Bulldogs Knock Off Oxford, 8-6 By Clint Fuller Times Sports Editor It was hard-nose football and the nose o{ the Bulldogs proved to be two-points har der than that of the Red Devils, allowing Louisburg to take an 8-6 decision and gain at least a tie for the con ference championship Friday night. How did the Bulldogs do it? How did they capture the biggest win of the year? Per haps it was on Steve Robert son's safety when the big linesman tackles Tim Jones in the Oxford end zone for the two-pointer. Or maybe it was U OtW Ojpixto"' By CLINT FULLER It was impossible for fans on either side of the field to relax at Oxford Friday night. The game was tension^ packed from the start to the finish. Both the Bulldogs and the Red Devils are explosive football teams and with a good shot at the championship at stake, either could have broken the game open. Both teams fought a fierce battle for the win and the first half was as tough a defensive scrap as you're likely to see in high school football. It was the first time since 1962 that Louisburg had taken the win. This one like the first was a two-point edge. The win, coupled with Franklinton's victory over Wakelon, insures Louisburg of no less than a tie for the league title. Only one conference game remains for the Bulldogs. They get a chance to own the title outright Friday night when the Wakelon bulldogs come here. Louisburg has never won a championship. In 1962, the Bulldogs tied with Oxford and Warrenton with Warrenton representing the conference in the playoffs. Friday's win set a new consecutive win record for Louis burg. The locals are now 5-0. The previous record was four straight wins held by the 1959, 1961 and 1962 squads. The Franklinton Rams have really come alive in recent weeks. They have not only won their last two games, but have held their opponents scoreless. The Rams have given up only thirty points in their six games this season. Having their best season since 1964, Franklinton could set even more records before the season is over. The Rams rest Friday and will meet the Vikings at Elm City two weeks away. Cliff Williams was chosen Back of the Week by The Durham Morning Herald for his 19-yard TO run which won the game for the Rams last week. The Oxford reporter misread the No. 62 on "Boo- Boo" Per ger son's jersey Friday night for No. 82 worn by William Ihrie. The Herald made Ihrie Linesman of the Week. Actually, it was Pergerson who recovered an Oxford fumble which set up the Louisburg touchdown and not Ihrie. Along the same line, the safety by Steve Roberson, ably aided by a host of Bulldog linesmen was perhaps the key play of the game. Roberson, Carey Wrenn, Jimmy Wrenn, Dan Hayes, John Kornegay and Johnny Pernell all put out stellar performances on defense. Incidentally, Roberson's safety was only the fifth in the twelve years of Bulldog football. Tommy Edwards holds the record with two two-pointers-one against Franklinton and another against Helena in 1960. Jeff Bulluck scored one in 1962 and Jimmy Geddie did the same in 1966. Both were against the old Spring Hope Raiders. Interestingly enough, Bulluck's safety was against an Algie Faircloth coached squad as was Roberson's Friday feat. One daily newspaper referred to Louisburg's sophomore quarterback Larry Fuller as "perhaps the finest young quarter back in the entire state" last week prior to the Oxford tilt. The paper also said that Oxford's Tim Jones' "explosive rushing" would be the Red Devils hope "to offset Fuller's aerial antics." Ironically, Oxford's only touchdown came on an "aerial antic" by James Earp and Louisburg's lone TD came on a rush by Fuller. The article featured Louisburg wingback Jimmy Wrenn, a most deserving youngster. A Couple Of Toughs Oxford'* All Conference tackle Kenneth Bus (35) la shown above putting the hex on Loutaburg's duty running back Randy 8eldel (44) In Friday'* Franklin Area game. Loulaburg center Jack Verdeeg (50) rushes in to HHist The Bulldogs won the nallbltefi 8-6. Jimmy Wrenn's brilliant play in downing the football on the Oxford one foot line the play before. Or was it Larry Fuller's kick that Wrenn downed? It may have been the fum ble recovery by "Boo-Boo" Pergerson on the Red Devil four-yard line. Or Fuller's double quarterback sneak that scored the six-pointer. Or the pass rush by the Bull dog defense on the point - after play when Oxford scored at the start of the fourth quarter that prevented the Red Devils from tying the game. Was it Charlie Hobgood's interception of a James Earp pass on the Louisburg goal line as the first half ended? Or Randy Seidel's amazing sixty-yard run with 3 minutes left in the game. Or was it Carey Wrenn's timely tackles of Tim Jones when the Ox ford speedster threatened to break away? Or the tough defensive play of Johnny Pernell. Steve Perdue, Dan Hayes and John Kornejj?y among others? It was all of these. And the rugged Red Devils probably have a list of their own. A list of dissappointing breaks and key plays that spelled the difference. Oxford won the toss and elected to receive. The Bull dog defense held and there followed