Here is a special treasure to those who identify with the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas: the actual Sunday morning report of the 1939 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.”

1941

12,000 WITNESS HARD, CLOSE CONTEST

 Tar Heels Come Closest to Scoring – Wet Turf Handicaps Speedy Backs

By Sam Miller

     Two ponderous and hard-bitten senior high school teams, representing North and South Carolina in the annual Shrine Charity football classic, struggled to a scoreless tie here yesterday in the Legion Memorial stadium in a bruising and physically-punishing encounter.
     A record-breaking throng of better than 12,000 witnessed the hard but not spectacular scrap in cold, wintry weather.  All proceeds from the game were donated to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Greenville, S.C.
     Yesterday’s scoreless debacle marked the second time in the history of the game that neither team was able to punch the scoring clock.  North Carolina enjoys a 2 – 1 edge over the five – year span.

Close and Hard

     The contest yesterday was as close as the score indicated. North Carolina relying mainly on sheer power plays with an occasional quick, short overhead, had distinctly the better argument in the opening half, but the speedy and deceptive Sandlappers came back after the rest period to enjoy the advantage.
     The game was fast and furious throughout as rival head mentors, Ephie Seabrook of South Carolina and Bill Ludwig of North Carolina, kept their charges fresh by rushing in replacements in a continual stream.
     A wet and slippery turf worked a tremendous hardship on the backfield operatives.  It had a telling effect on the Sandlappers, who had fashioned their attack around several speed-merchants who were to employ sweeping end runs and reverses.

Battle in Lines

     The condition of the field gave the rugged workhorses up front an opportunity to show their wares.  The great battle that was waged on the forward wall is borne out in the statistics.  North Carolina could gain but 101 yards by rushing while South Carolina was held to a paltry 35.
     North Carolina asserted its might midway the first period when Bud Kivett of High Point surged through to partially block a punt from the foot of Bobby Giles of Olympia on the South Carolina 40.
     The Tar Heels appeared off to the races as Hootie Morgan of Albemarle, Jack Dempsey of Greensboro and Albert Saleeby of Salisbury punctured the Sandlappers defense for two successive first downs. The threat was checkmated on the 10, where Stumpy Griffith of Charleston, a brilliant defensive cogs all afternoon, barged through to nail Dempsey for a loss on fourth down.

Keep Coming

     Undaunted by their failure, the Tar Heels came back early in the second period to frighten the opposition again.  Boyd Allen of Shelby intercepted a Giles overhead on the midfield stripe to touch off the spark.  Morgan knifed for five through the midriff and Dempsey fired to Keg Wheeler of Charlotte, who made a juggling snatch on the 35.  Smokey Leonard of Morganton, and Morgan, rapped the line twice for a first on the 24.
     Three plays later Dempsey pitched to the glue-fingered Kivett on the nine, but the play was nullified, as both teams were offside. Dempsey tried Kivett again, but the pass fell incomplete and the Sandlappers had repelled another threat.
     Little Bryan Brasington of Bennettsville, who intercepted four, passes during the fierce combat, picked Dempsey’s aerials out of the ozone on the three-yard line with one minute remaining in the half. His strategy almost backfired, however because Bettis Herlong of Saluda booted a pop fly punt that Dempsey hurried back to the 20.  Buddy McBride replaced Dempsey and flipped a short pass to gangling John Wilson of Raleigh on the Palmetto 12. On a tricky backfield maneuver Leonard took the ball from his wingback slot and hurled to Kivett on the two.  The High Point flanker had a clear field, but slipped as the half ended.
     Neither team made a series scoring gesture in the third period, although South Carolina took the offensive foe the first time after playing a cautious and kicking game in the initial half.  Later in the stanza, Giles passed to Brasington for 16 yards for the longest individual gain of the contest.
     The scrappy South Carolinians had another drive underway midway the fourth that carried from their own 16 to the 45- yard stripe, where the alert Dempsey intercepted a toss engineered by Giles.  The Tar Heels were unable to make any headway until Dempsey booted out on the six.  Later in the period the visiting Staters penetrated to the N.C. 28 their closest scoring threat, but the drive exhausted there.  The game ended a moment later with Billy McKibben of Rock Hill intercepting one of the many North Carolina aerials.
     When the praises for the heroes are sung, one must not overlook the unwavering spirit and determination of Seabrook’s own pride and joy, rugged Stumpy Griffith of Charleston.  Able assistance was furnished from Jim Tankersley of Parker, Tom Cleveland of Anderson, and Doug Henson of Parker.  But Griffifth was the tower of strength, throwing back thrust after thrust aimed at his guard position.

Statistics