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* I / V * ^ S . HE CAUGHT IT! — Clinton’s Sammie Richards (11) appears to be losing the football on this pass play against Union. But somehow Richards held on for a seven-yard gain in the drive for Clinton’s winning touchdown. Richards suffered an ankle injury on the play.—(Photo by Eddie McGee) '-V BILL CURRIE Mouth of the South CHANGING SPORTS Change is a sign of vitality, certainly in sports as in other aspects of life. Take football for instance. The differences in the game which we see today as what was played, say twenty years ago, are so numerous and deep-reaching that they dafv concise description. Knute Rockne man to make the forward pass a successfulOffensive maneuver, and there are still a few moss backs hanging on who disparage the thrown ball. Yet, were it not for passing, foot ball would indeed have long ago beanne a brute test of muscle against muscle, and would have sunk into three yards and a cloud of dust. Remember the Flying Wedge? Of course you don’t if you’re under sixty, and even if you have reached that happy time of life, you have probably forgotten it. The Statue of Liberty play? Ah, yes! You have probably seen a mod em day version of that classic. Sometimes it will work once in a blue moon. But football has changed radically. Up fronts the blockers must think under intense and instant pressure to find the man they are to block, and it changes con stantly depending on how the defense lines up. No more big dumb linemen. A dumb guy couldn’t di vine where he should go. Basketball is even more the victim of the speed revolution. There was once a time when, after every goal, the ball was taken back to mid-court and another jump started the play. Imagine such a tactic with a man like Lew Al- cindor jumping. It boggles the mind. The op posing team would never get a goal and what’s worse, the game would be so slow and dragging that what few hardly should turn up would doubltless go to sleep. Thirty years ago any bas ketball player who would have been fool enough to attempt a shot with one hand would have been benched for the season. Now the one handed shot is THE weapon. Examples are numberless illustrating the speed up of sports. That is, until we get to that great American pastime, baseball. If you won der why baseball is dying—no, dead—then just compare it to the baseball played in 1900. Prac tically the same. The buggy and harness makers have diversified or gone broke. Yet baseball con tinues to lumber along with the same old thread bare, snail’s paced stuff that gave grandpa his kicks way back then. Even the uniforms, except in rare cases, are the same old ftmeral gray and filed rabbit white. Naturally television has been blamed for the demise of baseball. There is some truth in this, but it has been greatly exaggerated. Every rural high school in the country packs its gymnasium to the rafters to see the local team play. This is true notwithstanding the professional and college games widely shown on the boob tube. People like the excitement of the gpne and local players provide it in competition with anyone. In base ball though, people go to so-called Big League games and stay away by the millions from the rest And what about the “Big Leagues?” They are just about the only leagues left where there is a firm effort to win. The minors are so ex ploited by the parent clubs that their games are really little more than glorified scrimmages. A good player can be and frequently is jerked up right when a minor league team is battling for flag. Minor league fabs? The hell with .the rubes! What about major league support? Well, there are so many teams nowadays that most people can’t keep up the four-way race. And at tendance generally suffers. Take the Atlanta Braves, for instance. If they had not been smart enough to encourage the area concept it would have been a dark day there. Visitors keep the Braves going; not the good natives of Baseball is a very sick patient . . . and its illness may well be terminal. Host Belton-Honea Path THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, a C., Sept BA, 1970—7-A Devils Open League Slate At Home Friday Clinton High School's varsity Red Devils open their Confer ence 3-A schedule Friday night, playing host to Belton-Honea Path. The kickoff is schedule for 8 p.m. Clinton Coach Keith Richard son said, “Belton-Honea Path