North Carolina Newspapers

I m ] Thi'sday, September 16, 1971 THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD,. KINGS MOUNTAIN. N. C. '*f , k--m^ p' wWi HERALD SPORTS I' ■■ By CARY STEWART The Evil Beetle The first time Kings Mountain’s Sammy Leigh pulled his Volkswagen “Evil Beetle” to the starting line at a drag strip, the fans laughed and wondered what in the world a bug wjis doing trying to compete with the big . _. I •* « But, now, when Leigh’s little wonder makes it;s ap pearance, most fans figure it’s going to be across the fin ish, line faster than anything else on the strip. Leigh*s VW, which has turned up to 110 miles per hour in a Quarter, is one of the hottest dragsters goin(^ i It’s a consistent winner at tracks in the two Carolinas and | Tennessee. i Leigh, who works and drives for Volkswagen of Gas-, Ionia, recently won his class in the Summer Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., and last weekend he won four straight races ; in a tour of strips in the Ralcigh-Durham area. i Leigh began drag racing at the age of 18 while living j in Maryland. He started in a big way last summer after spending four months building his “Evil Beetle.” ‘T started on the car in March of ’70 while I w'as still living in Maryland,” he recalled, “and I started racing | it in July of ’70.” , .u- ■ He raced in Maryland all of last season and early this, year, then moved back to Kings Mountain in March. “The car was running real w'eil at the first of the ] season," he commented, “but from May to July, it ran into > a breakage period. I losi five transmissions in a span of eight weeks.” Leigh chnfhv''phnrl^Ve ^Sn irtanbure^^ ■ Chase High's Trojans captured oottor than wo did Friday night, Sunday) at strips in Shelby, their sixth victory in seven years ('vc.-ybody in l.io onfenMiee will C., Blaney, S. C., and Sanford, N. C, He has laced in PYiday night, heat us.” states. \ . 'at Chase, lG-13. Chasid’s .’spirii.'^ were lifted late} He said he built the VW because it was dlffereru. The Mountaineers Oif Coach Boh in tiie fir.st halt when C’hiile | “I used to race a Chevelle,” he recalled, “but I just; Jones struck for touchdou-ns the couldn’t get the car to go. The V\V seemed like a good ’ first two times they had posset idea, since it’s different.” ...... ; i^ad only to see the hosUs c«me KM Lineup Will Be Chan; When East Invades Frici* Kings Mountain High's foot- away,” ho .said. “Chase liad no bail lineup .should bo changed buslmrss lx*ating as.” somewhat Friday lUUht when the | Just wlial changejs Jones will Mountaineers host w inic.ss f.a.sl I make in hLs lineup remain.^ lo bf? tu lioj.ord at John (Jamblo Stad-'soen but it last w'oek’s game i' ium. Coacli Bob Jone.s, bitterly dis- , appointed following la.st Friday'.s i 16-13 loss at Clwse, said that all I IxDsltions are wide opc»n and that | the players that sh<iw the big i gesl desire lo play w’ill start. “Wo haven’t looked gOv>d all year, except at times,” say.s Jones. “So let's face it. If the any indication, only dofensiv<' tackle Slev«‘ Ingle Is assuml ol a spot. “ll(*'.s llu* only piayc^r that gave us a conslstc-ni p(»i- forman <*,'• said Joiu‘s. Fullback John Uri<»r \va.^ K.M’.s only offensive lhr<*at and ho picked up most of his yaidago on Ills lirst play fiom s'-rimmagi* when he rsimbled y^tids lo DEFENSIVE STANDOITT — Senior tackle Steve Engle, shown here pouncing on a fumble, played a consistently good defensive game last Friday in Kings Mountain's 16-13 loss to Chase. Ingle's fumble recovery set up KM's final touchdown, which at the time meant a 13-0 lead. But the Trojonii came storming back in the third quar ter to win their sixth victory over KM in the post seven years. guys wo’ve got in there don’t ' give the .Mountaine(*r.s a 7 0 ic*a(i. want to play football, we’re go- East Rutherford v ii] .wne liero Ing to put somtibody in there that l with an 02 rwvnd, having lost to does.” Dallas and Lineolnion. Jone-s Jones .said the Mountaineer ‘ says l:h(‘ Cavaliers are big and lefonse did not pursue and that strong and will >^:ve KM a siein he offensive line failed lo block n last week’s 16-13 upset at Chase. 