a tension-paced first half as both teams threat ened. With 4:26 left in the half, a pass interference call against Louisburg gave Ox ford the ball on the Bulldog ten yard line. On the first and ten, Carey Wrenn threw Jones for a loss back on the Louis burg 18. John Kornegay tackled the ball carrier on the 13 and on third down. Earp's pass to Danny Narron was caught out of bounds. The snap on an attempted field goal by the Red Devils was fumbled and Mike Leonard stopped to play to give Louis burg ball possession. After the Bulldogs were forced to kick again, Hobgood pulled his pass interception as the first half ended. At the 8:15 mark in the third period. Fuller was forced to kick on fourth down. The kick set up Jimmy Wrenn 's spectacular play in downing the ball on the Ox ford one foot line. Bunched like flies around a discarded candy bar, the Bulldogs left Tim Jones no place to go on Oxford's first play from scrimmage. Steve Roberson led the pack in the slaughter of Jones and the two-point safety Following the safety kick off by Oxford from their twenty, sophomore fullback Phillip Redmond made two good runs. Neill McDonald hauled to the Red Devil twenty, Seidel carried to the 18. A mixup on the downs caused Louisburg to kick on third down after a penalty moved the Bulldogs out to the Oxford 33 yard line. On the first play after the kick, Pergerson pulled his fumble recovery on the Ox ford four yard line to set up a three-yard sneak by Fuller. On the next play, the 170 pound quarterback carried in to the end zone to give Louis burg an 8-0 advantage. The pass to Jimmy Wrenn was no good on the try for the extra point. On the first play in the fourth quarter, the Red Devils had a second down and two yards to go situation. Tim Jones picked up a first on the Louisburg seven yard line. Earp carried to the five and on second down, Earp hit Terry Sweeney in the end zone for the lone Oxford TD. Earp's pass intended for Sweeney for the conversion failed and Louisburg held the 8-6 lead. After an exchange of ball possession, Fuller kicked to midfield with five minutes remaining in the game. On the first play from scrim mage, Carey Wrenn inter cepted a James Earp pass on the. Louisburg 30. Picking up a 15-yard penalty, the Bull dogs faced a third and 19 on their own 20. The scoreboard showed it fourth down and time was called to get the down corrected at this point. As play resumed Randy Seidel made his flashy 60 yard run to the Oxford twenty with 3:16 left in the game. Redmond carried for no gain, Neill McDonald gained to the Red Devil 11 and Seidel carried to the one-yard line. With 2:11 left, Fuller scored on a quarterback sneak. An illegal procedure against the Louisburg line nullified the second Bulldog TD. Moving the ball back to the Oxford five, Louisburg committed two fumbles, re covering each but losing ground back to the Oxford eight. Unable to move in for the score again, the Bulldogs gave up the ball. With 51 seconds left in the game, Earp hit on two long passes to move from the Oxford 8 in side the Bulldog forty as the game ended. RoUif kin" .^aI8 0 prop ' By Stuart Eakes The "Red Rams" spoiled the Wakelon "Bulldogs" homecoming Friday night with an 8-0 victory. This victory was the "Rams" second in a row and first conference ruin. During the 1st half neither team was able to get much offense going! Wakelon kicked off to the "Rams" to open the second half and the Rams started their march. On third and fourteen, Jerry Simmons completed a pass to Warren Collins for a gain of 16 yards and a first down on the Wake Ion 19 yard line. On the next play from scrimmage Senior halfback Cliff Williams broke away on a 19 yard run up the middle for a TD. Simmons ran or the extra points. During the remainder of the game the "Ram" defense was tenacious and completely stopped the bulldogs. The "Rama" went to the 'our yard line twice but were un able to score. Following the victory the "Rama" have now shut out the opponents for 108 minutes The "Rams" had some outstanding individuals or defense during the game. Bobby Ayscue was credited with 7 tackles and L. B. Tim Leonard had five tackles. Others who contributed In this outstanding defensive ef fort were tackles Buck Pearce, Al Sandling, Ends Cliff Williams and David Thompson. Two boys were injured during the pim and were unable to aee any action dur ing the second half, Donnle Beckham and Stuart Eakes. Theif replacements did r good job of filling in. They were: Warren Collins, Percy Cooke and Glenn PheipR. Thus far the Rams have the best record since 1964 and the second best since they began playing football. They re 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference. The "Rans" have an open date this week and 'take on Elm City Vikings on Oct. 17. Cliff Williams was picked by the Durham Morning Herald as Back of the Week in the Franklin Area Con ference. CHICK'S PIZZA INN OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - 4 To 11:45 TAKE OUT ORDERS CALL 496-4368 LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE POST OFFICE EARLY IN THE WEEK SPECIALS IGA MILK %