November 4, 1960 – Covington
A devastating eight-touchdown assault carried Coach Blair Irvin’s Covington Buccaneers to a 60-6 conquest of Dayton Stivers Friday night at Smith Field gave the Buccs their ninth straight victory of the year and pushed their season’s points total past the 500 mark.
The Tiger’s lone touchdown came shortly before the half on a bootleg by Quarterback Calondis who had some screening help from an official who couldn’t get out of the way. The touchdown accounted for the 25th point scored against the White Tide this season.
The Buccaneers currently enjoying a No. 1 rating in the state for Class A schools in an independent poll published by a Columbus newspaper, lost 115 yards in penalties and two touchdowns on questionable calls by the officials. Danny Cottrell’s two-man block that shook Doug Murray loose on a 60-yard second period touchdown jaunt was one of the most beautiful exhibitions of downfield blocking you’ll ever see on a high school gridiron. It is beyond perception as to how a blocker can be called for clipping when he is running directly in front of a would-be tackler. The clipping call came from the official farthest from the scene. Roger Looker’s 56-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter was nullified by a holding penalty…in a game that was confusing to spectators and took almost three hours to complete.
The White Tide engineered a 63-yard touchdown drive the first time they got their hands on the ball. Bob Hartley climaxed the assault with a one-yard center smash and then carried over right end for points-after as the Buccs took and early 6-0 lead. Halfback Doug Murray’s 63-yard sprint on a crossback and Hartley’s second conversion run gave Covington a 16-0 margin as the first quarter ended.
After five minutes of the second period had elapsed, the count increased to 38-0 as the Irvinites flashed three quick touchdowns. Doug Murray’s 13-yard run on a double reverse, Bob Hartley’s 3-yard run, McMaken’s tackle slant for conversion points proceeded a 46-yard Fessler to Walls touchdown toss, and Hartley’s pass to Warren Smith that accounted for Covington’s 38 points. Shortly before the period ended Calondis sprinted 50 yards for a TD, but Covington held a 38-6 halftime lead.
The third period yielded but one touchdown, Doug Murray’s 26-yard gallop through the right side of the Tiger’ line. Hartley’s pass to Smith ran the third quarter count to 46-6.
Early in the final stanza, Hartley bulled his way in from 10 yards around right end, tossed to Steve Wells for conversion points which put Covington on the long end of a 54-0 score. The final touchdown came with four minutes remaining in the game when John Laughman’s 14-yard aerial was caught by Tom Kimmel. A pass play for points-after failed and the game ended 60-2.
FROM THE PRESSBOX:
Covington rolled up 20 first downs, the Tigers could muster but 4… the Buccs went to the air 7 times, completing 3, while Dayton Stivers tossed 6 and completed 2. There were no interceptions. Covington was penalized for 115 yards, Stivers 55… both teams fumbled three times and lost the ball on every count… Halfback Gordon McMaken off tackle slants were defensed against for the first time this season, but the rest of Blair Irvin’s offensive machine moved unchecked… quarterback Jerry Fessler’s leadership and tricky ball handling are a pleasure to watch… the White Tide still functions as a unit and seems destined to go undefeated as they close out the season at Smith Field next week against the Centerville Elks.