'It was a game oX give- te.st. “Right n<»w.' .'^aid Jones, “we’re one of the w’orst teams in the conference. Thetvs no way for u? to go but up. We iiavo to gel tMJtter because we can't do any worse than vve did at Chas(!.*' The Mountaineers will carry a 0-1 Souihwestcrn Conference rec ord and a 1-1 overall mark into the conle*st. Tiiey whipped Be.sse- mer City 21-6 in the sea.son oiM*n- er two weeks ago. The pa.sl six years the Cava liers have (mjoyed sucte.ss a:;ain-it the Mountaineers. The Rutiierford County club has won 1-iur of the past six c<jntesUs_ KM hau' won only once and the two club.T battled Lo a 1M4 tie once. East Rutherford ha.s won the last two oontcsls, 12-9 hist year and T G in the rain two years ago. Kings Mountain's last win over lh(‘ Cavaliers (14-7) came in I96i^. Trojans Survive ‘Giveaway’ 16-13 i Sion of the ball and held a 13-0 Leigh built and maintained the car himself but re cently sold it to Volkswagen of Gastonia, Ron Benson and Arnold Whisnant, v. ho also work at VW of Gastonia, help Leigh maintain it now. In comparing drag racing in the North and South, Leigh says it’s harder to win in the North. “Most of the time.” he said, “the big-name cap don’t come around here unless it’s for a national meet. He says his VW has become a permanent fixture at strips here and people now know what to expect. “But,’’ he said, “when we go to a new track the fans laugh and | ^ wonder what in the world a Volkswagen is doing at a | didn't pursue'on drag strip.” defense and the offensive line Leigh, who is married to the former Linda Webster failed to bldck. of Kings Mountain, expects bigger and better things out of the “Evil Beetle” next season. “We’ll have a new body next year,” he reports, “and we hope to go even faster." storming from behind in the third ^ period. 1 The Trojans recorded a safety ! in the second quarter to make the I score 13-2 at halftime. Junioi quarterback Tony Fowler toe?sed a pair of third period touchdawn pijvscs to *win the game' for Bob Bush’s club. Coach Jones, in his first year as the Mountaineers’ head coach, was bitterly disappointed afte. G-W On The Go College tootball has hit the sports scene once again and one of the biggest victories pulled off among last week’s seasoii openers was Gardner-Webb over Lenoir Rhyne. _ ^ , Coach George Litton’s Jones said the only Mxuitain- cor that consistently did a good job was defensive tackle Steve In gle. Ingle forced a Cha.se fumble at tlie Trojan 23 yard line to set up lOl’s final tourhdav\'n. Fullback John Grier raced 88 yaixis on KM’s first play from scrimmage and Jolui Bridget; hooted the extra point to give the Mounties a quick 7-0 advan tage. Shortly afterward, Ingle scoop ed up a Fowler fumble and four ploys later Marshall Logan went Lipsc»-m;) caug’nt Giior in the end ; zone for a safety. Trojan, weren't able to put any morel points on the board be:oro hai: 1 time but they were fired u) | at the U'ginning of liie third 1 period. | On both of Cha-se’s loiu’ d.v.vns, the K^^ dofen.-^e had th(' Trojans stopped.-The liists vver< hacked up on theii own g:: 1 lin. with a third and 13 wlien full back Kenny lloascr went ovr Grier and gallopel 70 yards t give the Trojans a first down o: the K.M 30. A pa.ss from FcwTit to Steve Arrowood covering 27 yards irav* dha.se its fir‘;i tjuchd/wn and! Terry Hines added the point after to make it 13-0. 