GREENVILLE – Coach Tom Steele’s Covington Buccaneers rolled to their ninth victory of the season Friday night as they convincingly defeated the Green Wave of Greenville 28-0.
The big, bad defensive unit of the Buccs scored their seventh shutout in ten games as they ended the current campaign with a 9-1 overall record. Covington gave up only 26 points in 10 games, setting a school record for the fewest points given up in one season. Ironically, Greenville’s head coach Blair Irvin was the Covington coach in 1960, whose Buccaneer team held the defensive record of 33 points that fell Friday night.
Covington halfback John Flory scored two touchdowns and a PAT and now has 122 points for the season. Kent Thompson scored a PAT to run his point production to 130. Fullback Bob Rudy scored a touchdown to run his season total to 68. The other Buccaneer touchdown came on a pass from Flory to junior end Ted Peacock.
Covington gave the Greenville fans a hint of the destruction that was to come on the opening kickoff. Rudy, hampered by injuries and doubtful starter for the game, took a handoff from Flory on the Covington 18 and raced 82 yards for a touchdown. The PAT run failed and the Buccs had a 6-0 lead.
Greenville took the Covington kickoff on their own 43 and ran 14 plays for a three-yard net gain. Two five-yard penalties and three nice defensive pass plays by Covington’s defensive back Ted Hartley killed the Greenville drive and the Green Wave punted to the Covington three yard line.
The Buccaneers drove 48 yards to midfield before the first period ended.
After a rugged defensive battle for most of the second period, Covington’s Flory ran off tackle for one yard and a touchdown with 1:53 showing on the clock. Thompson ran the PAT and the Buccs led 14-0 at halftime. Flory’s score climaxed a 62 -yard drive.
Greenville’s defense buckled down in the third period as neither team was able to score. The Green Wave made their most serious threat of the period, however, as they drove 50 yards down to the Buccaneer three yard line. With fourth and 3, Greenville’s quarterback Jim Holland rolled out on what appeared to be a pass play but was snowed under by the tough Buccaneer defensive line.
The Buccs took over on their own three and drove 97 yards to paydirt in 14 plays. Flory ran the final nine yards for the touchdown with 10:40 showing in the fourth period. The PAT failed and Covington led 20-0.
The Buccaneers’ final tally cam on a 15-yard pass from Flory to Peacock. Thompson took the nap on the PAT attempt and faded back to the 19 yard line where he appeared trapped. The scrambling halfback threw to Flory on the 12 yard line who scored on a twisting, stop and go run for the final two points as Covington had the winning margin, 28-0.
Covington led in first downs 19 to 8, and the Buccs picked up 239 yards rushing, compared to 91 for the Green Wave. Covington had 59 yards passing, and Greenville had 15.
Scoring Summary:
Covington …………6…….8…….0…..14 – 28
Northwestern …….0……0…….0…….0 – 0