Mountaineers Get Ironmen Here In Conference Tilt
on the bench
4
with Bob Hoffman
I
WEST WALLOPED — The Mountaineers looked
like a football team Friday night as they downed the
West Meckleenburg Indians by a 20-13 margaiin.
Friday’s play represented a vast improvement over
the sluggish team that performed in Bessemer City the
previous week, and local fans met the new hustling type
of football with enthusiasm.
It was the first home game of the 1956 season for the
local squad, and a near capacity crowd turned out to get
a look at the successor to the 1955 conference cham
pionship team.
PASSING PARADE — John McGinnis gave the
Kings Mountain folks a little concern in the second
period, when he suddenly fell to the ground and started
acting like Elvis Pressly. It seems John’s quarterback
duties had just resulted in a over-dose of nerves for the
game little senior.
Ken Baity’s running never ceases to thrill the spec
tators, a'nd make opposing coaches turn gray in a hurry.
The fleet-footed halfback seems to have a jet assisted
take off like many of our fighter planes of today. Baity
seems to tip-toe through the line, but when he reaches
the secondary he can really set sail.
Ken turned in one of the best performances Friday
that local fans can remember from a halfback. No doubt,
this junior will be tieing knots in the tails of South
western conference teams for not only this season but
next.
Curt George was another back that proved his abili
ty for the home-town folks against West. Curt, who
- was second-string fullback behind Ken Baity and Mearl
Valentine last season, had a big pair of shoes to fill, but
he seems to be ready to step into the fullback slot.
Curt barrelled through the line for several fine
gains against West, and had looked very well in the
opener against Bessemer City. I say the fullback duties
are in very capable hands again this season.
Doug Rathbone is the newcomer in the starting
Mountaineer backfield, but he is learning fast.
Rathbone was,called on to take over the quarter
backing duties while John McGinnis was out of the
West contest, and he came through with flying colors.
I was particularly impressed by several fast think
ing feats pulled off by the halfback-quarterback combi
nation. On one of those plays, a punt, Doug got a bad
snap and could not kick, he took off around end and just
lacked a foot or so picking up the eight yards needed for
a Mountaineer first down. This la-Eddie LeBaron play
looked good from the pressbox. On another occasion, a
fumbled pitchout from McGinnis to Rathbone spelled
doom for a Kings Mountain drive, but Rathbone dribbled
a couple of times, piched up the pigskin and still dashed
down field for a 12-yard gain. This type of play is hard
to beat.
Don Fisher is one of the few freshman candidates
on the 1956 team, and seems destined to be a big gun in
Kings Mounain football in the three years to come. Fish
er has been playing almost all of the MounitUneer de‘
fensive game', and looks very well on the field. Don who
has been shifted from quarterback to the fullback slot,
will give someone a lot of trouble during his stay at
Central High School.
Keith Layton, Charles Bridges, Tony Goins, Dave
Marlowe and other Mountaineers turned in first notch
defensive games Friday. The tackles were hard and vi
cious—the kind that spell successor a team.
Tony Goins is another local boy that is making his
presence known on the gridiron. Tony, a reserve end
last season, started the first day of scrimmage by knock
ing several of the varsity players for a loop, and he has
never stopped. His defensive play has been excellent and
Coach Shu Carlton is expecting great things of Tony
next season—as well as the remainder of this year.
Hoyle Burton has also been receiving kind words
from the King Mountain coaches for the way he has
improved his play at center. Only sad part is that Burton
is a senior.
PEOPLE AND PLACES — George Harris seems to
have made a big impression on the freshman coaches at
Duke — one of which has called him "one of the best
young quarterback prospects to hit Duke in a long time.”
Duke’s freshman team will play on Friday afternoons,
but the schedule has not been released at this time.
Fred Barkley, who for past years has been basket
ball commissioner in the- Southwestern AA Conference,
is resigning that post.
George Wilson, Kings Mountain’s representative
in the major league, is still with the New York Yankees,
and will no doubt get a cut of World Seeries’ money.
Sonny Dixon, veteran Charlotte pitcher, has also joined
the Yankee ranks. The Yanks bought Dixon from Rich
mond, after he had run up a very impressive relief record
for Eddie Lopat’s boys.
