October 19, 1975
By Bulletin Staff Writer
Willie Wood went through Green Bay's Power Sweep era watching Vince Lombardi's dynasties pile up yardage with bullish runners. Having faced Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung every day in practice as a Packers defensive back, the Bell coach knows what a hard running back looks like.
Last night, Wood called Claude Watts "the strongest runner I've ever seen" as the veteran running back set a team rushing record of 136 yards, leading the Bell to an 18-10 win over Charlotte before 1,293 fans in a steady downpour at Franklin Field.
Watts gains of 20 and 34 yards set up the Bell's (4-7) two first-half scores. Quarterback Bob Davis vaulted in from the one late in the first quarter and Bob Cooper kicked a 44-yard field goal with one second left in the half for a 10-3 lead.
The Bell defense, led by Steve Colavito's 10 tackles, limited the Hornets (6-5) to 66 yards rushing that included Molly McGee's 43-yard scamper late in the last period. McGee's run, Charlotte's initial rushing first down of the game, setup Don Highsmith's four yard scoring run that left the Bell with an eight-point lead to protect.
John Land, whose record Watts shattered, helped the Bell's rushing record-setting performance of 258 yards by gaining 93 yards on 14 carries and setting up the winning score with a 40-yard dash late in the third quarter.