Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-11-01
Local Serni-Pro
Cridders Play
Second Draw

tOdI1Ok6 ndpluS eIlQ ZOlS III IIle
last As seconds OF play gave the
Richmond Rockets a 6-6 tie with
the Roanoke Rapids Volunteers
here at Simmons Park yesterday
afternoon in a football game that
was characterized by defensive
work all the way.
For the Volunteers, playing
their third game Of the season,
it was the second successive tie
game played.
Both teams scored their lone
touchdowns on passing plays =.
and for the most part tn e
ground-gaining on each side was
held to a minimum. The Vo-
lunteers got only five first downs
and the Rockets could rack up
only three flrsts all afternoon.
In the first half the Volunteers
were held to two first downs and
the Richmond team did not get
any.
1t was a hard-played, bruising
battle all the way before a crowd
estimated a 600 fans in shirt
sleeve weather. Injuries were
frequent on both sides in tn e
game.
Most Of the first half was
played in Richmond territory 4,
and the only serious threat made
by either team was in the first
quarter when Volunteer Charlie
Draughan intercepted a Rocket
pass and ran it to the Richmond
10, but four plays later the
Rockets intercepted Roanoke
Rapids pass and STAYED off the
thrust.
Late in the second quarter
Lloyd Williams of the Vols fell
on McCaughan's tumble on the
Richmond 20. A pass from Dan
Davis to Leman Oliver put the
ball on the 10. On the next
play following a five yards Off
sides penalty there was a fun
BILE in the Roanoke Rapids back
field to the Is, from where Davis
stepped back and lobbed a pass
into the outstretched fingertips
of A. w. Rogers, Volunteer end,
who gathered in the ball on the
two and crossed the goal. Davis
was stopped inches from the goal
line on his attempted plunge for
the extra point.
Early in the third quarter the
Rockets threatened when Riddell
intercepted a Volunteer pass on
the Roanoke Rapids 81 and dash
ed to the eight. On the third
play McCaughan fumbled again
and Linwood Topping recovered
on the Vineyard line and the
Vols kicked out Of danger.
Another Rocket thrust came in
the fourth quarter on drive
which carried them to the Vol
unteers' nine again. A 15-yard
penalty against the Vols gave the
Rockets a first down on the Roa-
noke Rapids IL but they could
gain only three yards in four
tries and Topping kicked out Of
danger again.
With the clock running out
rapidly the Vols moved nearly
to midfield and seemed sure to
win by holding the bail, but with
less than a minute to play Coach
Flip Edmondson called for a
pass play on third down but the
pass was intercepted by Riddell
on the Volunteer 43 and run back
to the %.
On the next play Montague I,
whose passing featured the Of
fensive play OF the Rockets, drop
ped back and heaved a long
floating pass which was snagged
by Thurston just before he fell
out of the end zone for the tying
touchdown. Another pass try for
extra point failed by inches and
both teams had to be satisfied
with tie.
The Vols turned in a good
game Sunday and were ham
pered by several of their play
ers being out of the lineup. Dan
Davis was again the offensive
spark of the game and he was
ably assisted by Dick Pope and
Leman Oliver in the backfield
on offense. Linwood Topping,
making his first start in Vol
unteer uniform, played a bang
up game at defensive center and
handled much of the Roanoke
Rapids punting Other Roanoke
Rapids standouts were Ernest
Cpoitb Pill Povd Nrouohor and