Guy Fisher, Kings Mountain lad, is being counted
on heavily by Lonior-Rhyne grid coaches this season.
Fisher had a very impressive service football record, and
is said to be a tough boy in that line.
Ted Abernathy is back with Washington after post
ing a 11-15 record with Louisville in the American Asso
ciation. He was recalled in a mass call for Nat’s minor
league talent. However, since he has not pitched since
his recall, one feels that he is still in Dressen’s dog
house. (Ted pitched and won last Friday).
Bill “Doc” Queen of Gastonia finished the season
with Wichita of the same American Association. Queen,
who belongs to Milwaukee, says it takes breaks to get to
the big tiime. The Braves would not sell Queen, or re
lease him on waivers, but still have kept him in the mi
nors for the past four or five seasons. Another case of
talent going to waste. Pete Whisnant had the same trou
bles until he got with the Chicago Cubs—now he plays
regular.
Rumors indicate that the New York Giants may be
in a wholesale trading mood when this season ends. Af
ter Willie Mays and Johnny Antonelli, who have they
got worth trading??
Free Golf Clinics
Set For Beginners
Jay Harrington, new Kings
Mountain Country Club mana
ger, announced Tuesday that he
will conduct free golf clinics
starting next week for any wo
men golfers, who have just be
gun playing.
Mr. Harrington added that golf
lessons will be given anytime for
persons other than beginners.
Strong Defense
Is Cheryville
Hope For Victory
Chterryville’s Ironmen will in
vade City Stadium Friday night
in an effort to stop the Kings
Mountain Mountaineer’s winning
streak of two games.
The Ironmen have dropped
their first two contests of the
year, and should have blood in
their eye for Friday’s contest.
Kings Mountain will be going
after its first conference win of
the season, having dropped Bes
semer City and West Mecklen
burg in two non-conference
scraps. Last season, the local
boys tripped Cherryville 28-0 on
the Ironmen's home grounds.
Cherryville’s offense has had
trouble getting started this sea
son, but thleir defensive squad is
one of the better in the confe
rence, according to reports. Bel
mont and Lincolnton both down
ed the Ironmen, each by a one
touchdown margin. During these
two contests, Chterryville failed to
score.
The Mountaineer line will pro
bably find itself outweighed by
the visiting front wall by some
10 or 15 pounds per man. Cherry
ville is well endowed with 200
pound tackles, guards, and a cbn
ter.
Experience is evident among
the Ironmen starters, as the
squad lists 11 seniors. Carrol Car
penter, Harold Tallent, Larry Kil
by, Bob Buff, Tommy Wison, Jack
Robbs, Start Crisson, Roy Dag
gerhart, • and Bobby Austell are
among the returnees from the
1955 team.
Add newcomers Velio Krus
kraa, Bill Davis, Bob Carpenter,
Roddy Buff, and Frank Henley
and you have a well balanced
squad.
Coach Shu Carlton will proba
bly go along with his starters
used last week. None of the play
ers suffered Injuries in the West
Mecklenburg contest, with the ex
ception of Doug Rathbone who
had a pulled shoulder ligament.
This injury was not considered
serious.
With John McGinnis, Rathbone,
Ken Baity, and Curt George in
thb backfield, many local fans
feel that the Mountaineer offen
sive attack is as potent as the one
fielded last season.
Kick-off time is 7:30 p. m., and
a capacity crowd is expected to be
on hand for thfe first Southwest
ern Conference tilt of the sea
son for the Mountaineers.
Bowling League
Starting Action
! Bowling leagues in Kings
j Mountain are starting activity for
the 1956-57 season, according to
a report by “Cat” Houser, owner
and operator of Mountain Laiie
Bowling Center.
Mr. Houser says that five bow
ling leagues have been formed,
and are ready to begin league
competition. These include onte
ladies league, composed of six
teams- a men’s six team league,
and three four team men’s lea
gues.
uraguc uuwiuig *» vvvu^ v»»v.
alleys at Mountain Lane Bow
ling Center Monday through
Thursday, but the six alleys will
be open to the public for open
bowling on Friday and Saturday
nights, Mr. Houser added.
The Sportsman League, a hold
ovler group from last season, had
already started play, and all six
teams are tied with three wins
and three losses.
