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| Hubert O. Dabney Stadium, Home Of The Jackets |
LEESBURG — In a game that new Leesburg coach Richard Kennedy felt his team had to win in order to make believers out of the student body and the community, the Yellow Jackets did just that, defeating Lake Weir, 21-8, Friday night before 4,000 fans at Memorial Stadium.
It was only the third time in the past eight years that it Leesburg has won its season opener. It is also the first time in eight years that a Lake Weir-Leesburg game has been decided by more than seven points.
Leesburg scored all of its touchdowns on big plays. A 44-yard run by halfback Undra Mitchem in the first quarter, a 51-yard run by fullback Lee Hanks in the second quarter and a 70-yard pass from quarterback Greg Engle to tight end Greg Engle on the fourth play of the second half.
''We did have some big plays, and they won the game for us,'' said Kennedy, who is trying to turn around a program that has had only one winning season in the past 12 years. ''I'm a little disappointed that we weren't more consistent on offense, and we had one bad series on defense where I think we got too conservative.''
Lake Weir scored with 1:09 remaining in the third quarter when tackle Troy Exum recovered Kelvin Coleman's fumble in the end zone after Coleman was stopped just short of the goal line.
Although Leesburg's backs consistently gave up the short passes, they prevented Lake Weir's run-and-shoot attack from connecting on any big plays. They also intercepted three passes -- cornerback Willie Dickens had two and safety Tommy Willis had the other.
But, with Leesburg's secondary playing soft, Lake Weir quarterback Paul Johnson rolled up some impressive numbers, completing 12 of 24 passes for 111 yards. The longest play was for 20 yards, and wingback John Monroe, who had seven receptions for 74 yards, broke three tackles on that play.
Mitchem, who went over the 100-yard mark before losing 3 yards on his final carry, ended the game with 98 yards on 14 carries.
''I felt like we could beat Lake Weir,'' Kennedy said. ''I thought we had a better football team. I think this proves that there is nothing wrong with Leesburg, and there is nothing wrong with Leesburg's football players.
''If this win doesn't do a lot for them Leesburg's players, there is something wrong with them. I know it does a lot for me. I just want everybody to believe in us. I want the school to believe in us. I want the faculty to believe in us. And I want the community to believe in us.''
Resources
By Joe Williams
of The Sentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel
September 10, 1988
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
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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