It was billed as a classic "must win" confrontation for both squads, a battle which would pit brawn against brains, ability against spirit, and raw power against clever cunnery in a key mid-season intramural House football clash between unscathed squads.

When the smoke finally cleared yesterday at Webster Field, Kirkland House (that bastion of jockism) had emerged triumphant over Winthrop (the people's choice), 12-6.

K-House drew first blood on their initial play from scrimmage. Halfback Charlie Caro's 70-yard touchdown pass to speedster Jamie Egasti stunned the frozen Winthrop secondary. But Egasti's extra point boot went astray, and the score stood 6-zip.

House Football

Winthrop quickly returned from "Burn City" to knot the hard fought affair. 'Throp quarterback Brian Towne exhibited the form that made him an AllState New Hampshire gridder when he engineered a 65-yard, churn-it-out touchdown drive. Towne capped the drive with a 12-yard paydirt strike to sophomore standout Rob Inches.

The scoring parade continued as Kirkland regained the lead on its next possession. Signal-calling vet Fran Hickey picked apart the vaunted Winthrop defense on a 68-yard march, calling his own number on a two-yard keeper that went for six.

Don't ask the Winthrop eleven to chorus "Time's on My Side," because it wasn't late in the first half.

Desparately trying to beat the clock, the gallant 'Thropmen drove 87 yards to the Kirkland one-yard line. But the K-House front wall, led by the likes of tackle Tom 'Beef' DiBennedetto and fromer All-Ivy stalwart Carl Culig (now a Kirkland premed advisor), slammed the door shut as time ran out, thus preserving Kirkland's tenuous six point edge.

A scoreless second half featured much of the same. "Winthrop's offensive execution was superb," said K-House mentor Mike Faught, "but our defense was there when it counted."

So was Charlie Caro (this time as a defensive back) who picked off a Towne pass in the endzone to squash Winthrop's final drive late in the fourth quarter.

Eliot 19, Mather 0

In a lopsided romp over winless Mather, defending House gridiron champion Eliot House rediscovered the devastating offense that befits a kingpin.

Fumbles and penalties wreaked havoc in Eliot's opener, a scoreless tie with Quincy. (By the by, both teams are unscored upon). The plot was similar in the first quarter against Mather, before QB Frank McCann decided enough was enough.

McCann mixed plays superbly in directing Eliot to a 6-0 intermission lead. Halfback John Havins busted over on a power dive for what proved to be the only score Eliot's rugged defense would require.

Led by tackles Tim Ryan (interception) and Ben Kelly, Heimert's henchmen plugged more holes than Prestone, continually frustrating Mather's run-oriented attack. Linebackers Steve Berger, Mark Zbikowski and Gary Barrett, in tandem with defensive back Paul McNicol (fumble recovery) blanketed the secondary as well.