is bigger than usual. At the start of the season, they thought they would have one of their better teams. They’ve lost their last two games so you know they’ll be tough for us Friday night. “This is our first conference game and this is where they start getting crucial. “Belton-Honea Path is pri marily a running team but we don’t know whether they’ll be changing around for us. They’re strong defensively and they count on the defense putting the of fense in good position.” Belton-Honea Path has a 1-2 record, losing to Graniteville last week and to Woodruff the week before. Clinton has a 2-1 mark, knock ing off Chester and Union after losing to Woodruff in the open er. There were plenty of offen sive fireworks in Clinton’s 19- 12 win over Union last Friday night but it took a couple of de fensive gems to save the night for the Red Devils. With Clinton leading 19-12 and less than a minute remaining in the game, Clinton’s Jack Hames intercepted a Union pass and re turned to midfield. However, Clinton was charged with an un sportsmanlike conduct penalty because one of the Red Devils didn’t have his mouth piece in place. That nullified the play and Union retained possession of the ball at Clinton’s SR Concerning the unusual pen alty, Clinton Coach Keith Richardson commented, “The rule’s in the book and the official was within his rights to call it.” On the next play, Union quart erback David Eaves raced down- field, weaving toward the goal line only to be stopped at the five on a fine tackle by Chip Howe. With time remaining for one more play, Union lined up quickly and Eaves started fad ing back, apparently for a pass- run option. However, Clinton guard Robert Scott shot through the line like a bolt and dragged Eaves down as the clock ran out on the Yellow Jackets. It was Clinton’s second straight win over a4-A team and brought the Red Devils’ record to 2-1. Coach Richardson said, It was the kind of game I thought it would be. I’m just happy to win that one. Union has a real good team. They’re strong and they don’t give up. They just keep pounding away. ‘We started off real well but then we seemed to tire. We played some boys in the second, half who hadn’t been playing* much or who were playing at ^ew positions to give some of our bigger boys a breather. Tim Prater seems to be getting over his ankle injury and he played at end, allowing us to move Ever- ette Fuller to tackle. Sammie Richards and Chip Howe filled in well and gave us a little more depth.” PLAYER OF WEEK End-Tackle Everette Fuller, a junior, was named “Player of the Week* as he graded 76 per cent on his assignments. He made seven individual tackles and recovered a fumble. C\ >*V" TOUCHDOWN — Clinton Fullback Lawrence Jones (35) blasts over for Clinton’s second touch down in the 19-12 win over Union last Friday Jones .cored with only 50 seconds remaining in the fli-at half, nearing the way for Jones are David Mangum (41) on ground at right; from left, Kevin Long (63). Otis Patterson (65), and. partially hidden, Sandy Saunders (75).— (Photo by Eddie McGee) PCs Gault: 'Lenoir Rhyne Is Better Than Last Year Presbyterian College’s Blue Hose go against one of the tough est small college football teams in the South Saturday night as they invade Hickory, N. C.,fora battle with Lenoir Rhyne’s Bears. PC Head Coach Cally Gault said, “Lenoir Rhyne is big, strong and better than they were last year. Their offense is ter rifically dangerous. They have Carl Bartles, McRee and Porter who could play for any college. “Wofford has one of their finest teams ever and they were fortunate to win 24-17 over Le noir Rhyne last week.” In addition to the talented personnel, Lenoir Rhyne pre sents PC with another problem in that the Bears ran the single wing, a formation the Hose face only once each season. The kick off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PC dropped its opener last week, 19-7, to Furman in Green ville last Saturday night. As has been the case for the last three years, PC won the statistical battle but lost on the scoreboard. The Blue Hose rolled up 19 first downs to Furman’s nine; out-rushed the Paladins 156 yards to 128; and outpassed them 157 yards to 29. PC Quarter back Allen McNeill hit 14 of 33 passes, including a 50-yarderto Ken Lister for the fourth quarter touchdown. Unfortunately for the Blue Hose, they also out-fumbled Furman, losing six to Furman’s