Last week’s action saw Bridges
Texaco down Community Grocery
in two of three games, while
Foote defeated the Hillbillies in
a pair of contests. Other tilts in
the six-team loop saw McCurdy’s
take a pair from the Cherry
Pickers.
Guyton’s 302 pacfed the Bridges
wins, while Community had a
high of 304 by Hipps. Black’s
351 set the pace for Foote and
a 241 by Plonk headed the Hill
billies. McCurdy’s 326 high went
to Burton as Barber’s 302 was
high for the Cherry Pickers.
WE OFFER
6 ALLEYS
For
Open Bowling
Friday and
Saturday Nights
During First Four
Days of the Week
Mountain Lane
Bowling Center
*** * * * * * * **'* ft * *
Baity Tallies Twice, George Once As Mountaineers Drop Indians
The Mountaineers are off
again!!
Kings Mountain’s hard scrap,
ping grid team took a 20-13 win
from West Mecklenburg in its
1956 home football opener in City
Stadium Friday night.
It was the second win of the
ytear for the Mountaineers, hav
ing downed Bessemer City 6-0 in
the first of a 10-game schedule on
September 7,
Local fans were very impressed
with what they saw Friday on
the City Stadium turf. The Moun
taineers looked much better than
they did against Bessemler, and
played a terrific ballgame.
John McGinnis and Ken Baity
were the big guns for the locals.
Baity tallied a pair of touch
downs, and made two long runs to
bring the crowd to its fleet during
the course of the contest.
McGinnis, who had an over
dose of nerves in the first quar
ter, was rested for about one
half of thle contest, with Doug
Rathbone filling in at the quar
terback slot.
However, John certainly made
his presence known during thle
time he played. Thle little scooter
ripped off 57 yards on a punt re
turn to set up the first Kings
Mountain tally, and raced for 17
additional yards on another punt
return later in the game.
Baity got loose for 40 yards to
set up the second Mountaineer TD
and then carried the ball over.
His second tally came on an elec
trifying 18-yard sprint in the
thirij period.
uoug Kathboine and Curt
George also turned in finle per
formances in the backfield.
Rathbone assumed the quarter,
backing duties early in the first
period, and directed the team very
well. George, who is running
much better this year, ripped off
several gains at critical times to
keep Kings Mountain rallies go.
ing.
Ralph Ellis, onfe of a brother
combination, was the only potent
weapon West could muster. The
175-pound fullback carried on 21
of 29 Indian running plays, and
collected 77 of the 96 yards gain
ed on the ground.
The Mountaineer defensive
play was much sharper than last
week, and Don Fisher, Tony
Goins, David Marlowe, and Keith
Layton, along with Spook Ste
wart made a majority of the
tackles, Joe Davenport Ralph El.
lis, Fred Jones, and Stetele Blan.
kenship were defensive stand,
outs for the Indians.
West won the toss and elected
HOW THEY DID
RUSHING:
KINGS MOUNTAIN
T G L
IT
PLAYER
Baity
Rathbone
George
McGinnis
Hinson
PLAYER
Elliott
R. Ellis
Wright
B. Ellis
Stewart
PASSING:
5
1
WEST
T
1
12 93 1
6 30 0
10 48 1
14 1
1 0
21 77
4 6
Passer
McGinnis
Passer
Blankenship
B. Ellis
RECEIVING:
Net. Agr.
92 7.7
30
47
13
1
5.0
4.7
2.6
1.0
G L
10 0
Net. Agr.
10 10.
74
5
2
-1
3.5
1.3
1.0
-1.0
KINGS MOUNTAIN
Att. Comp Int.
2 0 0
WEST
Att. Comp Int.
2 0 0
8 6 2
Yds. TD
0 0
Yds. rb
0 0
37 0
Player
KINGS MOUNTAIN
Caught Yds. TD
WEST
Player Caught
Davenport 2
Elliott 1
Oliver 1
Guy 1
Yds. TD
30 0
1 0
2 0
3 0
to receive the opening kick-off.
Stewart’s kick was carried to the
West 28 and Davenport raced
l?ack to the 38 before being stop
ped. Threfe running plays netted
only seven yards against a stout
Mountaineer defense, and Don
Wright punted for the Indians,
McGinnis gathered the punt in
on his own 25 and slet sail for
West territory. He was stopped
57-yards later on the Indian 18.
