LEESBURG - The Yellow Jackets got their offensive sights zeroed on target during the third quarter Friday night, scoring 22 points to add to the 22 scored in the first half, blitzing Gainesville Eastside, 57-7, in an important Big Sun Conference and district contest.
Leesburg opened the touchdown parade with 2:50 remaining in the first quarter on a spectacular effort of 20 yards by senior quarterback Clay Sampson. Tom Bohr's kick was blocked and the LHS led 6-0.
The Jackets almost added another TD before the period ended but had to settle for a score with two seconds gone in the second stanza on a three yard burst by Raymond Coffie. The two-point conversion was good on a Sampson to Jimbo Pratt pass, putting Leesburg on top, 14-0.
"I thought we played a crummy game in the first half," said Max Wettstein, Jackets Head Coach. "But I have to say I was most pleased with our second half performance.
"We seem to falter in the first quarter. I can't understand why it takes us so long to get untracked."
The Jackets put up a stiff defense on Eastside's first serious drive which took place midway through the second quarter. The Rams attempted a field goal on the foot of Don Mattox that was short by inches from the 27.
Leesburg fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage and Aaron Rollins fell on the miscue at the Jacket three. Harry Debose scored on the next snap with 6:58 remaining in the quarter. Mattox kicked the P.A.T. and the Rams trailed 14-7.
Leesburg got under the light hitting pay dirt on the last play of the first half on another of Clay Sampson's dazzling runs. This one covered 27 yards, as the signal caller ran to his right looking to pass, then darting back against the grain, using his blockers well to get into endzone. Gene Burks was successful on the two-point conversion and the Yellow Jackets carried a 22-7 advantage into the locker room.
"We've got tremendous offensive possibilities on this football squad," related Wettstein in post game comments. "We didn't carry out our game plan like we should have in the first half and it hurt us."
"Defensively, we looked quite promising tonight, We had five people starting for us that were second stringers at the beginning of the season," said Wettstein.
The second half was all Leesburg as the host squad came up with 22 points in the third period and added 13 in the final stanza. In fact, the final tally could have been much greater since the Jackets turned the ball over twice late in the contest when they were about to score.
Clay Sampson found Ernie Bailey for a 22 yard strike at the 9:00 mark of the third period. Sampson ran for the two-point conversion. That put the Jackets on top, 30-7.
Less than four minutes later, Leesburg was knocking at the door again, scoring on another Sampson to Bailey toss that covered 43 yards.The P.A.T. failed as Leesburg held a 36-7 lead.
Sampson threw his third TD pass with 1:14 remaining in the quarter, hitting Jimbo Pratt on a seven yarder, Sampson again ran the two-point conversion, Leesburg 44 Eastside 7.
Leesburg tallied twice in the final twelve minutes on a six yard scamper by Vasco Thompson and a Willie Brown effort that covered 45 yards. Bohr added one of two P.A.T.s.
"If we continue to heal our injuries we should be a bit stronger in the next few games," said Wettstin. "But we have to continue our organization."
"This game was a tight one until Sampson scored just after the half to break it open for us. I'm real proud of the players. They deserve to win the way they've worked to get this far.
"But we still have room for improvement. We must overcome our first quarter jitters if we expected to win the close ones."
Leesburg compiled 21 first downs to six for the Rams. The Jacket rushing attack was awesome, gaining 266 yards on 35 plays. Add to that total 130 yards passing and you have 396 yards of offense.
Tom Bohr averaged a fine 48.5 yards per kick that helped keep Eastside bottled up most of the night.
Clay Sampson had a net rushing total of 51 yards on six carries. He connected on 8-16 passes including three TD tosses, two going to Ernie Bailey for 22 and 43 yards and the other to Jimbo Pratt covering seven yards.
Leesburg entertains North Marion next Friday in Big Sun Conference and district game.
Leesburg 6 16 22 13 - 57
Eastside 0 7 0 0 - 7
Leesburg Eastside
21 First Downs 6
35-266 Rushes-Yds. 13-95
130 Passing Yds. 11
16-8-0 Passes 6-1-1
4-3 Fumbles Lost 7-62
2-48.5 Penalties-Yds. 5-32.2
Leesburg-Sampson 20 run, Kick blocked; Coffie 3 run, 2 point conversion on Sampson-Pratt pass; Sampson 27 run, 2 point conversion run by Burks; Bailey 22 pass from Sampson, 2 point conversion run by Sampson; Bailey 43 pass from Sampson, P.A.T. fails; Pratt 7 pass from Sampson, 2 point conversion run by Sampson; Thompson 6 run, Kick fails; Brown 45 run, Bohr Kick
Eastside - Debose 3 run, Mattox Kick
Resources
Sports Section
Daily Commercial
October 9-10, 1976
www.dailycommercial.com
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
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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