one. Playing in a heavy down pour accompanied by brilliant flashes of lightning for most of the first three quarters, three of PC’s fumbles downs. led to Furman touch- The Paladins recovered the first fumble at PC’s 40 and drove in for a score. Another Blue Hose fumble put PC in a hole in the second quarter and Furman blocked a punt in the end zone and recovered for the second touchdown. A PC fumble at its own 33 set the state for the final Furman tally. Coach Gault said, “Those fum bles weren’t the result of back- field miscues by us but were simply caused by good, hard tackling which coughed up the football after long gains by our backs.” Gault expressed some concern about his offensive unit, saying, “They looked pretty sluggish out there at times but I was pleased with the defense.” KEN LBTER ...scores for PC Junior High, Unbeaten JVs Host Grid Twin Bill Tonight 1he (M'/vm&t, Clinton High School’s junior varsity, sparked by a last- minute touchdown before the end of the first half, came from behind to defeat York’s JVs 30-8 last Thursday in York. Clinton, now sporting a 2-0 record, will play host to West- side tonight, Thursday, in the second game of a doublebeader. Clinton Junior High will play Union at 6 p.m. and the Clin ten- Westslde JV game will follow. Last Thursday, York took the opening kickoff, drove 60 yards to a touchdown and made a two- point conversion for an 8-0 lead. After the ensuing kickoff, Clinton drove to York’s 20 be fore a fumble thwarted the threat. The teams exchanged punts throughout most of the first halt With only even seconds re maining in the first half, Clin ton’s Barry Samders passed to George Bodle for a 20-yard touchdown which capped a 50- yard drive. Saunders passed to Mike Wooten for two extra points and the score was tied at 8-8 at halftime. In the third quarter, Wooten knocked down a York pitch-out, picked up the ball and raced 35 yards for a touchdown. Jim my Armstrong, ran offtacklefor the two-point conversion, upping Clinton’s lead to 16-8. Armstrong scored again for Clinton in the third quarter, capping a 60-yard drive which started after Melvin Prater in tercepted a York pass. Clinton missed the conversion attempt and led 22-8. Mack Young bur st offtackle on a reverse and raced 45 yards for a fourth quarter Clinton touchdown. Saunders swept end for the two-point conversion and the final 30-8 margin. Clinton Coach Preston Cox commented, “Our offense look ed good. The entire offensive line did a good job of blocking. York fumbled a good bit so our defense didn’t play too much. However, in the first half, the defense didn’t look too good.” Junior High Loses Opening Game 20-0 Coach Richardson said cen- terguard Monty Crisp, senior co-captain, also played a good offensive game as he punted seven times for a 35-yard aver age. David Mangum was Clin ton’s leading rusher as he gained 100 yards. With an over-flow crowd of over 5,000 spectators looking on, Clinton drove 60 yards early in the first quarter to put six points on the scoreboard. Quarterback Donny White capped the drive with a one-yard sneak. Mangum burst away on a 25-yard gallop for the longest gainer in the drive. White's pass for the two point conversion was no good and Clinton led 6-0 with six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Late in thefirst quarter, Clin ton recovered a fumble at the Union 36 but fumbled it back at the 24 early in the second quart er. Union drove from there to a touchdown which tied the score. Fullback Lawrence Jones blasted over from the one for Clinton with 50 seconds remain ing in the half to give Clinton a 12-6 lead at halftime. Jones’ burst capped a 5l-yard drive. The two-point conversion try, a run by White, failed again. * Hi ♦ ' ' v* OPTION — Clinton Quarterback Donnie (Red) White (13) rolls out on a pass-run option for a grain against Union. Chasing White is Union’s Thomas Jeter (55).