Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-10-25
Davis Leads
Local Eleven
In Good Show

The Roanoke Rapids Volun-
teers semi-pro football team put
on a good show here at Sim
mons Park yesterday afternoon
and came from behind twice to
gain a 14-14 tie with the Berke-
ley Braves of Norfolk.
About 400 people were on
hand for the exciting contest,
which saw the locals outgain
their lighter and faster rivals
most Of the game. The Volun-
teers looked much better in their
second appearance of the season
yesterday than they did last
week in dropping a 42-0 decision
to the Newport Pioneers.
The two teams seemed to be
evenly matched, and the Braves
offset the Volunteers weight ad-
vantage with speed. Since the
locals were started only a few
weeks ago, their lack Of exper-
ience as a team worked to their
disadvantage.
Dan Davis, coach at Littleton
High School this year, was the
outstanding back on the field as
he accounted for all IA of the
Roanoke Rapids points with his
fancy broken-field running. The
Roanoke Rapids cause was help
ed no little by the line piung-
ing of fullback Dick Pope, VINO
plowed through the middle of
the line like Hosea Rodgers to
give the Volunteers plenty Ct
yardage.
In first downs the Roanoke
Rapids team ran up a total of
is to the eight made by the
Braves, and Jagged behind the
Braves only in their passing at
tack.
The Braves scored first iE the
first quarter when threatened
Volunteer attack was Stopped.
End Albert Mcpherson of the
Berkeley team broke through
the line to block Leman Oliver S
attempted pass and the ball was
caught deep in the Roanoke
Rapids backfield by Mcpherson
who galloped unhampered for
IS yards for a touchdown. Turn
er hit the line for the extra
point.
Late in the first period the
Braves were backed deep into
their own territory and Russell
Hathaway tried to punt from his
20-yard line. The Roanoke ta-
pids line broke through fast and
three Volunteer players blocked
the punt, which rolled back and
was recovered ON the Berkeley
13.
Pope and Oliver hit the line
to carry for a first down to
the Braves one-yard line as the
quarter ended, and on the first
play of the second period David
cut off tackle to cross the goal.
Davis made a tie hall game out
of it by cutting off tackle again
for the extra point.
The Braves roared right back
after the kickoff with Merritt
returning the ball to the Braves
As. Turner swept right end on
the first play from scrimmage to
the Roanoke Rapids 80. With
Turner and Hathaway carrying
the visitors moved to three tlist
downs which carried them 10
the Roanoke Rapids four. James
Bryant, who played good game
in the line, broke through to
nail Hardison back on the nine
on the next play, then Hatha-
way shot a pass to Brickho'1se
in the end zone for the second
Brave touchdown. Hathaway
passed again to McPhersoa IN
the end zone for the extra point.
Roanoke Rapids came back
with a drive that carried ttem
to the Berkeley 81 with Laws
and Pope featuring the drive.
The ball was lost, however, on a
lateral attempt which was re-
covered by Gwinn On the ber-
kelley 25.,
The Braves punted out of dan
ger and Davis got away on Two
first down jaunts If II ana is
yards each as the halt ended,
the final play almost gong far a
touchdown before the secondary
could get hold Of the fleet back.
In the third quarter the Braves
recovered a bad pass from CEN
ter on the Roanoke Rapids IS
and lost the ball on the A when
the defenders dug in to hold.
From that point Roanoke Ea-
pids drove Sc yards in IL plays.
The drive was climaxed when
Davis cut over right tackle, re-
versed his field and crossed the
goal line on a 12-yard jaunt. Da-
Wis again made it a tie game ty
hitting the line for the Io!nt.
After that the Braves never
threatened again, with the home
team trying desperately to set
up the winning touchdown. Md
way the last period the Rounoke
Rapids team put on US best
drive, when a punt was taken
on the 10 and in nine plays
the Volunteers moved down to
the Braves 81 before they were
forced to punt.