Oran Singleton Didn't Get Single Coverage May 27, 1992

Leesburg Star Was Hounded All Game. 'It Was Obvious, Wherever He Went, There Were Two Or Three Guys,' Coach Ed Hoffman Said.

May 27, 1992|By Joe Williams Of The Sentinel Staff

LEESBURG — Oran Singleton's shadow couldn't have followed him any closer than Eustis defenders did, and new Leesburg coach Ed Hoffman said it was a perfect example of why he plans to open up the Yellow Jackets offense a little more next fall.

''That's why we are going to do what we are going to do,'' Hoffman said Friday night after Leesburg defeated Eustis, 7-0, in a spring jamboree half. ''It was obvious, wherever he (Singleton) went, there were two or three guys; not one but two or three.''

Singleton, who spent part of last season as the state's rushing leader and finished the year with 1,796 yards, scored on a 5-yard run with 1:50 remaining for the victory. Singleton finished the half with 46 yards, but was dropped five times for losses, including one 15-yard loss.

In the jamboree's other half, Mount Dora, with the help of Johnnie Walker's 37-yard interception return for a touchdown, defeated Clermont, 13-10.

Clermont's offense looked good early, moving the ball on the ground 70 yards for a touchdown on its opening drive. Tailback Kendrick Moore and fullback Keith Enos shared the load, running behind a Clermont line that opened holes. The biggest gain was a 27-yarder by Moore, who later scored on a 3-yard carry.

But then three turnovers handicapped the Highlanders, including a fumbled snap at Mount Dora's 12 early in the second quarter.

''It's always nice to win, it doesn't count, but it's nice to win,'' Mount Dora coach Craig Cosden said. ''We beat Clermont in a jamboree last year and then they came back and beat our butts in the regular season.''

Both Clermont with Brian Roehn and Leesburg with Steve Gooden seem to have their quarterback position settled, but Mount Dora and Eustis are in a completely different situation.

Although Montana Mace will go into the fall as Mount Dora's No. 1 quarterback, Tim Pruett, the brother of last year's starting quarterback, Jamie, will get a look. Pruett has a strong arm and, although only completing one pass, his passes were often on target.

 

At Eustis, Brian Alberson and Maurice Hayes go into the fall competing for the starting job.

''QB is up in the air right now,'' Eustis coach Kevin McClelland said. ''It may not be until the fall jamboree before I can make a decision.

''Overall, I'm pretty proud of the kids. I couldn't have asked anymore of them.''

Clermont coach Bruce Kregloe was not disheartened by his team's effort, although his players may have been.

''The kids didn't like losing, and maybe that's something good right there,'' Kregloe said. ''We are going to do all right. We haven't worked on the passing game any. I think our running game will be stronger than in the past.

''We just made some mistakes after that first series. When you play a half and turn the ball over three times, you're not going to win.''

Leesburg's defense, which was one of the county's best a year ago, picked up right where it left off. Against a Eustis team still looking to find a replacement for graduated running back Bayfus McCoy, Leesburg limited the Panthers to only 4 yards in the first quarter and 36 for the half - 21 of which came on a pass play.

''I think the kids deserved the victory,'' Hoffman said. ''They worked hard for it this spring but, like I told them, it will take a lot more work in the fall.''

Resources

May 27, 1992|
Joe Williams
Sentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel 

Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com

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