By WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
August 3, 1970
After sitting through a boring FHSAA all-star football game Saturday night at Florida Field in Gainesville, we left the game with one thought lingering in our minds. Why, when you own one of the finest passing high school quarterbacks in the nation, would a coach attempt to attack from a difficult and uninspiring offense as the Wishbone T, when it is brand new to most of the players and the practice time is so limited.
The fruits of the North all-stars decision to utilize the Wishbone T resulted in their sluggish effort on offense throughout the game and their eventual defeat, 10-6.
The game opened with the South stars receiving the kickoff and it was evident from the beginning that they came to play. After the emotional pre-game talk from retiring coach, Charlie Livingstone of Brandon, the South squad was ready to win the ballgame and at this they proved eminently successful.
Mike Moore, future Gator from Ft. Lauderdale Nova went the route for the South all-stars and worked a fine ballgame, never chilling the crowd with spectacular plays but doing a fine job as a four quarter field general. He had good running support from big Bob Burns of Tampa and hard-running John Wilson of Miami, and the ball control offense that the South used paid off to the tune of holding the ball on offense for 63 plays while the North stars kept it only 41 times.
While using nothing but good hard hitting football, Coach Livingstone left the coaching ranks as a winner and it had to be a sweet victory after spending a frustrating week of practice seeing nothing but injuries happen to his all-star aggregation.
On the North side of the ledger, our own Mike Napier played a fine game at his left cornerback post, keeping the South attack stifled in his zone. Twice in the first quarter, Mike stopped thrusts that looked end zone bound with sure tackles. On the opening series, Mike stopped a busted play by the quarterback Moore, who made it to the seventeen yard line before the tackle was made. Later in the first quarter, with the South knocking at the door with
first down on the eleven, Napier threw the ballcarrier for a seven yard loss and this stalled that touchdown drive.
Mike had a chance to pick one off in the final quarter, when Moore fired a pass into the middle that skimmed off the top of Napier's fingers and it was an unhappy Leesburg player that left the field.
Geisler, the high school all-american quarterback from Orlando Edgewater, surely made Bill Peterson of FSU smile with anticipation, as he looked spectacular in a losing cause. Reputed to be a picture passer, Geisler proved to be everything that we had heard that he was, and more.
On the opening play of the game for the North, Geisler stepped into the pocket and fired a perfect strike to Harold Hart for an apparent 68 yard touchdown, only to have it nullified when an official spotted Hart shoving his man away and offensive pass interference was called. Two plays later, Geisler again hooked up with Hart on the bomb but this time Hart caught the ball but quit running and this wound up the bomb tosses for night.
Hart, a highly-regarded running back from Jacksonville Stanton, was used extensively by North Coach Gene Cox but spent most of the night on his back with an assortment of minor injuries and other problems.
Geisler teamed up with his old battery mate from Edgewater, Hollis Boardman, for what appeared to be a score in the second half. Boardman, in his effort to put the ball in to the end zone, fumble right at the goal line and the ball bounced out of the end zone for a touchback and South owned the ball at the twenty.
Players that impressed us during the game included hard-hitting linebacker, Gil Whitaker
from Jacksonville Englewood, who played a tough game for the North stars. Benny Coffee,
from Plant City and John Lacer of Brandon, came up with good defensive performances for
the South.
The game was one that was well received by the record crowd on hand, until North coach Cox
let the clock continue to run with the North trailing in the final two minutes of the game.
Showing very little concern for winning the battle, Coach Cox let the clock run out with Geisler
desperately trying to get away the long strike for the go-ahead score.
One aspect of the Wishbone T offense used by the North was that it is very boring if the execution and personnel are not perfectly blended. This was how we were impressed by the offense made famous by the University of Texas. In games like the North-South all-star, it should be the coaches responsibility to give the fans their maximum effort and when a passer like Fred Geisler is not utilized fully, then less than the best was given.
from Jacksonville Englewood, who played a tough game for the North stars. Benny Coffee,
from Plant City and John Lacer of Brandon, came up with good defensive performances for
the South.
The game was one that was well received by the record crowd on hand, until North coach Cox
let the clock continue to run with the North trailing in the final two minutes of the game.
Showing very little concern for winning the battle, Coach Cox let the clock run out with Geisler
desperately trying to get away the long strike for the go-ahead score.
One aspect of the Wishbone T offense used by the North was that it is very boring if the execution and personnel are not perfectly blended. This was how we were impressed by the offense made famous by the University of Texas. In games like the North-South all-star, it should be the coaches responsibility to give the fans their maximum effort and when a passer like Fred Geisler is not utilized fully, then less than the best was given.
Resources
WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
www.dailycommercial.com
August 3, 1970
August 3, 1970
Resources
Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Article written 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, 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.
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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