Mike Fowler
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
October 29, 1969
A little over halfway through the year's football war, Leesburg's Yellow Jackets take some time off for R & R - a good thing, says Coach Wilbur Lofton, who'll be working on fundamentals in an effort to correct some mistakes which have been-not so costly in terms of losses, maybe-but costly in keeping the scores down from what they could have been and which, you can imagine if your imagination is active, might have cost a ball game or two.
The Jackets proved they were clutch players against Lakeview last week, when they let the Red Devils run twice as many plays as they did, but got tough when they had to-five times within their own 27-yard-line-to pull off the 21-8 victory.
Lofton watched the Jackets give up their second highest total offense of the year Friday, Lakeview earning 240 yards, second only to Wildwood which got 243, the only two teams to go much past 100 yards all year.
So, says Lofton, look for some defensive surprises against Eustis a week from Friday. For though the Jacket defense has been splendid, it's been the same defense all year, using the same tactics, and Lofton apparently figures that Lakeview's success against it indicated time for a change.
"We haven't changed it once all year," he said after the Lakeview victory. "But we're planning to change it around quite a bit during this open week."
While the Jackets work, sitting happily on a 6-0 record and preparing for as tough a finishing kick as any team could hope not to schedule-Eustis, than Ocala, the Sanford then Lake City, possessors together of a 19-4 record, with both Eustis (6-0)and Lake City (5-0) undefeated-let's take a look at some of the more spectacular and significant Jacket statistics.
A little over halfway through the year's football war, Leesburg's Yellow Jackets take some time off for R & R - a good thing, says Coach Wilbur Lofton, who'll be working on fundamentals in an effort to correct some mistakes which have been-not so costly in terms of losses, maybe-but costly in keeping the scores down from what they could have been and which, you can imagine if your imagination is active, might have cost a ball game or two.
The Jackets proved they were clutch players against Lakeview last week, when they let the Red Devils run twice as many plays as they did, but got tough when they had to-five times within their own 27-yard-line-to pull off the 21-8 victory.
Lofton watched the Jackets give up their second highest total offense of the year Friday, Lakeview earning 240 yards, second only to Wildwood which got 243, the only two teams to go much past 100 yards all year.
So, says Lofton, look for some defensive surprises against Eustis a week from Friday. For though the Jacket defense has been splendid, it's been the same defense all year, using the same tactics, and Lofton apparently figures that Lakeview's success against it indicated time for a change.
"We haven't changed it once all year," he said after the Lakeview victory. "But we're planning to change it around quite a bit during this open week."
While the Jackets work, sitting happily on a 6-0 record and preparing for as tough a finishing kick as any team could hope not to schedule-Eustis, than Ocala, the Sanford then Lake City, possessors together of a 19-4 record, with both Eustis (6-0)and Lake City (5-0) undefeated-let's take a look at some of the more spectacular and significant Jacket statistics.
Sherrill Lackey ...four TDs Tony Hart...3 didn't count pictures
Maybe the most spectacular has been the passing-and-catching show of quarterback Mike Napier and the Jacket's two fine ends, Greg Williams and Sherrill Lackey.
Napier has attempted 106 passes this year, completed 52, a .491 percentage (that's good), for 951 yards and 12 count'em 12 touchdowns.
Williams, his primary target, whose running-after-catching is better than his catching, which is great, has been double-covered by every team the Jackets have faced, but still has caught 28 passes for 476 yards and seven touchdowns, including at least one in every game.
Lackey, who's made some spectacular catches this year-including a diving grab of one last week that was one of the finest catches this observer has ever seen has caught 15 ofor 331 yards and four touchdowns.
Not included in these statistics, though, are the two touchdown passes Tony Hart has caught which have been called back by penalties. Hart's statistics aren't spectacular, but he's been a key receiver on third-down situations. He made one other TD running which was called back, and he caught two touchdwon passes that counted against Kissimmee.
Gene Elton, the Jackets' place kicker, has booted 14 of 21 extra point attempts--but, getting better every week, he's kicked eight of his last nine attempts. In addition, he's booted two field goals in three attempts.
As a team, the Jackets have been nothing but impressive both on offense and defense.
They've scored 146 points to their opponents 23, with a high of 41 against Apopka. Only one team has scored more than six points against them Kissimmee, 12 in the only sloppy defensive game they've played. The Jacket defenders have given up only three touchdowns all year, the two by Kissimmee and one by Lakeview last week.
