Here is a special treasure to those who identify with the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas: the actual Sunday morning report of the first game as published by the Charlotte Observer, word for word.

This story bring back out of the past the facts and excitement of  each contest.  As Richard Oppel, Editor of the Observer suggests, they also reflect the changing nature of sports journalism over the past 50 years.

The articles are Copyright. The Charlotte Observer, and are reprinted with permission, also with the permission of Mr. Walter J. Klein who authored our Book “A Bowl Full Of Miracles.”

‘Almost’ doesn’t count. So the South Carolina high school all-stars today are right where they were before their game yesterday with the North Carolina all-stars.

All of which means that in spite of three serious scoring threats engineered by the Palmetto team in the second and fourth quarters of the Shrine contest played before a crowd estimated at 6,000 spectators in the American Legion Memorial stadium, the two teams fought to a scoreless tie.

The Sandlappers not only threatened the goal on three occasions, but otherwise held the upper hand during most of the game.  The nearest the North Carolinians approached the enemy goal was in the first and third quarters when they advanced both times as far as South Carolina’s 26- yard line. The first time was given momentum by Bill Wartman’s only substantial gain of the afternoon when he ran for 22 yards after taking a lateral from J. V. Pruitt, quarterback from Wilson and sped to the 39 yard line.  On the next play Mickey Bennett of Rocky Mount spun inside his left tackle for 35 yard before he was downed on South Carolina’s 26 yard mark.  There the North Carolina offense was halted when Bennett fumbled and the Palmetto boys recovered.

Another Fails

In the third quarter, Walter Payne of Greenville, fumbled and the Tar Heels recovered on their own 42 yard stripe.  Ike Gill, on a spin play, hit the line for 10 yards.  He repeated for 17 yards.  Roy Hampton, a tough little player from Monroe, then hit the line for three more, Jack Brock, on an end around play, was downed on South Carolina’s 26.  A line play was stopped on the scrimmage line and the ball went over when a pass failed.

In the latter part of the first quarter, the South Carolinians began a drive of 45 yards that carried them to the North Staters’ one-half yard marker.  On this march, the left side of the North Carolina line appeared rather weak and the Sandlappers hit inside and outside their own right tackle with resultant gains.  Pacing the offense was Bill Byers, a 156-pound back from Greenville who carried the ball fully three-fourths of the time when it was in his team’s possession.  He jumped and squirmed his way through his orange-jerseyed  opponents for much yardage.  With South Carolina on the North Carolina 15-yard stripe, fourth down and five to go.  Bill Wartman interfered with Gus Hempley, rangy Spartanburg end, who was going down under a pass and the Palmettoking well, team took the ball on North Carolina’s two-yard.  George Spransey, Durham guard, then stopped Sid Tinsely on the one-yard line.

He again tackled the same boy on the half-yard line on the next play, Tinsley was thrown on the next play for a three – yard loss by Captain Bill Cooper, Charlotte guard, who played a splendid game all afternoon, and Frank Owens, Charlotte end, who also played a masterful game at his position.  Bill Byers then dropped back, but not very far, and attempted a drop-kick field goal.  But Pete Goddard was on him like a flash to block the attempt and Owens recovered.

Shortly after this threat, the South Carolina eleven again came close to another touchdown.  Taking the ball to mid-field, the green jerseyed men, with Payne and Tinsley bucking the line on straight slants and rounding the tackles on reverses, swept down to North Carolina’s four yard line where Payne fumbled the ball on third down.  Pete Goddard of Rocky Mount recovered.

March Again

The third South Carolina march came in the fourth quarter after Sid Tinsley intercepted a wobby  pass from Jim Barber on North Carolina’s 35-yard line and ran to the 14.  With Furman Hoxot of Easley blocking well, Tinsley went around his right end to the four.  Here the Tar Heel line braced, allowing but one yard on two plays.  Bill Cooper was under ever play.  On third down, Hempley caught a pass from Tinsley over the goal, but he was a half  step outside the end zone and the play was no good.  Next down, Byers got into the open over the goal to his left flat zone, but Tinsley’s pass was a mite too long and North Carolina took the ball on its 20-yard marker.

Both teams’ attacks were hindered by clogged interference, which was to be expected in view of the fact that the clubs had but five days to prepare for the game.  Wartman and Byers and Tinsley often looked as if they were away to touchdowns. But their blocking was slow and the ball carriers were forced to go around their interferers and were soon brought to earth.  At other times, blockers were strewn over all portions of the field so that runners had difficulty in getting down field.  The few deceptive plays that were employed gained nearly every time they were used.  North Carolina’s best gainer was a fake reverse followed by a spin through center with Ike Gill, hefty Charlotttean, carrying the ball.

Smashes Gain

South Carolina’s best bet was a straight off-tackle smash by Tinsley or Byers.  This was particularly true in the early stages of the tilt before the North Carolinians got set for the play. 

Bill Cooper was probably the standout player on the field.  He blocked well, especially on punts and despoiled play after play aimed at the middle North Carolina line.  George Spransey also played an excellent game at right guard.  Pete Goddard of Rocky Mount and Frank Owens were other bright lights for the Tar Heels.  Those four lent a polish to the team that otherwise was lacking in a backfield that was looked for to furnish most of the fireworks.  J. V. Pruitt of Wilson, playing the threat position for the North Carolinians, got off extremely fast on end runs and Ike Gill ploughed the line with robustness.

For South Carolina, Captain Harold Turpin, left guard from Easley performed excellently on his whip outs from the line and on end blocking.  Harry Stockdale of Spartanburg displayed much ruggedness and force in the first half with snapping, head – jerking tackles.

Byers is Star

In the Palmetto backfield, Bill Byers gave promise of future greatness with his forays into the broken field.  One of the lightest lads on the grid ion, he packed a wallop rarely found among 156 pounders.  Walter Payne the big Greenville back showed remarkable speed for his bulk and his kicking was the best seen in the legion stadium this fall.  In the first half he averaged 49 yards on punts, including a 55 yard beauty that rolled out on North Carolina’s six-yard line.  In the second half, he kicked rarely and his team was so positioned that long punts rolled over the goal thereby decreasing his average.  Sid Tinsley, Spartanburg halfback played a competent all-round game. He fire and dash caught the crowd’s fancy. He never stopped moving when hit and his momentum carried him a yard or so further on every tackle.

The game was sponsored by Hejaz, Oasis, Omar and Sudan temples of the Shrine...  The proceeds will be donated to the Shriners Crippled Children’s hospital, Greenville, S.C.

Head coaches of the two outfits were Bob Allen of Charlotte’s State championship team and Jim Brice, coach of the South Carolina champions.  Easley, Assisting Allen were Soup Porter of Lenoir, Jim Morgan of Gastonia and Wally Dunham of the University of North Carolina.  Speedy Speer of Greenville and Red Dobson of Spartanburg helped Brice.