Yellow Jackets Set For Encore
By WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 17, 1970
What do you do for an encore after turning out one of the state's finest high school football teams in 1969, one good enough to battle for the state championship? If you are Wilbur Lofton, Hubert Dabney, and Max Wettstein, you say a few prayers and set out in the following spring in search of replacements for some of the finest personnel available anywhere last year.
This is exactly the situation the Leesburg Yellow Jackets brain trust found themselves in after a great season in 1969. A season that was culminated by their state playoffs final defeat at the hands of Tampa Blake.
At the end of the long trail last year, a year in which the Fighting Yellow Jackets won eleven and lost only two, graduation pulled some of the premier players away from LHS.
Foremost among the losses was the great pass and catch tandem of Mike Napier at quarterback and Greg Williams at flanker back. In every game the twosome carried the respect of their opponents because they were
a very deadly long range scoring threat. The deep receiving weapon of Greg Williams made the scrambling option plays of Napier even more effective, giving Jacket foes an even greater defense problem.
Both standouts were first team All-State selections and both have gone on the college on football scholarships. Napier is attending Memphis State and Williams is at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Ls.
Several other key members of the 1969 Super-Jackets also departed via the graduation route. Sam Rixie, "Mr. Toughness" has gone, as has big line stalwarts; Rocky Norris, Mark Sneed, and James Mackey. These men were all important gods in the 1969 drive and their losses were bound to be difficult for the 1970 Jackets to overcome.
In the spring drills, many combinations were experimented with, in hope that the magic combination could be found again.
Head Coach Lofton and his staff knew that they had a returning quarterback in Andy Carlton, who had the ability to be the best around with continued development. They set about to design an offense that would be best suited to Carlton's marvelous passing arm and decided to mold their personnel around the upcoming junior signal caller.
A pair of senior running backs came to the fore in the spring, complementing Carlton's passing with solid blocking and ball carrying. Hovie Guthrie and Tommy Ryan should give the 1970 Jackets a strong running game, as the offense is run out of a pros set with split receivers on both sides of the field.
Backup help is available for Ryan dn Guthrie in Haywood Richardson, Carl Chatman, and Lavelle Rixie. Richardson is a fast, 165 pound junior who needs only experience to become a dandy.
Chatman is the starting safety for the Jackets on defense and fills in very capably at a running back post when needed. Chatman is one of the fastest men on the squad and the senior has really come along in his development for the Jackets.
Rixie is a junior and plays in the typical Rixie style, which is hard-nosed, tough football. The junior is also a linebacker on defense.
Splitting out on the flanks for the jackets are starters Tim Wesley and Jerome Kerrison, both diminutive receivers but both are deadly with the pigskin.
Kerrison weighs in at about 160 and Wesley weights in at 150. Both stand only about 5-6 in height but are both ten feet tall when it comes to snagging passes from Carlton. The twosome will give Jacket foes many headaches trying to figure out how to stop them before this year is out.
Speed is the name of the game at the wideout posts, while power and strength typifies the strong end, Kenny Hicks. Hicks, a 200 pound senior, is one of the surprises of 1970. The big bruiser was shifted to tight end this year and under the tutelage of Max Wettstein, has really blossomed into an outstanding member of the high powered Jacket aerial games.
With an offense having the capabilities of this one, it could be possible for the Yellow Jackets to get through the year without any big emphasis being placed on their offensive line.
This was definitely not the case here, as line coach Hubert Dabney has done a terrific job of shaping another fine line up front for the Jackets backfield to operate behind.
Starting with Hicks, the tight end, the line is a tower of strength. Greg Johnson, everybody's choice for all everything this year, Lynn Gilbert, equally as strong, Dale McClelland, Phil McEachern, and Leon Scott round out the starting line and they are a tough group.
On defense, Lofton will call on Hicks hand sophomore Ken Mosely to handle the end spots. Mosely is only a sophomore and already stands 6-4 and weighs in at 215 pounds. He is a real comer and once he gets the hang of playing at defensive end, this big youngster will be a terror.
Gilbert and Jonson are set at the tackles and not a finer pair will be found in Florida this year. Against the rush or against the pass, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Gilbert are at the head of their class.
Big Greg Johnson is the 6-5, 215-pounder junior that has college scouts excited already while Lynn Gilbert weighs at 226 solid pounds stacked on his 5-10 frame.
Leon Scott plays the middle guard in the five man front used by the Jackets and this fast 175-pound junior will stop many pass plays with his wide range.
6-2, 180 Phil McEachern mans the left linebacker post, with Tommy Ryan in at the other.this is a dandy twosome that could very well be the equal of any this year, as both boys are extremely good hitters and both have fine speed for linebackers.
Youngsters predominate in the secondary, with only Hovie Guthrie owning any varsity experience. Don't let this fool you, however, as this could very easily be the most solid part of the team.
Carl Chatman, a senior, is the deep safety, with Marvin King, only a sophomore, and Guthrie at the corners. Steve Ezell is the roving monster man in the secondary and all members of this quartet are quick and play the ball very well.
If the Jackets have to go to the kicking game, Gene Elton a reserve quarterback is ready and to offer field goal and extra point power.
If the 1970 Jackets hope to match last year's record, they must have the blessings of Lady Luck to keep the injury Jinx away. The talent is availble for a repeat performance but only if the starters can remain healthy through the long grind. Depth could become a problem toward the end of the season.
The season opener for the Yellow Jackets is against DeLand, Sept. 25 at Memorial Stadium. This should give area fans an indication of the ability of the 1970 Jackets, as DeLand is expected to be one of the tougher teams on their schedule.
The big game of the year will be against Sanford Seminole in an away game, Nov. 20 Seminole is picked as the top Class A team in the region and Leesburg must overcome them to have hopes for the 1970 State Championship.
It looks like the chances are excellent for the OBS title again, as the Leesburg Yellow Jackets will battle it out with Wildwood this year as the top rated area football power. The two teams have dropped their strong rivalry and both are loaded this year.
Under the strong leadership of great quarterback prospect, Andy Carlton, rests the chances of the 1970 Yellow Jackets. If Andy is great, the jackets will be likewise. If not, 1970 will be an average year.
WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
www.dailycommercial.com
September 17, 1970
September 17, 1970
Article provide by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leeburg High School
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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