Here is a special treasure to those who identify with the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas: the actual Sunday morning report of the 1938 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.”

We thank them for their generosity so that we might share with you.  


NORTH CAROLINA ALL-STARS UPSET      PALMETTO TEAM,
19-0

Tar Heel Line Turns Back Threats

Bill Justice Scores All Three Touchdowns – Payne, Tinsley Kick Well
By Sam Miller

Soaring through the air lanes for amazing distances, the North Carolina All – Stars walloped their South Carolina neighbors yesterday on the American Legion Memorial stadium turf by the score of 19 to 0 in a one sided encounter played as the second annual Shrine benefit go.

Approximately 7,000 shivering fans set under snow – threatening clouds to watch.

“Strong legs run that weak ones may walk.”  All proceeds will be donated to the Shriners Crippled Children’s in Greenville, S.C.

Entering the contest the decided underdogs. The Tar Hells consistently outplayed their bitter Palmetto foes and only beautiful punting by Sid Tinsley and Botty Payne held the grand total to 19 points.

Wall Powerful

The strong front wall that Coaches Lee Jay Stone and Knocker Adkins of the North Carolinas had assembled was by far superior to the invaders and throttled the famed backfield of Payne, Tinsley, John Leitner and Charles Millwood in their vaulted ground attack.

The closest penetration to the Tar Hell goal line occurred late in the final stages for the game when a menacing drive wilted on the 23-yard ribbon.  The desperate passes from this sector failed.
Bill (Biltmore) Justice diminutive Tar Heel halfback from Asheville accounted for all the touchdowns on short line smashes within the one-yard line.  His teammate, glue – fingered Tom Burns, booted the only conversion from placement.

Stars were numerous for the winning brigade with hard-running Tom Davis of Wilson, the outstanding individual on the field.  If the bounding back has a weakness in football the Palmettoes failed to discover it.  Davis ran, passed, kicked, blocked, tackled and intercepted passes all with equal skill.

A shade behind the future Duke Blue Devil was Joe Austin of Badin.  Bill Justice of Asheville, and Tom Smith of Charlotte.  Davis, Smith and Austin completed 14 of 22 aerial attempts for a total of 101 yards.

In the stalwart line Fred Lytle, end Bobo Carter of Ashville, Claude Reynolds of Reidsville and Woody Wilson of Charlotte did yeoman duty.  Dillard (Stumpy) Bulluck of Rocky Mount distinguished himself well as a linebacker. 

Payne Classy

Pacing the futile offensive the outclassed Palmetto team was Walter (Booty) Payne of Greenville.  Payne was bottled up for the major share of the afternoon but on one occasion, reeled off a 25-yard punt return, shedding half the opposition before he was finally brought to earth.

Louis Sossaman, huge Gaffney center, and Buster Adams, guard from Greenville stood out in the Blue line. Bill Marion of Columbia was hurt early in the game and coaches were forced to substitute Robert Stutts from Rock Hill.  This move may have weakened the South Carolinians as Stutts had been held out of practice the entire week and was not in top form.

The Palmetto blocking was poor and once the ball carrier surged beyond the line of scrimmage he was entirely on his own.  Tinsley and Payne outkicked the duo of Smith and Davis.

North Carolina held a wide advantage in first downs, posting 19 to South Carolina’s two.

The host state warriors capitalized on an early break following the opening kickoff to pierce pay dirt after eight plays. Smith’s short kickoff grazed a South Carolina lineman and Carter recovered on the 30-yard stripe.

First Tally

Smith picked up five on an off tackle slant before Justice scooted for a first on the 16.  Smith uncorked an aerial in the flat to Davis for eight and Justice picked up a first on the five.  The little Asheville youth in three thrusts was over the double marker.  Burns placement was a shade wide.

South Carolina was in a precarious spot in the late stages of the period when Smith’s towering boot was fumbled by Lavender on the 10 and barely recovered by the Gaffney speedster on the two.  Payne kicked out 50 yards to ease the tension. 

The victors began their second touchdown drive with the interception by Davis of Payne’s pass on the Palmetto 30.  Badin’s representative, Joe Austin, was now in the battle and took over the offensive.  On his first attempt he galloped 16 yards.  Given the oval again he tossed a long pass into the waiting arms of Burns on the 25.  Justice added a yard then Austin, this time on the receiving end, pocketed an overhead from Davis on the 13.  On fourth down Austin passed to Burns who was stopped one foot from the end zone.  Justice crashed over at center and Burns bisected the uprights for a 13 to 0 lead at intermission.

The final scoring of the day was recorded midway the last stanza on an 80-yard sustained drive that that was climaxed with Justice scoring his third six-pointer from the one-yard line. Austin and Davis in the air and Justice on the ground negotiated the distance in nine plays.  The game ended a few moments later with substitutes dotting the lineup

 

Statistics

NC SC
First Downs   19    2
Yards Gained Rushing (net)  147   48
Forward Passes Attempted   22  17
Forward Passes Completed          14   4
Opponents’ Passes Intercepted    3   0
Punting Average 33.5  38
Total Yards Punts Returned    7  38
Kickoffs Returned    0 102
Yards Lost On Penalties   20  80