1 A pas.s co\’ering 72 yards from Powlcr to Eddie M'^X-nney gave ‘Chase a first and god on t'ae three, but KM’s defence -;toppe:t the Trojans on their first Cuce cracks. But, on fourtli down, E’ew- ler hit Arrowood in The end zone and Hines again converted to round out the scoring. : THE STATISTICS r^' V Bulldogs, in only their sec- ov^r from the one to make it 13-0. ond season of senior college | -^fier that, Kings Mountain’s plav, shocked the Bears in po‘'-ci;I oL'ense due mostly tj Hiekorv Saturday nicht 24-6 blocking, bo-r-rd HlCKory aaiuraay niMU ^ Mountaintx'rs fmi.slici To say Litton was hap- g, mc^'t ol py with the victory would be coming on Grier’s louth.- an understatement. The for-|p,own run. i mer Lees-McRae mentor was j Quarterback David Bolin, ^^'ho| overjoyed and says he is i was swarmed under oy the chase | eagerly looking foWard to dt^ensive rash, was able to com i the remainder of the season, one of 12 pas.si's foi , Gardner - Webb which who h.nd 1 uaranei ample tune to throw the ball, hit; won only two games last . i Chase KM| First downs 8 G Y’ds. rushing* 89 111 Y'ds. pas.sing 148 7 ' Passe.s 6-2.3 1-12' Passes Int. 0 0 Punts 6-34 9-31 Yds. Ponalized >fT LONG TO RUN—Fullback John C7ri3r, chover rambled 83 yards fer tfiO fir.'vt of two Kings Moun tain touchdowns Friday night at It wa>n't enough, though, as the Trojans stunned the Mountaineers 16-13 in a South- wictern Conference contest. KM Pee Wees 31ank Belmont 18-0 In Opener The Kings Mountain Optimist r )ce wee football team lAon its | season opener Tuesday night at Belmont. 18-0. | Peter Brown scortxi the fir.=t , wo touchdowns for the KM team. ■ He tallied in the first quarter on I 23-yard sweep. The Mounties i Irovt? 6-0 yards in eight plays fol- owing Belmont’s opening k:vk- >ff. After holding Belmont without t fir.sl down following the en.su- ng kickoff, KM drove 50 yar-is 1 In six plays to go ahead 12-0. Irown scored again, thiS time ’noim 25 yards out. The score remained 12-0 at halftime. Kings Mountain scored its fin al touchd-'wn in the third quar- .er alter John Gamble intercepted I Belmont pass on the KM -10. It took KM 10 plays to score, Kevin Tinsley getting the six points on i one-yard pluiigo. Coaches Jim Littlejohn and Charles Burns cleared their bench in the final quarter. Kings Mountain led Belmont in first downs, eight to two, and the Mountaineers gained over 200 j /arcU rusliing. The coaches citctl Kevin Tins ley, John Gamble, Kelly Land, ohn Ro.ss and Bobby Bridges for jheir defensive play. Offensive )layers carnlrrg recognition were 3illy Garner, John Ross. Peter 3rowm and Ronnie Wilson. The Kings Mountain team is aost to Evening Optimist of 'Gas tonia next'Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The site of the game has not been decided. Tlie KM pee wees are edm^et- ing in tne Gasten League. 4'- 't-t ■ EYEING GASTON DAY — These six Central Junior High Patriots are eyeing Saturday night's opener against Gaston Toy School ot John Gamble Stadium. Front row, left to right are linemen Max Cochran, Jeff Carroll and Jefl Jones and back row, same order, are backs Steve Southwell. Jimmy Thompson and Donnie McDevitt. Patriots Open Saasoa Here On Saturday Night vear in Litton’s first season, nicked off three Lenoir Thyne passes and recovered five fumbles en route to the victory. Junior quarterback Ray Hannon, who had been in- jui'ed until two days prior to r; the opening contest, directed the Bulldogs’ triple-option offense with near perfect pass ing and ballhandling. The Bulldogs ran up a 17-0 halftime advantage on a pair of Hannon .touchdown passes, includ ing one to former Belmont High School split end Meredith Scruggs. The Bulldogs open their home schedule this’Satur day nigbt against Newberry and it will be Band Night. Some cf top high school bands in the Carolinas will perloi'ni. Other Bulldog home games this season are against Samford, Carson-Nowman (Homecoming, Oct. 23), Pres byterian and Georgetown. on six of 23 piiss attempts for 1 L’ y'ards. Jones call(?d'’ihc contest a “game of giveaway” and added that “Chase had no busine\«;.s beat ing our team. But. if we don’t do Little Moimties Open Here Next Thursday No Blocking 9 Bobby Jones, Kings Mountain High’s new head foot ball coach, was viewing films of last Friday’s 16-13 de feat at the hands of Chase’.s Trojans. The former Gastonia Ashbrook assistant couldn’t be lieve that the same offensive line that led the Mountain eers to a 7-3 record last fall was doing suclvan inconsistent job of blocking. But, it was. “I can see guys missing blocks every now and then, or letting up every now and then,” he said. “But we didn’t do the job at any time. Neither was Jones pleased with the pursuit of his de fensive linesmen. He said tackle Steve Ingle was the only Mountaineer that consistently played a good game. Jones was so disappointed in his team’s showing that he figures to make several changes for this week’s gdme here against winlcss East Rutherford. “We can’t get any worse than we were last week," he said. “If the guys we’ve had in there so far don’t want to play football, we’re going to get someone who does.” Radiator Team Leads By Game In Womens Loop Cleveland Radiator Service leads Scoggins Gulf Service by one game after two weelcs of action in tile women’s duckpin bowling league. The leaders won four games from American Legion Tuesday night for a 7-1 retx)rd. Scoggins, which was the leader after the first w'oek of action, split a four game set with Drews Tax Sers icc and dropped to a 66-2 mark. Team captain Becky Barnett led the Cleveland team’s victory with a 122 s'.nglo game and a 325 set. EtJiel Tignor had a 108 line and 277 series for the losers. Betty Wells scored a 113 line and 327 set to lead Scoggins Gulf t.) its split with Drews. Winnie Fulton had a 108 line and 304 .srt f(jr Drews. Kings Mountain Higli's fresh man foctball team, regarded as one of the teams to boat in the Tri-County Junior Hi Hi Confer ence. is one week away from ii- oi^ening season game. The Little Mountaineers wiii get their campaign under way next Thursday at Jolin Gamble Stadium against Crest. an Ulier club which is expeeled to be a- mong the frontrunners. Tnough most Tri-County coaeii- j es are picking the Little Meuntioj as the team to beat. KM coaches John Blalock and Steve Biker say the lack of an cxjierienccd quarterback will hurt. The ninth graders have mostly the same players who led Central Junior High to an undefeated .season last >x?ar. But the quarferback of that team, Steve Southwell, is still at; Central. | The ninth graders, who have j good depth with over 30 players ; on their roster, were strcngtlicn- i ed last week with the addl'ion; of Johnny Byers and Tony Falls, j Houser. Bridges Score 356 Sets Rod Houser and Richard Drid- ] ges shared scoring honors in I men's bowling league play Mon- i dav night, both scoring 356 .sots. In other Tuesday action. Plonk | jHouser had a 147 line to go Brothers won four games his high series and Bridges Oates Shell Service. The Oatesa 140 single gamcfl Bridges’ Both had been playing on the junior varsitj' team, which was disoanded due to a lack of play ers*. . I Blalock and Baker have five' phiyers seeking the starting quar- j ,.