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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."
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