The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-10-06
SYKES, ETCHlS0N
MAKE GAMES ONLY
TWO T0UCHDOWNS
9,l37 Fans Watch Locals
Tie First Conference
Contest
BY GENE WARREN

In tense, nerve-shattering foot
ball game, the New Hanover High
School Wildcats lost a chance to
gain their first fridiron victory
over the Rocky Mount Blackbirds
in 10 years, but managed to hold
the Smokey City boys to a 6-e
deadlock at Legion Stadium last
night before the largest crowd OF
fans to ever observe pigskln
contest here, 9,137 paying onlook'
ers.
Rock Mount showed up on the
field better than the Cats as they
held the Orange and Black lads
powerful rushing offensive to
scant total OF 40 yards, while they
were driving forward Wis the
ground route for IS yards. Leslie
Etchison, the. triple threat quarter
back of the Birds, showed con-
sistency in the aerial department
as he Tipped short losses to
Lyman Melvin, one of the con-
flict's outstanding stars.
Neither team crossed paydirt
in the first half, but the Rocky
Mount gridders were knocking on
the Hanove-ians' front door in the
second quarter, when Etchison
and Melvin hammered their way
IS yards to the New Hanover four
yard strip. Here the Wildcats
forwd wall rose to the occasion to
stop four straight plunges.
Following the haltime inte~mis-
sion, the Locals took touchdown
lead, when Graham Barefoot kick
ed off to Rocky Mount. His long
boot travelled over the safety
mans head and rolled to a stop
on the Blackbirds' two. where the
Cats grabbed the ball and on the
rule which permits the team re-
covering pigskin inside the ten
possesses it took over at that point.
From the two it was only a matter
of time as Lauis "Bubba" Sykes
smacked over, giving the Orange
and Black of Wilmington 60
margin. Sykes extra point place
ment was bad.
Raging with determination, the
Smokey City pigskiners got their
hand on the ball after a series
of punt exchanges and promptly
began to pound at the Han.
overians' line, when Joining Sym
mes fumbled on the Cat 20. Seiz-
ing this opportunity the Birds
rolled down to the five with Etchi-
son running five consecutive times.
On the fourth down pass failed
and the tremendous crowd breath
ed again, but the referees declared
that Wilmington was off sides on
the play. A five yard penalty
placed the pigskin on the Cats
one-half yard strip, from where
quarterback Etchison pushed his
way over. The kick was off to the
left Of the goal posts, knoting the
score at 6-6.
Going into the final period,
Brodgen sent in his best pass re-
ceivers to try and break the tie,
but the strategy failed, as Rocky
Mount intercepted the desperate
passes thrown by Symmes. The
Blackbirds also turned to sky in
unsuccessful throws to give them
their first conference triumph, but
to no avail. The tight tile ended
with Melvin running ack one OF
the Cats last aerials follwing his
interrogation.
During the Is minute halftime
the fine Rocky Mount High School
Band gave observers a splendid
exhibition, after which the R. o.
IT. c. Band paraded before the
large group of onlookers from the
Smokey City and the local fans.
This conflict was the last game
to be played here until Novem'
Der, since the Wildcats Journey
to Raleigh next week to battle the
strong Capital City eleven.