Hickory vs. Kings Mountain...1964

The fact of the matter is that Friday night's Hickory-Kings Mountain matchup is not the first time the two schools have played each other in the postseason.

A very significant game was played on Friday, November 20, 1964, between the Red Tornadoes and the Mountaineers in the semifinals of the WNCHSAA's Class 3A playoffs. Hickory, a 14-point underdog in the contest, defeated Kings Mountain, 6-0. The victory punched Hickory's ticket to the state championship game for the fifth time in seven seasons.

Kings Mountain entered the game with a 10-0 record, a 19-game winning streak and consecutive Southwestern Conference titles. Hickory had won its final seven games after starting the season 0-3. Hickory had clinched the Northwestern Conference title by crushing Newton-Conover, 34-6, in the regular season finale.

Kings Mountain head coach Bill Bates had developed an impressive passing attack that featured the talented arm of senior quarterback Pat Murphy and the reliable hands of ends Richard Gold and Jimmy Cloninger. In Kings Mountain's final regular season game, a 24-6 win over Lincolnton, Murphy had completed 16 of 24 passes for 186 yards and four touchdowns. The top ballcarrier for the Mountaineers was halfback Steve Baker who was also a quality receiver. The top Mountaineer linemen were Lyn Cheshire and Hubert McGinnis.

Hickory head coach Frank Barger preferred to get things done with a punishing ground game. His backfield consisted of fullback Steve Sisk, halfbacks Kelly Rudisill and Toby Morgan and quarterback Dickie Deal. After 10 games Morgan was averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Rudisill and Sisk averaged 5.6 and 5.4 yards respectively. When Hickory did throw the ball Barger would take Deal out of the game and send in Clement Huffman.

Barger described Kings Mountain's offensive line as being "not particularly big...but effective." Hickory's line, on the other hand, was big and talented. It consisted of tackles Steve Kilby and Tommy Teague, guards Larry Miller and Rodney Houston and center Jake Shuford. The ends were Ralph Hefner and Brad Stephens. Miller, the team captain, had already been selected for the Shrine Bowl. Kilby, a junior, would go to the Shrine Bowl in 1965.

Despite all the offensive firepower the two teams possessed, the game turned out to be a fierce defensive battle. Toby Morgan had a good night for Hickory, racking up 139 yards on 21 carries. Sisk chipped in with 79 yards while Rudisill finished with 51 yards. But it was Rudisill's touchdown run from seven yards out in the second quarter that provided the winning margin. Hickory outgained Kings Mountain 276-129.

The Mountaineers came close to either tying or taking the lead in the fourth quarter. Murphy completed five passes to Gold, Cloninger, Baker and Ronnie Rhea to get Kings Mountain inside Hickory's five yard line. Murphy was then intercepted in the end zone by Steve Wilson, who returned the ball out to the 22. Hickory then used its ability to move the chains to run the clock. Kings Mountain got the ball back one more time but was completely shut down.

When the game ended a jubilant Frank Barger was carried on the shoulders of Ralph Hefner and Johnny Hudson. The victory was an upset but apparently did not surprise Coach Barger. He had been quoted in the newspaper, predicting the victory. He said, "I think we will roll right over them. I don't think they can stop us."

Calling your shot and then making it happen... That's why the man was a legend.