Bulldogs Down i Wakelon . Take Title By CUnt Fuller Times Sports Editor The Louisburg High School Bulldogs are cham pions of the Franklin Area Conference. For the first time in its 12-year football history, Louisburg is undisputed champion of its league. And for the first time ever, the Bulldogs have won six and lost none. ~i. ? The championship came Friday night as the Bulldogs edged Wakelon, 8-0 to com plete its domination of con ference foes. The winning punch came not from the highly publicized offensive stars but from an unlikely, however deserving, source. With the speed of light and a hearty "Hi O, Bulldogs", senior reserve Larry Romero, LARRY ROMERO having seen limited action over his four-year stint, came flashing out of the bunch on the opening kickoff and raced-full steam-into the Wakelon end zone and glory. A whole lot of water will flow over the dam before Louisburg forgets Romero and his dash for the crown. And those who came late and missed the run, might as well stayed home. That's all there was. That's all that was need ed. That and a stellar perfor mance by the Louisburg de fense. Wakelon, far better than its 0-5 record indicated, lost the toss and kicked off to Louisburg. Romero took the Hick on his own 15 yard-line and raced 85 yards for the TD. Phillip Redmond, filling in for the injured Randy Seidel, raced around right end for the two-point conversion to give the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead. Louisburg was forced to kick midway the second period after a number of ex changes between the two squads failed to result in a score for either. With 3 minutes left in the first half, Robby McDonald intercepted a Wakelon pass on the Louis burg 15 yard line but Louis burg possession was short lived. Wakelon intercepted a Louisburg pass at the 2 minute mark on the Bulldog thirty. With 38 seconds left, Wakelon's Earl Bunn made a spectacular catch of an Andy Draughon pass on the Louis burg 15. Draughton pitched out to Jim Alford who moved the ball to the Louisburg five with 24 seconds left in the half. Holding a first and goal ( The Bulldogs carried Larry Romero off the field on their i shoulders Friday night and rightfully so. The fine young senior | came through in great style with his 85 yard kickoff return I that won the ball game and gave Louisburg its first champion- 1 ship ever. Romero's performance points out what many believe is the ' secret to the Bulldog success this year. They have a well balanced attack. The youngster, not a starter even, played the t part of a giant. Wakelon was his thing. ? Against Elm City in the opening game, it was Neill j McDonald's running and Larry Fuller's passing. Against Nor- I lina, it was Randy Seidel night. At Franklinton it was Fuller's t passing and Robby McDonald's catching and Warren ton was s another Seidel ni^it. The win over Oxford belonged to ' linesman Steve Roberson with key fumble recovery by Boo - Boo Pergerson and Wakelon belonged to Romero. It appears that whan the opposition bottles up one Bulldog ' threat, others break out all over. It's difficult to cover 1 everybody and therein lies the secret to the Bulldog success-a 1 well balanced attack. In the twelve years of Louisburg football, there have been only three opening kick off returns for TD"s. including Romero's stunt Friday night. Romero's 85-yarder is the longest opening kickoff return in Bulldog history. William Rowe's 98 yard return of a kickoff following a touchdown in the Norlina game in 1982 is the longest of all returns. Others are: Norris Cooley 's 77 yard return last year against Elm City on the opening kickoff; Richard Manhall's 75 yarder after a TD kickoff against Helena in 1957 and Bill Williamson's 65 yard return against Wakelon on the opening kickoff in 1964. Romero's feat also places him in fourth place for the longest touchdown run. William Rowe's 98-yard return leads the list followed by his brother, B. T. Rowe, who ran 95-yards from scrimmage against Siler City in 1958. Bill Williamson's 86 yard pas interception return against Warrant on in 1964 is third and Bob Hobgood's 82-yard da rfv against Frank lint on in 1962 is fifth dropping behind Romero. ?... , ~ SPONSORED BY THE EPSOM LIONS CLUB Thuraday U October D A UP A If r niV October 16, 1969 rAnUAAt UAT inw All The Pancakes and Sautafet You Can Eat 5:00 P. M. Until 8.00 P. M. 3 Adult TlcktU Good For Your Family PROCEEDS GO TO HELP THE BUND Thunday. October 16, 1969 . Liberty Church Fellowihip Hall Adutb (1.00 on the Louisburg three, Wakelon moved to the Louis burg one foot line with 11 seconds left but time ran out before Wakelon could get the play off. Louisburg had been saved by a stubborn defense and a timely clock. As the third quarter end ed, Louisburg had the ball on tfie Wakelon 13 yard line but the visitors picked off the second pass interception of the night to kill the drive. With ten minutes left in the game, Louisburg's Johnny Pernell intercepted a Draughon pass and carried it to the Wakelon 15 but the visitor's defense held as they smothered Louisburg quarter back Larry Fuller back on the Wakelon 22 on fourth down to regain ball possession. Wakelon then drove to the Louisburg 19 yard line with 4:30 left but a timely tackle of Jim Alford by Steve Rob erson halted the drive. Robby McDonald again saved Louis burg when he batted a Wake lon pass on the Louisburg 22 at the 3:37 time mark. Louis burg took over at that point. Neill McDonald moved the ball to the Louisburg 31; Phillip Redmond carried to the 37 but an illegal pro cedure penalty brought this Louisburg effort to a halt. Fuller kicked to the Wakelon 42 with 1:41 left. Still in Louisburg territory, Robby McDonald grabbed another Draughon pass with one minute left in the game. A flag after the interception moved Louisburg to a first and ten on their own 35-yard line with 57 seconds left. Fuller was chased out of bounds as he attempted a sweep to run out the clock ind Neill McDonald ate up ?me time running the next play. With 22 seconds re maining, the Bulldogs just waited at the huddle for the ;nd. The end came and the locals had won a champion ship. The joy was somewhat lampened by a feeling by the players that this had not been ;heir best game. The Wakelon lefense saw to that. But then, :he Louisburg defense was ;ough enough to hang on for he entire game and make the ;ight points hold up. It was he defense's brightest hour. The Fighting Scots of 2-A Scotland Neck are next in ine of those hoping to break he Bulldog's six-game win treak. The Scots come here ?"riday night. We never harbor ill feeling against individuals who dis agree with our views, al though we often regret that so many people can be wrong. CARPET NEEDS VISIT TAYLOR S FLOOR COVERING SHOP FEATURING CytKPCT (Ht4rrs>n\xn/r Mohawk 25 DIFFERENT CARPET SAMPLES TO CHOOSE FROM PRICE FROM $3.95 TO $17.95 SQ. YD. CARPETS FOR HOMES AND CHURCHES FREE ESTIMATES IHAHDWAHEl FUHMITUET BANK WITH CONFIDENCE All BANKING TRANSACTIONS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL SAVINGS? CHECKIKfi? LOANS? TRUSTS? INSURANCE Citizens Bank & Trust Co. Henderson, N. C. "THE LEADING BANK IN THIS SECTION" 1889 - 80 YEARS OF SERVICE ft SECURITY - 1969 After Romero Run Redmond Romps For Two Points JIMMY WRENN CATCHES, HOBGOOD WATCHES EARLY IN THE WEEK SPECIALS STAR PIMENTO CHEESE so, 190 IGA LONG BREAD 190 DAILY BREAD FLOUR '5 u? 490 STRAINED BEACH NUT BABY FOOD * 100 TIDE GIANT SIZE 490 IGA MILK