Compiled by Tom Dameron

October 30, 1936

 


Alderson Marches toward a 1936 Greenbrier Valley Conference
Championship Bid with Three Consecutive wins after a One and One Start To the Season
Tom Dameron

Coach "Abe" McLaughlin, first year coach of the Alderson Indians began the season with a disappointing loss to Rainelle 6-0. His well prepared team rebounded in week two of the 1936 season beating Ansted at home 14-6. McLaughlin's crew has now turned up the heat on the rest of the valley by winning three contests in a row by an impressive combined score score of 92 -6. The first year coach continues to impress the fans in Alderson by running a fast, well disciplined offense, and a tough, hard nosed defense giving up a stingy 18 points in five contests. So far in the 1936 season the outstanding running of Pete Pugh supported by Bob Copeland, and youngster Mark Hedrick has led the Indian attack. The offensive line play of McClung (team captain) and Willie Fawcett permits these fine runners to break lose for big gains almost at will.

The contest on October 3 at Greenbank produced a win for the tribe of 26 -6. The October 9, 1936 edition of The Alderson Advertiser reported "The local eleven invaded Greenbank, primed for a win, and before the contest was very old it was evident that the Indians were sure winners. They opened up the second period with as fine a running attack as has ever been seen on the Greenbank field. Two touchdowns with one extra point gave them a 13-0 lead at the intermission." "The entire team looked good in the second quarter. Hedrick and Honaker did the blocking, while Pugh and Copeland did the major part of the ball toting. Bob Copeland played his best game of the season and besides a fifty year run for a touchdown on an off tackle play, he continually threatened to score on numerous occasions when he ripped off large gains. Pete Pugh, Alderson's speed demon, accounted for one touchdown on a twenty yard sprint around left end and made several runs of 10 and 20 yards to keep the Eagles on defense." Alderson's first unit was replaced early in the fourth quarter of the game, and it was not until then that the Eagles were able to score.

On October 17 Alderson was back home against the Hillsboro "Hillbillies." The rivalry between these two teams began in 1930 and has produced very even results with Alderson holding a one game lead over the "Hillbillies" going into the Friday matchup. Alderson won the 1930 -1932 contests by a total of 76 - 6 over Hillsboro and the "Hillbillies" returned the favor in the next two seasons by thumping the Indians by a combined score of 31 - 0. The teams did not play in 1935.

Practice sessions leading up to the Hillsboro game featured much improved play by Eugene Boyd at and end position winning the praise of Coach McLaughlin before the game. Again, the expected results materialized into a 25 - 0 win for the Indians although the "Hillbillies" were anxious to make a good showing against their former coach. The loss for Hillsboro was the worst defeat that the visitors had suffered to a conference team since the 1931 Indians led by Hubert Simmons took it to the visitors by a lopsided 38 - 0 win. The defensive side of the ball featured a hard-charging Alderson line. The two outstanding backs for Hillsboro, Callison and McCoy, were no match for Alderson finding themselves bottled up at every turn. Pete Pugh again turned in an outstanding game highlighted by an early punt return from mid field to the Hillsboro eight yard line. The remaining yards to the end zone were turned in by Bob Copeland's hard charge through tackle in pay dirt. In the second quarter Coach McLaughlin began substituting at will until every one who dressed in maroon and grey for the contest had a chance to play. The visitors ended up with a total of three first downs to the home team's twenty.

The final game in this trio saw Alderson crush Lewisburg 41 - 0. "Dodie Vaughn" reported in the Advertiser on October 30, 1936 that "Led by their sensational halfback, Pete Pugh, who accounted for five touchdowns with long runs, the Indians romped to another conference victory." "The score tells the story as the county seat Senators never had a chance with McLaughlin's team, which continued to show improvement." All 33 men on the Alderson squad saw playing time. Vaughn relates further that "Pugh had plenty of help from his mates as the entire team turned in their best game of the season. The blocking of Honaker, the ball toting of Copeland, the vicious tackling of Hedrick and the tackle play of McClung and B. Jones were also highlights of the one-sided victory."

Alderson can now be considered as a contender for the 1936 valley conference championship. Next week Alderson will play White Sulphur Springs as a precursor to the Hinton game the following week. As reported earlier all of the fans were encouraged to buy season tickets for the inaugural season under McLaughlin in order to help defray the cost of uniforms which had been funded from the personal resources of the dedicated mentor. The Advertiser's October 30 edition again reminded the community "it is hoped by the local coach, "Abe" McLaughlin, who has done lots toward putting the local team back in the running for conference honors, to see a large crowd of Alderson people on the sidelines, as the local outfit is still in the red financially. Alderson fans do appreciate a winning combine but a larger is expected to attend the game tomorrow to help defray the A. H. S. athletic association's expenses in order to keep football in Alderson as a major sport at the local school." The plea continued by saying "The price of admission is small and you will be doing your coach and your high school and the town a favor by turning out to see the local team in action before they play the always strong Hinton Bobcats next Saturday."