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Monday, November 14, 2011

Spring drills - Yellow Jacket style, May 22, 1970



Wayne Stokes
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
May 22, 1970

With only one week left in the spring training drills for the 1970-1971 edition of Fighting Yellow Jackets, Coach Wilbur Lofton has the look of a coach that has been pleased by what he has seen.

The real indication of how far his team has progressed during the current spring session will come on Thursday night at 7:30, then the graduated seniors from last years squad, tangle with the new boys in the annual spring windup.

Heading into the final week of spring practice, the team has begun to take a definite shape, with most boys settled into positions that they will hold next fall. With the help of Coach Lofton, we'll offer a position by position breakdown of how the team shapes up for next year.

Center has been the most satisfying position of the spring for the coaching staff, with two boys running neck and neck for the starting spot and both being very capable of doing a good job.

Dale McClelland, a senior next fall, and Bill Pope, a junior in the fall, are both tough hard-nosed football players that are typical of the team that the Jackets will field next fall.

Guards are a very important position in the pro style attack used by Jackets, and Coach Lofton feels that his new crop of pulling guards are the finest that he has had since coming to Leesburg. Skelly Morris is a good solid competitor that enjoys hitting people, and this is also true of Charles Rector, up from the JV's and showing a lot of improvement from last year. 

Brent Gibbs is a find that has the reputation of being a tough scrapper in the offensive line and he is sure to be welcome at the guard slot next year. Leon Scott is probably the fastest of the guards corp and is expected to see a lot of duty on the first team. Ray Dowless provides the Jackets with exceptional depth at the guard position, being as capable as any of the rest.

The tackle spot will be one of the Jacket's strong points, with Greg Johnson, Lynn Gilbert, Phil
McEachern, and James Charles holding down this area in fine style. Johnson is the all-everything youngster that has unlimited potential. He is still a growing boy and possess the strength of a lion; Lynn Gilbert is another very strong young man with a lot of experience and he can be counted on for a good job at all times. McEachern is a new boy on the block but watch him before the season gets very far along. He comes from an excellent football family and he can certainly carry his own load. James Charles is only a sophomore, but what a prospect he is. Owning brute strength, Charles also owns a world of desire and will be a very welcome member of the new corp of Jackets.

Two boys hold down the fort at tight end, and both are very similar athletes. Kenny Hicks is the more experienced of the two but he will be pushed by big Ken Mosely, only a sophomore. Both boys are big and strong, but neither possess real outstanding speed, although this is a position that is very capably manned.

In the offensive backfield, Andy Carlton, junior to be, holds the guiding hand at quarterback and we could talk about this fine prospect all day. He has all the physical tools necessary for greatness and if he can escape the injury jinx, Andy should be a super quarterback for the Jackets. He is truly outstanding high school passer. His back ups are both inexperienced but Coach Lofton is very pleased with the progress that each has shown during the spring. Gene  Elton and Kenny Hill are both fine prospects and have come a long way since the beginning of spring drills.

The running game looks exceptionally strong, with Tommy Ryan and Hovie Guthrie holding the first string slots. Both have real good speed, coupled with a knack for running to the open hole. Both boys are good blockers and will fit into the play action patterns used by Coach Lofton, next season. The back up backs are a couple of youngsters that are very inexperienced but who have impressed with their determination and ability. Darby McCands and Haywood Richardson have both come along way and Coach Lofton feels much better about his running game because of the good spring his backs have had.

With his defense not settled yet, Coach Lofton will reserve his observation of this part of his team until spring practice is completed. He has returnees from last years outstanding defensive unit, however, and this is expected to be strong once again.

Make plans to attend the Seniors-Varsity tilt Next Thursday at Memorial Field. Game time is 7:30.

Resources
Wayne Stokes
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial

Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
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.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale

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