Franz Beard
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
September 5, 1975
When Leesburg High School Steps on the field tonight at their jamboree, it will officially open their 51st season of football. One week from tonight when the Jackets host DeLand at Leesburg Memorial Field in the regular season opener, it will mark the 477th game in history for LHS.
Through the years, Leesburg has had some outstanding football teams and the school owns a 262-196-18 overall record over the past 50 years. That's a winning percentage of .572.
Leesburg High teams have scored 1,713 more points than their opponents over the years, racking up 7,827 points while opponents have managed 61.4 on a per game basis, Leesburg has averaged 16.4 points every football game while opponents have averaged 12.8.
BEST TEAMS EVER
The highest scoring team in Leesburg High History and also the best two defensive teams on record belong to the Coach Frank J. Banning era. Coach Banning was at Leesburg for six years, compiling a super record of 43-5-1 for an .895 winning percentage. The record is even more amazing when you consider that all five losses came in his first two seasons.
In 1928, Banning's undefeated team racked up 352 points, which stands as a school record and gave up a mere 12. The only two teams to cross the goal line that year was Palatka and Andrew Jackson. The lowest scoring output of the year was Leesburg's 13 points in the bowl victory over Andrew Jackson, while the most scored was 66 in a shutout of High Springs. Following the High Springs game, Leesburg blasted Ocala, 53-0, then Sanford, 51-0.
ONLY ALLOWED SIX POINTS
The next year Leesburg went 7-0-1 and racked up 245 points while holding their opponents to a mere 6. Gainesville was the only team to score on LHS that year. Ocala battled the Jackets to a 0-0 tie in the next to the last game of the year, but Leesburg bounced back the next week to pound Sanford, 60-0. Another record was set that season. It was the only season in history that Leesburg has scored 60 points twice in a season.
Banning's teams went unbeaten through their last 33 games although there were two ties. Banning successor Ray Hayes, took Leesburg through eight more games unbeaten before Sanford ended the streak at 41 straight games without a loss and 38 straight victories. That 1932 team tied Daytona, 0-0 and finished with a 7-1-1.
Hayes had two more outstanding seasons before Leesburg football begin tapering off a bit. Hayes' 1933 team went 8-1-1 holding seven opponents scoreless and his 1934 team registered the finest record in Leesburg history. 11-0 That team scored 340 points and gave up only 25 holding seven opponents scoreless. The season opened with a 54-0 win over Ocala (now Forest).
Leesburg went 5-2 in Hayes final year and that brought on Bob Lockett for two years, who compiled a 12-4 record. Lockett's first team went 5-3 and his second team, the 1937 club, went 7-1.
Through the remainder of 30's and the 1940's, Leesburg suffered through losing seasons or else barely manged a winning year. The best team of the 1940's was Coach Art Steffen's 6-2-1 team in 1943.
In 1949 Leesburg begin the darkest era of its football history. Leesburg lost 23 straight games and went 24 straight without a win. The Jackets were 0-9-1 in 1949, 0-10 in 1950 and in 1951 they lost their first four before taking a 13-0 victory over Eustis.
Coach Ed Stack broke the losing streak in his first season. His clubs went 1-8 and 2-7-1 in their first two seasons before compiling a 10-1 record in 1953. That 10-1 team took a 13-7 victory over Umatilla in the Elk's Bowl.
Coach Earl Burt was the head coach from 1954-1956. His 1954 team went 6-4, his 1955 team went 1-8-1 and his 1956 team went 5-4.
Billy Brewer took over in 1956 and his two teams compiled a 3-17 record. He was succeeded by Melvin Smith who went 37-32-3 in his seven seasons. Smith's 1963 team went 7-3-1 and his 1964 team went 8-3.
Smith was succeeded by Wilbur Lofton, who took Leesburg to great heights. His 1969 team went 11-3, losing to Tampa Blake in the state championship game. His final three teams were 27-6.
Tom Perrin came in for one year and went 5-5 and then come Max Wettstein, the present coach, who has a 17-4 record after two seasons.
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
Banning's teams went unbeaten through their last 33 games although there were two ties. Banning successor Ray Hayes, took Leesburg through eight more games unbeaten before Sanford ended the streak at 41 straight games without a loss and 38 straight victories. That 1932 team tied Daytona, 0-0 and finished with a 7-1-1.
Hayes had two more outstanding seasons before Leesburg football begin tapering off a bit. Hayes' 1933 team went 8-1-1 holding seven opponents scoreless and his 1934 team registered the finest record in Leesburg history. 11-0 That team scored 340 points and gave up only 25 holding seven opponents scoreless. The season opened with a 54-0 win over Ocala (now Forest).
Leesburg went 5-2 in Hayes final year and that brought on Bob Lockett for two years, who compiled a 12-4 record. Lockett's first team went 5-3 and his second team, the 1937 club, went 7-1.
Through the remainder of 30's and the 1940's, Leesburg suffered through losing seasons or else barely manged a winning year. The best team of the 1940's was Coach Art Steffen's 6-2-1 team in 1943.
ERA OF LOSING TEAMS
In 1949 Leesburg begin the darkest era of its football history. Leesburg lost 23 straight games and went 24 straight without a win. The Jackets were 0-9-1 in 1949, 0-10 in 1950 and in 1951 they lost their first four before taking a 13-0 victory over Eustis.
Coach Ed Stack broke the losing streak in his first season. His clubs went 1-8 and 2-7-1 in their first two seasons before compiling a 10-1 record in 1953. That 10-1 team took a 13-7 victory over Umatilla in the Elk's Bowl.
Coach Earl Burt was the head coach from 1954-1956. His 1954 team went 6-4, his 1955 team went 1-8-1 and his 1956 team went 5-4.
Billy Brewer took over in 1956 and his two teams compiled a 3-17 record. He was succeeded by Melvin Smith who went 37-32-3 in his seven seasons. Smith's 1963 team went 7-3-1 and his 1964 team went 8-3.
Smith was succeeded by Wilbur Lofton, who took Leesburg to great heights. His 1969 team went 11-3, losing to Tampa Blake in the state championship game. His final three teams were 27-6.
Tom Perrin came in for one year and went 5-5 and then come Max Wettstein, the present coach, who has a 17-4 record after two seasons.
Resources
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.comArticle provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg 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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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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