McGinnis then got eight on a keep
play and Rathbone picked up four
for a first down on the West 6.
Rathbonfe got four more and Curt
George plunged into the end-zone
with about three or four minutes
gone in the game. A holding pena
lity nullified Sttewart’s point-after,
touchdown kick and McGinnis
tried to pass after the ball was
moved to the 17-yard line. The
pass was knocked down and the
score was 6-0 Kings Mountain.
Ralph Ellis took Stewart’s kick
off on his 20 and got back to the
26. Ellis then lost two yards, gain,
ed two yards, and a pass fell in
complete. On fourth down, the
Indians dropped back to punt, at
this point a 15-yard penalty for
clipping gave them a first down
on their own 40.
Three plays failed to get more
than threfe yards ,and the Indians
punted. McGinnis took the ball
and raced 17-yards to the Kings
Mountain 4 before being pulled
down. McGinnis got three on a
pair of runs, and Curt George
picked up bight on a hard plunge
for a first down.
McGinnis picked up four more,
and Baity broke loose on the In.
dian’s 45-yard stripe to gallop to
the 5. Rathbone got two as the
first period ended, and Baity scor
ed on thfe first play of the sec
ond period. Stewart’s kick, which
was partially blocked, sailed
through the uprights and the
score was 130 Kings Mountain.
The kick-oll was returned sev
en yards to the Indian 32, but an
offsides pesnalty linked with three
plays that gained only five yards
forced the West team to punt.
Baity raced the punt back 20
yards before being hauled down.
Three running plays wetted only
two yards and Rathbone went
back to punt. A bad snap from
center didn’t allow time to kick
so Rathbone ran, he gained seven
yards, but was still a yard shy
of thfe first down and West took
over on downs.
Three Indian running plays net
ted seven yards and they dropped
back to kick. Cfei the punt, a
Kings Mountain clipping penalty
was called and the Indians ended
up with the ball first and ten on
the Kings Mountain 30.
Two ground attempts netted
two yards, and Bobby Ellis hit
Joe Davenport with a pass good
for 18 yards. With a first and
goal on the 10-yard-likie, Gene El
liott romped all the way for the
touchdown. Elliott also attempted
to run thte extra point, but fail
ed to get across the goal line.
Score Kings Mountain 13. West 6.
Ken Baity galloped for 20
yards with the kick-off, and
looked as though he might go all
the way. However, he was pulled
down on the Mountaineer 35. Two
running plays netted six yards as
the first half ended.
Opening the second half, West
Kicked-off and Doug Rathbone
raced the kick 26 yards back to
the Mountaineer 36. Baity got five
and George romped for seven and
. .. Ken Baity
romps for a pair . . .
YARDSTICK
KM West
FINAL SCORE . 20 13
Touchdowns rushing .. 3 2
", passing . 0 0
TOTAL TD’S .. 3 2
PAT, placements . 2 1
TOTAL PAT. 2 1
First Downs rushing_ 7 3
" ", passing. 0 2
" ", penalty . 0 2
TOTAL 1st DOWNS_ 7 7
yds. gained rushing_ 186 96
yds. lost rushing. 3 6
NET RUSH GAIN . 183 90
No. rushes attempted .... 34 29
Average per rush . 5.4 3.1
Passes attempted . 2 10
" completed. 0 37
YDS. GAINED PASSING . . 0 37
Net Rush & Passing .... 183 127
Number of plays (not
counting kicks and
penalties where play
is nullified) . 36 39
Avg. Gain Per Play_ 5.1 3.3
Passes intercepted by_ 2 0
YARDS RUNBACK . 5 0
Number of punts .... 0 3
Yards punts went. 0 117
Punts had blocked . 0 0
yds. punts average ...... 0 39
YDS. RETURNED.94 0
Number of kickoffs. 4 3
Yds. kickoffs went. 152 132
Yds. kickoffs averaged .. 38 44
YDS. KO RETURNED_ 46 43
Ball lost on downs. 1 1
Ball lost on fumbles .... 3 1
YDS. FUMBLES RET. .... 0 0
Number of penalties .... 7 4
Times enforced. 7 3
YDS. PENALIZED . 75 25
TOTAL YARDS GAIN.
