The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-11-28
Record Crowd Sees
Locals Completely
Outcluss Wildcats

AAA@
u~ndisputed claim to their first
Big Eight title yesterday after
noon when they completely out
classed Meridian High school and
rolled up three touchdowns in the
first two quarters to take a 200
decision over the Wildcats at Ray
Stadium in Meridian.
The game drew the largest
crowd in history at Meridian
when 1900 fans filled the stands.
Coach Holden's Panthers tore
the Meridian forward wall to
shreds, while the local line so
completely bottled up the Meri-
dian backs that they accounted
for only two first downs during
the entire game, one in the third
quarter and n in the fourth.
The Panthers scored their first
points shortly before the end of
the first quarter after Callahan
had quick kicked over the Pan
Their goal line. The Panthers took
over the ball on their own 20 and
on the first play Byrd's pass to
Knight was good for 10 yards,
placing the ball on the Pascagoula
80. Ezell picked up four yards off
tackle on the next play. Hare
tried center for no gain, and then
breke around left end to the Me-
ridian 40.
Exell Scores
A pass from Byrd to Purdy was
incomplete, and on the next play
Ezell skirted left end and behind
beautiful down field blocking
went the full distance for the first
score. Cole kicked the conversion
to place the Partners seven points
in the lead.
The Painters struck twice
more In rapid succession, Short
ly after the opening OF the sec-
ond quarter Hare intercepted
Callahan's pass on the center
stripe and returned the ball to the
Meridian 40
Hare followed by picking up
nine yards over left guard. Fol-
lowing an incomplete pass Meri-
dian was penalized five yards for
offsides to give the Panthers first
down on the %. Eel picked up
seven yards at right end and Ryan
two yards at center. Ezell broke
over left tackle for first down on
the Meridian 10. Two attempted
passes were incomplete, but on
an end reverse Ryan went to the
Meridian four from where Ezell
went over guard standing up for
the second score. Cole missed
the conversion to give the Pan
theirs a 'l3 point lead.
The third Panther score came
a few minutes later after Vlahos
had kicked off to the Wildcats.
After being held for downs Nor
gan punted to Byrd on the Pasca-
goula 80, who returned ii to the
A. Penalized five yards on the
next play for being offsides. Bard
followed by passing to Puroy who
carried the ball to the Meridian
is. Richards picked up two yards
at guard and Meridian vas penal
lied five yards for delaying, plac-
ing the ball on the Wildcat seven,
from where Ezell made 1t first
down on the four.
On the next play Ryan drove
over the goal line, but the ball
was called back and the Panthers
penalied five yards for backfield
in motion. Ezell picked up four
yards to the Meridian five from
where Byrd tossed a beautifully
executed spot pass over center
to Purdy for the third touchdown.
Cole kicked the conversion to
give the Panthers 20 points.
Panthers Coast
From here on in the Panthers
coasted, gaining almost at will
through the Meridian line, while
holding the Wildcat backs help
less.
The Panthers threatened sever
al times during the remainder
of the game, and one touchdown
was called back on a penalty.
Superiority of the Panthers was
shown in the fact that they racked
up a total of 16 first downs to two
for Meridian. The Wildcats did
not score a first down until mid
way in the third quarter.
Spanked by Vlahos, Lachaussee
and Cole, the Panther forward
wall played one of the best games
of the season and completely out
classed the heavier forward wall
of the Wildcats. Rocky Byrd, by
his generalship and passing, prov
ed himself the outstanding quar-
terback in the Big Eight, and not
far behind him in performance
were Ezell, Hare, Ryan and
Richards.
By turning on more pressure
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