-iback spot but it will probably M to either Dale Hartsoe or C..uek Austin. Others seeking the ■ •l:\rting berth are Brantley Mer cer. Kenny I'ails and David Lan caster. Fullback Carl Roseboro and halfback Kciini’ McCoy, who ran roughshod over Central’s foes last fall, will give tlte ninth graders a good rumiing game. Halfbacks Chark's Beil and Tony Rhyne and fullback Walter Snead also figure to see a lot of action. Freddie Smith, Marvin Johnson and Chris Laughter are seeking Continued On Page 5 Steve Ingle Player M Week Senior tackle Steve Ingle has been named player of the week foj* his defensive performance in last Friday night’s 16-1.3 loss at Chase. Coach Bc6 Jones said the 180- pound tackle was the only Moun taineer that consistently played good football in the disappoint ing loss. Ingle, a two-way performer at tackfe, is a two-year starter and lettermen for the Mountaineers but was hindered his sophomore and Junior years bt<*ause of in juries. As a result of being selected as player of the week, Ingle wUl re ceive a free gift from the men’s department of Fulton’s Dept. Store, which sponsors the weekly honoj. Halfback Marshall Logan was player of the week for the sea son's opener, a 24-6 KM victory over Bremer City. Central Junior High’s Patriots open their 1971 football se.i.'-on Saturday night at John Gamble Stadium against Gaston Day • School. Coach Porter Griggs' charges finished 5-0 last season but will be in a rebuilding .‘^fage this year. Only one player, quarterback i>:eve Southwell, *tn-U‘d on year’s undefeated r” 1 mos- other players did not see a great deal of actiun. Southwell will stai^ at quarter back again thia trip and lie d have halfbacks Donny .McDewr and Jimmy Thompson and full back Wendell Jackson in hi. backfleld. On the line the Patriots will have Jackie Wray and Je:f Jone- at ends, Nathaniel Smith and John 7arbro at tackles. Simon McClain and Max Cochran ct tackles and Randy Oliver at cen ter. Central's 1971 roster follow.s: B.\CKS: Mike Eumgardner, Bill Easley, Sieve Southwell, Cu:ii^ Hickrnan, Randy Putnam. Jlmm;. Thompson, Harold Glass. Kenn>' Bumgardner, Scott Ledford, Won dell Jackson, Donny McDevitt. layveeTeam Folds, Pinitt loins VaisitY Kings Mountain High will not have a junior football team this year. Coach Tommy Pruitt said th- team has been disbanded due to the lack of players. Pniitt had been drilling the team since the opening of scho(>l in preparation for Thursday’^ scheduled opener against Rutherford. School var.siiv ENDS: Jackie Wray. Jeff Jones, Mike Murphreo, Robert Miller. Mdte Williams. Chris Johnson. James Larr>', William Thompson and Temmv Manning. TVCKLES: Joey Allen. Glen Roberts Max Cochran, Simon Mc Clain, Willie Roberts, Ke\'ln FfrrL Stove L.u'.cnstcr, Tommy Martin. Eugene Lovelace. GUARDS: Natiiahicl Smitfc, Earl Cansler. John Yarbro, Ron nie McKinney, Alfred Jamerson. CiliNTERS: Jacque Jackson. Ran- ■iy Oliver. J':e Ormand. Three Tear ' Ll !n Mixed Loop Boh Herndon. E.-b Ramcicy and Plonk Oil share the lead after one -.veek’s action in the mixed ■"ocvUng league. AH have 3-1 records. Herndons team stopped Ranry Jluruon at; Karidy CulberUon roil ed a 12s lino and 342 set. Blanton ■vas high for the losers with a ;i2-323. Ram.soy’s team whipped John -Tilling. Ramsey led the way with a 121 line and 327 set and Char ity Tignor’s 115 line and Dill- mg's 3(.6 set led the losers. Ethel Tignor’s 122 line and Mull Ramsey’.-? 350 set weren’t enough .13 Rani.sey’s team dropped throe -amcs to* Plonk Oil. Clarence Plonk's 131 line and Jenny Oates’ 732 set led the winners. STANDINGS Ea.'-t Teams W L Pet. 3ob Herndon 3 1. .750 3ob Ramroy 3 1 .750 Plonk Oil 3 1 .750 Mull Ramsey 1 3 .250 John Dilling 1 3 .250 Ranny Blanl >n 1 3 250 Kings Mountain Invitational Set Dec. 3-4 .. .... - . .ne-l v-r»nr« H<' Basketball soa.