ED IN GAME (add
yards gained run-back
punts, kickoffs, inter
cepted passes, & re
covered fumbles to net
rushing, passing plus
penalty gains) . 353 245
and a first down. Rathbone added
another three and a Wiest off
sides penalty added five, on third
down with only a yard to go, Mc
Ginnis fumbled and West recover,
ed oil their own 43.
Ellis sliced through Kings
Mountain defenders for 12-yards
to carry into Mountaineer terri
tory. Three running plays netted
one-yard and a completed pass
gained only two and the ball went
over to thfe Mountaineers on
downs.
George got three, and Baity
romped for seven and a first
down on the Indian 48.
Doug Rathbone fumbled a
pitch-out, but picked up the ball
and gained 12-yards before be
ing stopped. Baity got seven, but
Kings Mountain lost five on a de
lay of the game offense. George
got eight and Baity two for the
first and 10 on thfe West 25,
A pass fell incomplete, and
George got seven, Ken Baiity
took off on third down and rac
ed 18-yards for the third Kings
Mountain tally. Stewart added
the extra point. Scone: Kings
Mountain 20, West 6,
Don Wright galloped 19-yards
with Stewart’s kick-off as the
third period ended. Three com
pleted passes collected 13 yards
and a first down on the Indian
46.
Ellis got seven, and was stop
ped cold before a West pass was
intercepted by John McGinnis on
the Kings Mountain 43. On this
first play, the Mountaineers fum
bled and West recovered on the
Mountaineer 40.
Ellis netted 18 yards on a pair
of run4 to carry to thle 25. He
broke lo'ose for 15 more yards to
end up within the 10. Four tries
later, carrying four straight
times, Ralph Ellis plunged into
the endzone for the second In
dian tally. Thfe kick was good
and score: Kings Mountain 20,
West 13.
a snort KicK-olf by the Indians
failed when the ball failed to
travel 10-yards. A discussion with
the officials by West coaches
brought a 15-yard penalty avid
West kicked off again from thfeir
own 25.
The ball went out of bounds
on the Mountaineer 45. The Moun
taineers lost 20 yards in penalties
while gaining 15 o the ground and
lost the ball on a fumble.
West lost a yard on a run and
then took to the air. Doug Rath
bone was Johnny-on-the-spot and
intercepted the ball on the Kings
Moutain 17.
After three running plays, the
final gun sounded ending the con
test.
Final score: Kings Mountain20,
West-13
THE LINEUP
KINGS
Layton
Marlowe
Stewart
Burton
Herndon
Wells
Bridges
McGinnis
Baity
Rathbone
George
MOUNTAIN
LE
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
RE
OB
LH
RH
FB
WEST
Davenport
Jone9
Hammeif
Justice
Blankenship
Le Neave
Oliver.
R. Ellis
Elliott
Wright
Wright
Blanton, Fisher
KINGS MOUNTAIN SUBS:
Goins, Hinson and Bowers.
WEST MECKLENBURG SUBS: Guy, Hopper,
Stewart, Choate, Winters, Blakenship, By
rum, B. Ellis and Carson.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
West
Kings Mountain
0 6 0 7—13
6 7 7 0—20
KINGS MOUNTAIN—Curt George on & two
fard plunge in first period; Baity on five
/ard plunge in second period; Ken Baity
L8.yard run in third period. Stewart added
wo extra points.
WEST—Elliott on 10-yard run in second*
juarter; Ralph Ellis on one-yard plunge lij
ourth quarter. Oliver added on point,
ifter touchdown.
<
Every devoted father would like to be
certain that his children will have the full
advantages of their mother s time and
attention... and that his wife will be free
of needless worry and financial
responsibility in those years so
important to family happiness. Your
Liberty Life representative
will be glad to show j/F
how you can guarantee
protection for your j
loved ones.. .with little
change in your
present budget. \ —
G.W. HAMPTON
Manager
King* Mountain Branch Office
Morrison Building, Battleground and Cold Streets
Liberty Life
INSURANCE COMPANY
Greenville, South Carolina
FINANCIAL FREEDOM FOR THE FAMILY