1943

Asheville Boy’s Running High Light; Garner and Jackson S.C. Stars

Asheville’s Billy Britt, a chunky little speedster from the Land of the Sky, had a hand in all three North Carolina high school All-Star touchdowns yesterday, as he led the Tar Heels to 20-7 victory over South Carolina here in the seventh annual Shrine classic. A throng estimated at 12,000 witnessed the game in Memorial stadium.

Bouncing Billy started his mates to rolling on the opening kickoff, carting it back sensationally for a score, then finished his point-making in the second and fourth periods. In the second he pitched to Tom Fetzer of Reidsville for 10 yards and six points, and I the fourth he grabbed a 22-yard aerial from Fayetteville’s Marshall Tatum on the Palmetto 40 and took the pigskin all the way home.

Outside of the three Britt-authored thrusts, the underdog South Carolinians had a bit the better of the action. Don Garner, ace Florence tailback, showed the way on the offense and carried across the lone S.C. score in the last quarter from the one foot line. It climaxed a 67-yard drive after the Tar Heels’ final tally and was the fruit of four periods of toil, which gave the losers and edge in statistics but not in points.

South Carolina had eight first downs to four for the North Staters of Coach Hap Perry of Reidsville.

They rolled up 139 yards rushing to 46 for the winners and generally dominated play except on the tree fatal occasions.

The win gave North Carolina a big edge in the series. In seven years they have now won four times, lost once, and played two scoreless ties. The crowd not only was the largest in the history of the encounter, but also was by far the top gathering of the season in Charlotte.

The customers, giving again to the cause of the Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children in Greenville, S.C. got their full money’s worth in a fast, thrill-a-minute battle. There was no distinct advantage shown by the Tar Heels, even though they did manage to get the all important first jump. The South Carolinians never quit, and even when stopped on the N.C. one in the third period, came back determinedly to salvage a score. The weather was warm, even if the turf was a bit mushy in spots.

Co-star in the North Carolina ranks was Elizabeth City’s John Copley, who boomed punts wonderfully all day and was the defensive stalwart deluxe. He broke through from is backer-up spot to block the punt which led to the second score, and in addition did almost everything right, offensively and defensively.

Joe Swicegood, Asheville center, added another blocked punt in the first period and also played a whale of a defensive game. Charlotte Central’s two representatives, End Buck McGraw and Tackle Walter Betenbaugh, were among the other top stalwarts of a tough Tar Hell wall. Charlotte Harding’s Howard Hailey, when in the fray, also showed up well.

It was an alternate, the smallest player on either squad, that came in for a large share of the Sandlappers bouquets. He was Rock Hill’s 140-pound Eddie Jackson, who was the sparkplug of the drive that just fell short. In addition, Jackson carried six times for 28 yards and the best average of any rusher of the day.

Center Claude Howe of Easley, Guard Jocko Tzevelekus of Greenville, End Jim Haney of Charleston, and Tackle Wylie Hamrick of Gaffney were the rocks of the S.C. front line defense.

Britt’s opening touchdown trek was unquestionably brilliant but it appeared so simple that it was almost unbelievable. Billy took the boot on his own 10 and scooted straight ahead up the middle of the field. It was looking like an ordinary return to the 30 or 40 when the pack suddenly erupted and there was Mr. Britt, streaking goalward.

The blocking was perfect and the Asheville ace left his last pursuer far behind on the Palmetto 30. He headed straight down his left sidelines. While the North Carolina stands were still in hysterics, High Point’s Gene Kearns, added the point, squarely between the uprights.

Shortly after, Swicegood blocked Gardner’s kick on the S.C. 43, with Fetzer recovering. The North Carolinians, however, had to wait out a long punting duel until the last part of the second period to grab their second marker.

Mack Erwin of Greenville was booting on third down from his own 30 when Copley sliced in from the secondary to smash the punt. The ball bounced back to the 17, where McGraw, in fast from end, fell on it for the Tar Heels. South Carolina was penalized to the 12 for too much time, and then two running plays got as many yards.

Then Britt faded and hurled to Fetzer on the five. Two men were waiting for him at that point, but Reidsville Tim twirled neatly past them and into end zone. Kearns did honors again and the half ended 14-0.

The third period brought no change in the score although it did see South Carolina take over the initiative and almost drive over. The push started when Britt, running from his own 20, let the ball slip away from him and into the willing arms of a lanky Jim Haney of Charleston.

On the first play from that spot, Eddie Jackson swept to his right, then cut in all the way to the five. He slipped, losing to the eight, on the next play, and then threw a too-long pass. Bennettsville’s tremendous fullback, Oscar Derrick, who plunged well all afternoon, made it to the one on the last two plays, but that wasn’t enough.

The North Carolina prep aces again came in on a Britt and a pass in the fourth quarter, but little Bill was on the other end. Working from the 28, Britt went out wide on a flanker for the third time in the game. Previously the maneuver had ended in a line play, but this time it didn’t. With the snap, Britt stepped on the gas and took a perfect heave from Fayetteville’s Tatum on the S.C. 40, headed down his favorite sidelines and over the double-lines. This time the point was no good, with Britt’s pass too long.

After the following kickoff the Sandlappers rolled to their score. Garner returned the ball 27 yards to the 33. From there, with passes to Sumter’s Lynn Vaughn sandwiched in, Garner toted the leather almost exclusively to the N.C. 25 from which point he first sped to the 11 and then to the five. It took him five line plays to do it, but he finally crashed over from the one-foot mark, and Georgetown’s Jack Miller converted to make it 7-20.

It was of little consequence that the winners again started to move in the closing moments after a pass interception by Marty Thomas of Mount Airy had been returned 50 yards to the Palmetto 25. From there Bobby Simpson of Morganton passed Britt on the same flanker play on the line of scrimmage, and Britt weaved down to the four. Copley couldn’t gain and the whistle caught them short.