—(Photo by Eddie McGee) In the third quarter. Union recovered a Clinton fumble at the CHS 30 and moved in to score on a 20-yard pass. The extra point try was good but Union was penalized for illegal procedure and missed the second and the score was tied 12-12 with 8:55 left in the third quarter. Chip Howe recovered a fumbl ed punt at Union’s 33 in the third quarter to set up Clinton’s final, and winning, tally. White passed for * seven yards to Sammie Richards and then hit Billy Young for the touchdown on a 26-yard pass play. Otis Pat terson kicked the extra point for a 19-12 Clinton lead with 3:25 left in the third quarter. Scott Hammett recovered a fumbled punt at Union’s 40 with 10 minutes remaining in the game but a couple of 15-yard penalties nullified Clinton’s good field position and set up the wild finish. STATISTICS CHS UNION First Downs 8 14 Yards Rushing 159 158 Yards Passing 48 UO Total Yardage 207 268 Passes Att 12 20 Passes Comp. 3 6 Passes Intep. by 0 0 Punts 7-35 5-31 Fumbles Lost 2 4 Yards Penalized 95 80 Score by Quarters: Clinton—-6 6 7 0 -19 Union 0 6 6 0—-12 Thornwell Hosts Second Ranked Lockhart Friday Going up against the 2nd rank ed class A team in the state this week, ThornwelPs Saints are ‘ still tending to the wounds of a 45-6 defeat last Thursday and are troubled by both illnesses and injuries. The Saints play host to strong Lockhart Friday night in a game scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Lockhart is ranked second in the state in class A and is rank ed 12th in the state in all class es. The visitors sport a line which averages over 200 pounds per man and a couple of quick backs named Stroud and Mullis. Thornwell Coach Ben Crab tree said, “Of course, we go in to every game planning to win but we have . some handicaps this week. The flu bug has been or nine out with flu durlngprac- tlce earlier this week. Our ‘ starting fullback, Frank Bruyer was in the infirmary with flu Monday.” The Saints also suffered some bruises last Thursday as they lost 45-6 to the Greenwood Jun ior Varsity. “We never were in the game,” Coach Crabtree commented. The lone bright spot for the Saints was a 20-yard touch down ran offtackle by Kanada Roach in the second quarter. Greenwood’s JVs led 45-6 at halftime. Thornwell now has a 1-2 re cord and Lockhart is undefeat going around and we had eight ed in three games. Junior Bowling Leagues To Organize “Some young people seem to have dentist confused with barbers-they see their bar bers twice a year.” Bell Street Boys Junior High will play host to Union at 6 p.m. tonight, Thursday, in the first game of a football doubleheader on the Clinton High School field. The Clinton JVs will play Westslde In the second game. The local junior high dropped its first game of the season last week, 20-0, in Newberry. Coach Bobby Brock comment ed, "They hart as on end sweeps and a couple of long passes but we contained them fairly well otherwise. We’ve been concen trating on defense against the sweep and passes this week and we hope if n pay oft However, I understand that Union has a fine club. . “One ofqqr has been or ganisation. We start ed with 120 bays out for the tekm and it’s tought to pick the best athletes-from such a Urge grow in only two weeks. We now have 88 candidates for the team. AI- thought tee have a Urge namber of seventh and eigth graders, we don’t have many wlthexperi- ence. ‘Most of. the boys on last year’s championship teate moved op to the junior varsity this year. ’ Junior bowling leagues will be formed at Palmetto Lanes October 3 at 9:30 a.m. These leagues will be for young peo ple who have not reached their 19th birthday on or before Aug ust 1,1970. There will be league for bantams, age 12 and under; juniors, 13 through 15; and sen iors 16 through 18. This Is a fine program for young people, teaching them sportsmanship and fair pUy. It is sanctioned by the Ameri can Junior Bowling Congress and supervised by the Ameri can BowlingCongress and the Womens International Bowling Congress. Junior bowlers are not al lowed to bowl in any league or tournament In which cash or merchandise prizes are given. 'They may bowl for trophies only. A Junior may not accept a trophy which would be illegal In the state high school ath letic association. This is to protoot Us eUftoOity to com pete in high school and college athletic programs. There are numerous awards from toe AJBC that Juniors can receive. The most desired patch is the ‘I Beat My Coach." To receive tots patch, the jonior msst hotel against and beat Us adult machine pUying will be al lowed while any junior bowl ing is in progress. They will always be under the super vision of members of the Clin ton Womens Bowling Associa tion and Laurens County Bowl ing Association. There will also be a free bowling school for the juniors by adUt instruct ors. *141 Evtr who •••• No AJBC lowed to sh tor wfO he Ur or no pinball