - FG K Maurice Lafayette
38-33 OTT - Safety (WR Max Sutton kneel)

The best game of the decade would end up being the finale of the first season of the decade as QB Riley Kiernan and the Tigers looked to finally get over the hump against QB Jean Matieau and the Ottawa Royals who had beaten them in the big game the previous season.
The Tigers came to play on home field, taking a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter, but the Royals bounced back with a touchdown themselves before the end of the quarter.
The Tigers’ offence kept on rolling in the second, going up 24-7.
Near the end of the half, the Royals would pull out their famous trick play that won them the 1956 McCallister Cup and get on the board late to make it 24-14.
Ottawa continued to pull tricks, by throwing their starting RB, Alexei Volkov, out for the kick, to which he promptly took it to the house to cut the lead down to 3.
Ottawa would eventually grab their first lead of the game, but at a cost with WR Mackenzie Jones being taken out of the game.
The Tigers would respond near the end of the quarter, before then extending their lead to 10 early in the 4th.
Ottawa would cut the lead down to 7 with a field goal, but they still needed a touchdown.
QB Jean Matieau would get the ball one last time and would lead a lengthy drive down to the Tigers’ 7-yard line, where the Tigers made an electrifying stand that had the crowd buzzing.
After the Tigers got the stop they would run the clock, before letting WR Max Sutton take the snap on the punt and run around the endzone until the time ran and he gave up the safety to seal the win for London.