Rock Hill 19- Lancaster 14

 

Bearcats retire Lancaster It’s Friday October 12, 1962, and the Bearcats are taking on Lancaster who we haven’t beaten since 1956. Up to this point in the season the Cats have won 3 games beating Clinton, Gaffney and Wade Hampton and losing 2 games, Florence and Spartanburg. Tonight’s contest features Lancaster’s quarterback who is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the state. However, this will be his last high school game because league rules state that once a player turns 21, he can no longer participate in high school athletics.

The game was mostly a seesaw back and forth battle for the majority of the game. The fireworks came in the final few minutes with the Bearcats behind 14-13. Rock Hill had punted the ball and caught the Lancaster receiver back pedaling into the end zone for what appeared to be a safety giving Rock Hill a 15-14 advantage. However, the Cats were called for being off sides, which was at best a questionable call by the official. Film review the next week (this was before instant replay) seemed to support that the official had made an error. He obviously had not seen the speed the Cats had coming off the ball before and threw the flag most likely out of amazement rather than our team actually being off sides. Rock Hill punted again and Lancaster fielded this punt cleanly and was attempting to run the clock out when they fumbled and the ball was recovered by Tommy Melton. With just seconds left in the game and behind 14-13, left handed quarterback, Jimmy Lindsey fired a rocket pass in the direction of end, Tommy Melton. The football glanced off the fingertips of a Lancaster player probably due to the velocity of the throw by Jimmy and landed in the arms of a diving Tommy Melton in the end zone for the touchdown. The game was over and a 19 – 14 victory! Never has there been a more exciting and celebrated victory in the history of Bearcat football. Tommy Melton and Jimmy Lindsey will always be remembered for that pass and catch by everyone who witnessed this game on a chilly October night in 1962! 

 

 

September 14, 1962 Rock Hill High School vs. Gaffney Defending State Champions Rock Hill Beats Gaffney 19 - 7

 

Bearcats shatter 9 year famine vs. Gaffney 19-7 Every seat in the stadium was filled and fans 2 and 3 deep stood around the field on Friday September 14, 1962, when the RHHS Bearcats took on defending State 3A Champions, Gaffney. Coming into Rock Hill tonight, the Indians were undefeated in 15 straight games. The city of Gaffney shut down everything in town at 12:00 noon so fans could travel to Rock Hill in anticipation of another victory.

The game started with Mike Griffith taking the opening kickoff to the Indians’s 38 yard line. Several plays later Mike Laney took a pitch out and danced his way into the end zone from the three yard line for the first score. It then became a defensive battle for the remainder of the first half which ended with the Bearcats ahead 6-0. The Bearcats second score came in the third quarter after the Indians had a low snap from center giving the Bearcats's the ball of the 15 yard line. Bobby Nies ran the football in from the 1 yard line to make it 12 – 0. The final Bearcat touchdown came after Paul Heath recovered a fumble on the Gaffney 27 yard line. Mike Laney took another pitch out and weaved left and right reaching the end zone for 6 making it 18-0. Gary Wade kicked the extra point to make it 19-0 with 1:54 left to play. The Bearcats very well could have shut the Indians out had defensive co-captain, Lowell Bomar not made an error in judgment by declining a second down Gaffney off sides penalty with the ball on the ten yard line. Two plays later Gaffney scored from the 3 yard for 6 and with the extra point kicked with 25 seconds left in the game for a final score of Rock Hill 19 Gaffney 7. A jubilant Rock Hill crowd celebrated a great victory! The Gaffney Indians left town whooped!!