Wildwood scored a safety against them and DeLand kicked a field goal.
The Jackets have a total offense of 2006 yards in six games, a 334.3 average. Of that, 1198 has been in the air, a 199.9 average, with Andy Carlton throwing all that Napier didn't throw. Jacket runners have gained 808 yards, 134.8 a game, with the running about divided among Napier, fullback Sam Rixie, Mike Chatman, who took over fullback when Rixie was injured, Hart and Tommy Ryan.
Maybe the most spectacular has been the passing-and-catching show of quarterback Mike Napier and the Jacket's two fine ends, Greg Williams and Sherrill Lackey.
Napier has attempted 106 passes this year, completed 52, a .491 percentage (that's good), for 951 yards and 12 count'em 12 touchdowns.
Williams, his primary target, whose running-after-catching is better than his catching, which is great, has been double-covered by every team the Jackets have faced, but still has caught 28 passes for 476 yards and seven touchdowns, including at least one in every game.
Lackey, who's made some spectacular catches this year-including a diving grab of one last week that was one of the finest catches this observer has ever seen has caught 15 ofor 331 yards and four touchdowns.
Not included in these statistics, though, are the two touchdown passes Tony Hart has caught which have been called back by penalties. Hart's statistics aren't spectacular, but he's been a key receiver on third-down situations. He made one other TD running which was called back, and he caught two touchdwon passes that counted against Kissimmee.
Gene Elton, the Jackets' place kicker, has booted 14 of 21 extra point attempts--but, getting better every week, he's kicked eight of his last nine attempts. In addition, he's booted two field goals in three attempts.
As a team, the Jackets have been nothing but impressive both on offense and defense.
They've scored 146 points to their opponents 23, with a high of 41 against Apopka. Only one team has scored more than six points against them Kissimmee, 12 in the only sloppy defensive game they've played. The Jacket defenders have given up only three touchdowns all year, the two by Kissimmee and one by Lakeview last week.
Wildwood scored a safety against them and DeLand kicked a field goal.
The Jackets have a total offense of 2006 yards in six games, a 334.3 average. Of that, 1198 has been in the air, a 199.9 average, with Andy Carlton throwing all that Napier didn't throw. Jacket runners have gained 808 yards, 134.8 a game, with the running about divided among Napier, fullback Sam Rixie, Mike Chatman, who took over fullback when Rixie was injured, Hart and Tommy Ryan.
MIKE NAPIER...951 YARDS GREG WILLIAMS ...SEVEN TDs
The Jackets have scored 20 touchdwons, 15 through the air.
Defensively, the Jackets have give up 885 yards total, a 147.5 average. But more than half of that came in two games, Wildwood and Lakeview, which added together 483. Not counting those games, the Jacket defenders have given up 402 yards, a 100.5 yard average in four games.
The total is about evenly divide between rushing (473-78.9 avg) and passing (412-68.7 avg.) All three touchdowns scored against the Jackets have been on the ground, and only one team, Wildwood (128) has moved easily through the air.
On the negative side-and this is what Lofton will be working on this week and next-the Jackets have lost 13 fumbles.
The Jackets have scored 20 touchdwons, 15 through the air.
Defensively, the Jackets have give up 885 yards total, a 147.5 average. But more than half of that came in two games, Wildwood and Lakeview, which added together 483. Not counting those games, the Jacket defenders have given up 402 yards, a 100.5 yard average in four games.
The total is about evenly divide between rushing (473-78.9 avg) and passing (412-68.7 avg.) All three touchdowns scored against the Jackets have been on the ground, and only one team, Wildwood (128) has moved easily through the air.
On the negative side-and this is what Lofton will be working on this week and next-the Jackets have lost 13 fumbles.
In only one game, Wildwood, have they failed to fumble. Three times they've lost three fumbles, twice they've lost two.
Napier has been intercepted five times, not bad in 106 pass attempts.
That's the team Lofton will take into these last rugged four games.
Lofton feels he'll be lucky if the Jackets win two of them. All teams are gunning for the Jackets now. Lake City is ranked 14th in the , Ocala has lost three upsets and is in a mean mood. Sanford Seminole is 5-1 and tough.
Eustis is a traditional rival, aiming for the state Class B crown, and not anxious to lose.
The Jackets are mean and talented, their stats check that out. But the rest of the football war is full of boobie traps and big guns, and they'll need everthing they've got to get through it.
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Mike Fowler
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
October 29, 1969
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
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Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
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