Dave Lamarca was the Warren Midget Football League’s Rookie of the Year in 1964 and its Outstanding Lineman two years later.

In 1972 Hall of Famer Pat Abbruzzi convinced him to join the Redskins’ football squad as a linebacker.  In recognition of his efforts that included two interceptions, forty-five solo tackles, and twenty-three assisted tackles, Dave was named both first team All Class C and first team All State.

The undefeated 1972 Class C Championship team was called “my best team ever” by Abbruzzi.  They notched six shutouts among their nine wins: Bristol, 28-0; Ponagansett, 50-0; Portsmouth, 22-14; Barrington, 24-20; Burrillville, 44-20; Central Falls, 44-0; Scituate, 64-0; North Smithfield, 30-0; and Tiverton, 36-0.  (This team was the first to be inducted into the Warren Athletic Hall of Fame.)

Dave was rewarded with a carry in the Bristol game and he made it “one he will remember” by dashing twenty-four yards to the end zone.  In the victory over Class B power Barrington, Hall of Famer Jay Barry noted that “Coach Abbruzzi had Dave Lamarca blitzing the quarterback and tossing him for losses often enough to break up the continuity of any Barrington drives.” 

As North Smithfield was shut out, Dave “had a typical game, with his bone-shattering tackles and blitzes forcing North Smithfield to alter their game plan.”  And then at the end of the season Pat Abbruzzi noted that Dave “may have the quickest reactions of any linebacker that I have seen in high school football.”

Seven years later Dave was a member of the Bristol County Flag Football League Merchants eleven that captured the regular season championship.

Pictures from Hall of Fame archives