Hunter Huss High School - Astron Yearbook (Gastonia, NC)

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ROBBY SPEARMAN—End RONNIE FALLS-Center KENNY BEACH—Tackle Huskies Emerge Victorious in Opener Two touchdowns by halfback Gene Lewis paced the Hunter Huss Huskies to their initial football victory of the 1964 season September 4 over Dallas on the Yellow Jacket turf by a tabulation of 26-13. The Huskies struck for three touchdowns and 20 points in the second quarter, and that margin proved sufficient for the ultimate victory. Lewis’ two i ' D ' s and the one Mike Denton six-pointer, as well as two extra¬ point placements by Ted Cloniger, served to build up the commanding Huss lead in the second quarter. The lone second half score for Huss came on a two-yard sneak by Cloniger. Both Dallas scores came on passes from Hal Mauney to end A1 Culberson. Cloninger carries for first down against Dallas. Huss Offensive Unhindered by Rain Four touchdowns, including one on a 100-yard interception return of a Country Day pass by Gene Lewis, vaulted the Hunter Huss Huskies, September 12, over the second obstacle in their 10-game schedule by an impressive 26-0 score. The Myers Park Stadium game found the Huskies opening up after a slim 7-0 halftime lead, and again led by two Gene Lewis touchdowns turn back the Rebels in fine fashion. Other touchdowns were scored by Mike Denton and end Harry Froneberger. Froneberger did a phenomenonal job of hanging onto five Ted Cloninger passes under very adverse, wet weather conditions. 186

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1 } Participating in the Huss gridiron competition were ROW ONE (1. to r.) Danny Jenkins, Dwayne Smith, Freddie Calhoun, Robbie Spearman, Steve Dickson, Blair Thornburg, Walter Griggs, and Harold Boozer. ROW TWO (1. ot r.) Ronnie Falls, Steve Gamble, Jimmy Yoshino, Benny DeBlois, Gene Lewis, Kenny Beach, Buddy Kelly, and A1 Jacobs. ROW THREE (1. to r.) Bob Hohan, Ted Cloninger, Bobby Cody, Vince Smith, Jerry Barker, Mike Denton, George Walker, and Picci Schrum. ROW FOUR (1. to r.) Bobby Ray, Sammy Harris, Mike Smith, Robert McMahan, Harry Froneburger, and Emory Lane. Rugged Practices Rewarded by Winning Season Football is a game for those who are willing to sacrifice. Football demands someone who is ready to get out of bed at 6:30 a.m., devour only a light breakfast, and plod his way to the practice field when eighty per cent of the population is still asleep. This devotion is tested for thirteen days prior to the opening of school. This was a part of the rugged schedule every Huskie ground through in pre-season practice. Then, before lunch was even settled the same day, it was back to the school for an hour of “skull practice” at 2:00 p.m., followed by two more hours of toughening up by way of grueling drills. Rough? By all means, but this is all part of the discipline to which a boy has to subject himself in order to represent his school for 48 minutes each week on a rectangular plot of earth known as a football gridiron. Conditioning, defense, offense, strength, endurance, and above all, teamwork, are all synonymous with football. When a boy joins a team and sticks it out through the certain hardships which stare him in the face, he is preparing himself in an excellent way for the much more important game of life. There is another side to football, and this is one which concerns every student in a particular high school. School spirit would be unknown in many schools were it not for football, and certainly even here, it is a major contributor to school spirit. A stand full of cheering, proud students is the best inspiration any participant in athletics can .ever receive. It is the expectation and fulfillment of this support which gives football its immediate as well as long range rewards. Without reservation, the 1964 football season can be called a success. The Huskies’ 5-3-2 record could be envied by other school teams. The victories over South Mecklenburg, West Mecklenburg, and North Forsyth, seem to be unique in that they came over high-prestige teams in Huss’s first year of full varsity competition in football. When the final gun sounded in Myers Park Stadium on that fateful October 17, one of the greatest moments in Huss athletic history was experienced. Who would have thought that the Huskies, recognized only as novices in the game of football, could defeat the number two ranked 4-A team in North Carolina—South Mecklenburg. The thrill of that 3-0 win will still be felt for many seasons yet to come. THE ASTRON is now proud to present the 1964 edition of the Hunter Huss football Huskies. Chosen to represent the team as co-captains were end, Benny DeBlois; and halfback, Gene Lewis. 185

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Huss Falters in Second Half September 18 was an historic day in Gastonia prep football circles. It marked the first competition with a varsity tag between Ashley’s Greenwave and the Hunter Huss Huskies. The initial game of the intra-city rivalry was captured by Ashley, 34-0, on the strength of Dickie Gile’s passes and Steve Culbertson’s rushing.. Ashley broke away from the Huskies in the second half after holding a narrow 6-0 halftime lead. The main offensive boost for Huss came through the passing of Ted Clon- inger. Cloninger connected 13 times in 24 tries for 167 yards. Denton drives for yardage against Cowpens. Huskies Overpower West A tremendous defensive charge and superb play from backs Mike Smith and Jerry Barker boosted the Hunter Huss Huskies on September 25 to their first varsity 4-A victory over West Mecklenburg’s Indians. The 14-0 win saw two linemen, converted to backs only 5 days prior, pace the Huskies’ offense to 172 yards rushing. New to the backfield were Mike Smith and Jerry Barker. Another usual lineman for Huss, Bob Hogan, who started at quarterback, intercepted a pass on the West 5 and dashed for the first touchdown. The other Huskie score came on a 4-yard run by Mike Smith. MIKE DENTON- Halfback TED CLONINGER—Quarterback GENE LEWIS—Halfback 187