-on U ju.sl around’ in the District ^tournament and t.Iu‘ corner and Kings Mountain , St. Augusrine participated m the win help tip off the new season ; tho District 29 e\ent. by ho.stin’,' a four-ti’-am college i t(’am is wlnlo.ss after eight tries. Karon Moss scored a 108 line and Charity Tignor added a 300 set for Plonk’s while Jenny Oates topped the losing team with a 109 line and 309 sot. STANDINGS Teoxns W Cleveland Radiator 7 Scoggins Gulf (> Plonk Brothers 5 American Legion . 3 Dreiws Tax 3 Oatat Shall 0 team won the match, three games to one. Boih Herndon scored a 134 line cage tourn.arren! De<*. 3-4. The Kinps miit.'in Invitation al, which will he a;i annual c.cnt, will b. playrd at the 3.1X)0- : community cf-ntcr. Partici pn.ing in tJie tournament, will bo bardner-W’c'ub, Elm. 5t. Augus- ;ino and Kn. ber-Scotia. 'Fwo cf the teams — Gardner- Wrhb and Elon—finlslied the seas, n Ic.si year ranked in the Baruer-Scotia, a Concord school, upset Gardner-Webb 88-83 in tlie regular season finale last year. It was one of only a few games which the Boiling Springs Bap tist school lost. The tournament w’Ul be a homecoming for G-W's Adams, who w’as an All-American and All-State performer at Kings Mountain High School in 1968. Pet. .875 .750 and 347 set as his team won j top ten in the NAIA circles. And three games from Qub’.s Paint botii teams fcalarod All-Americas I Oo. Bob Wells had a 119 line and performers in George Adams oJ 332 set for., the losers. IBlll Mullinax '.'Scored a 125 I line and Ranny Blanton added a Bulldogs Tommy Cole ol Although Bar?x'r-Sco1ia and St. .625 1 333 set es Childer's Roofing won Augu.siine weren't nationally .37." I lour games off Dilling Heating, ranked, they- wore ranked high j boro. Cole was selected as the .375 jlGerald Hipp’s 122 line and in their durtrirts. Barber-Sootla, | most valuable playar In thait ootn- .000' sat topped the losers. 1 along with G-\v and PTlon, played , feet. Adams led the Mountaineers to aBA. a two-year record of 45-2 and two| g-W'’s other seven-footer is Ken Southwestern Conference titles in Long a Tennessee prep product. The Bulldogs have other season 1967 and 1968. Colo, a 6-2 guard, played with Adams on the 19G8 West All-Star roam which whipped the Ead in the annual event in Greens- ihe i ast r.vo years. Holbrook is expecting big thing.s from the 6-S i iiAvard. Bari'"*"" .1 will feature two Ga-toi.'a -V^liU-y products, center Eric Eyp.um and guard Lirrv (Y-y/Y-t. Both playc-.l at A.shlc\ under veteran Larry Rhodes re garded as one of the top basket ball coaches in North CarolLna. In addition to bringing Tommy Cole to KM. Elon will bring last year’s District 26 Coach erf tiie Ye.ir, Bill Miller. Tlie formci North Carolina eager has built ' Elon into a small college powder I since taking over q-s head coach I U year? ago. ! Elon returns every player of ed in Dennis DeSanc- [ last year’.s team which won the tis, Tony .^agnola. Doug Jolley. • Carolinas C mferenco regular sea- Lon Dugger and others. son and tournamom titU's and One of Ci-W’s newcomers this should bo the team to beat here year will be freshman Donald But all 5 ur partieip;iting eoaehei. ElUott, who led neaitoy* i?ailaa' agree that anybody is capable of tfigh School to the stat* playoffi taking home the marblos. Gardner-Webb will feature two seven-footers to go along with Adams and a host of reUirnine lettormen from la.'it year’s fine outfii. Gardner * Webb Coach Eddie Holbrook has said that scvcn-hx)i Henry Boyd of Winnsboro, S. C.. has the potential of benng tlie best basketball player lo over wear a Gardner-Webb uniform, and that ineludt's Adams and 7-3 Artis Gilmore, now playing with the Kentucky Colonels of the