The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-05
Cats Meet Birds Tonight
MINIS Seeking First
Conference Win In
Rocky Mount Tilt
BY GENE WARREN


Sponsored by the Junior Cham
Der of Commerce, the high-hying
New Hanover High School Wild
cats face their arch rivals, the
Rocky Mount Blackbirds tonight
at the American. Legion Stadium.
The Orange and Black gridders
don their battle array at 800
o'clock in an attempt to stop the
Smokey City Grew, who have
trampled them nine times in the
last ten years. An expected crowd
of well over $500 fans is expected
for the Wildcats first conference
tilt.
Coach Leon Brodgen' squad,
following a long week of practice
drills go into this affray anxious
to gain some measure of revenge
over the Rocky Mount crew, win
ners of $50 conflict last season.
Brodgen stated yesterday after
noon that, ''this will be the crucial
test of how my charges rate with
other of the best North Carolina
teams
The fine mentors starting lineup
will have only few changes. Since
Herman Wick is ineligible for con-
ference conflicts, Jim Gibson
starts at the left end position, while
either Erwin Gore or Bobby
Babe Hass will hold down the
tough guard slot. Gore, suffer
ing from leg injury is expected
to be at his spot at the beginning
of the game, but in the case that
he is unable to play it will be 200
pound Hass.
The remainder of the starting
eleven is the same as the one
which trounced Kinston, 800, last
week. In the backfield are three
hafd-driving lads in the persons
Of Kenneth Rogers, Louis "Bub
ba' Sykes, and Co-Captain Davic
Bannerrnan. This trio holds dowr
the left, full, and halfback posi-
tons respectively. Over the bal
at quarterback is Johnny Symme'
a month handler of the positions
Behind Syrnmes is James "Hack
saw futile, he tCats' &C
passer.
The line is bolstered by Johl
Hobbs, the, Co-Captain and a 20
pound Eastern Conference tacA
last year.: Pairing with Hobbs j
Chubby Paul, a fine lad at thi
post, performing very well in hi
first three games. Graham Bare
foot is opposite Gore or Hass
Guard, while tall Don Hyatt
handles the pigskin at center
Lanky Buddy Bridges fills in wit
Gibson at the TANKS, while Ne;
Patrick is pushing both for frs
string spot. Patrick Travelled s
yards in the Kinston game for a
exceptionally long run, and is
very fleet lad.
Rocky Mount, under the fin
coaching of Joe Caruso, has ha
a poor season thus far this veal
losing to Greensboro and Gold:
; boro. They 60 into the contest t.
night with heavier line than tn
Cats with lettermen Fred Davi
and Pete Booth leading the iron
wall, both playing guard. Tn
backfield is spanked by Lesll
Etchison, one of the best passer
in the state, and Bob Page,
sprint artist and always a break
away runner. The other backs
Duke Cockren, veteran OF last sea
sons top-notch eleven at fu0back
and Lyman Melvin. are also dan
gerous threats. - ,e....
Backing up big Davis and Boot
in the line are Len Station an
Fred Davis, star tackles, wit
Charles English at the pivot spot
Always gifted with fine aerial re
ceives, Coach Caruso puts his re
ceiving duties up Earl Lanier AM
Fred Parker at the end positions
This is the Hanoverians' last til
here until November, since the.
journey to Raleigh next week t
tangle with the Capital City
team. ~ !,