RALEIGH WINS FIRST STATE
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
[1913]
By N. W. Walker
"The State high school championship contest in football, inaugurated last fall under the auspices of the General Alumni Athletic Association of the University, was won by the Raleigh City High School, at Chapel Hill, on Saturday, December 13th [1913]. The preliminary contests narrowed the claimants for championship honors down to three teams—Raleigh [Wake Co., NC], Washington [Beaufort Co., NC], and Wilmington [New Hanover Co., NC]. The committee on athletics accordingly arranged for two games to be played at Chapel Hill.
"The first game was played by Raleigh and Wilmington, Saturday, December 6th, and resulted in a score of 29 to 6 in favor of Raleigh. The second game was played by Raleigh and Washington, on Saturday, December 13th, and score was 29 to 0 in favor of Raleigh. The Raleigh High School team was, therefore, declared winner of the championship title, and was accordingly awarded a silver cup, presented by Alexander Taylor and Company, of New York, through the Athletic Association.
"The teams that played the two games at Chapel Hill gave two beautiful exhibitions of football. It is believed by many who saw the games that the Raleigh team was the best strictly amateur high school team ever developed in the State. Its work was little short of perfect for a high school team. There is no question about the ability of this team to defend the championship title with great credit for 1913 and to hold it against all comers.
"The following paragraphs, commenting on the work of Mr. Phillips, who coached the team, and giving the records of the individual players, are taken from the Raleigh News and Observer of December 14:
"The coaching of the Raleigh eleven has been done by Mr. G. B. Phillips, who does not pose as a University star but who learned to play ball while at college and worked with 'Doggie' Trenchard during the summer and who has wrought well this season. After the class room duties of the day, Mr. Phillips has spent his afternoons this fall on the athletic field and has helped the capital boys mold themselves into a victorious football machine.
Individual Records Of Players On The Raleigh Team
Raymond Tyree, center, age 16, weight 140, sophomore. Tyree can pass the ball and get his man and that is why he plays at center.
Sam Parham, right guard, age 18, weight 168, freshman. Sam is a strong, fearless guard who always holds his part in the line.
Stewart Crinkley, left guard, age 16, weight 160, senior. Crinkley's avoirdupois, hard work and consistent playing make him a dependable guard.
Toxy Whitaker, right tackle, age 16, weight 163, sophomore. Whitaker's weight, strength and grit make him a good tackle.
Carlyle Weathers, L. T., age 17, weight 173, junior. Carlyle blocks his hole in the line, gets his man and always stops him, too. The tackling and the line-breaking of this strong, fearless chap assures him a berth on the All-State team.
Andrew Crinkley, R. E., age 18, weight 140, graduate. Andrew waited until late in the season to don his uniform and show them how he did it last season. But in landing forward passes, in breaking up interference and in fast, gritty playing, he ranks first among high school ends in the State.
Ralph McDonald, L. E., age 17, weight 130, senior. When necessary, Ralph can do well in the back field; and at his end he gives full account of himself in breaking up interference and helping with the forward passes.
Earl Johnson, Q., age 16, weight 135, junior. In speed, grit and generalship, Earl easily ranks first among the football generals in the high schools of the State.
Ralph Champion, R. H., age 17, weight 154, freshman. While Johnson was out with a bad shoulder, Ralph was a good general; and in his regular position at right half he belongs on the All-State team. His grit, endurance and strength can carry the pig skin through the line or around the end; or he can run the interference for another to make the gain.
Eugene Mills, L. H., age 17, weight 140, sophomore. In clean, gentlemanly, speedy playing, Captain Mills is a star. His long end runs, his running of interference and his toe work are brilliant.
William Bowen, F. B., age 17, weight 160, sophomore. In plunging the line and in booting the pigskin, Bowen is a star player. In fact, in his punting he ranks with college booters.
Roy Smith, who has played right end in a majority of the games, has a plenty of speed and grit to make up for his feather-weight.
Betts, Koontz, and Coley have played splendid ball as utility men."
[Taken from The North Carolina high school bulletin, Volume 5, 1914: edited by Nathan Wilson Walker. This publication was digitized by Google and can be found by searching Google books.]
