The Area's Best
Sports
Daily Commercial
December 28, 1969
With the meetings of the minds over, and the Area's football season a thing of a past, the Daily Commercial is very proud to present to the people of Lake and Sumter counties their second Annual All-Area Football team.
With the fine help of Editor and Publisher Tom Heran, and avid Area sports supporter, and Managing Editor Mike Fowler, former Commercial sports editor, the second annual All-Area team means as much to us as the first one that got things started last year.
Sports
Daily Commercial
December 28, 1969
With the meetings of the minds over, and the Area's football season a thing of a past, the Daily Commercial is very proud to present to the people of Lake and Sumter counties their second Annual All-Area Football team.
With the fine help of Editor and Publisher Tom Heran, and avid Area sports supporter, and Managing Editor Mike Fowler, former Commercial sports editor, the second annual All-Area team means as much to us as the first one that got things started last year.
Let's drop back to this time last year, at the time of the first All-Area
banquet when the guest speaker was the former Florida Gator quarterback Haromon Wages, now the
starting halfback for the Atlanta Falcons, This was with out a doubt the highlight of
the evening for the boys, as Wages kept them completely at ease and completely at his attention
as he went over his route and path into the ranks of college and professional
football. This could have meant a lot to some of these boys as more than just one of them are
repeaters on this year's team.
The presentation of Team of the Year goes this year to the Leesburg Yellow Jackets who traveled to the finals of the Class A state finals before being beaten. They compiled a fine 11-2 record during the year and placed two boys on the Class A All-State team.
Mike Napier and Greg Williams the Mr. and Mr. on offense for the Yellow Jackets were named to the All-State team and they were just two of the eight boys to make the first string All-Area team. Napier has just recently signed a four year grant-in-aid scholarship with Memphis State and Williams just this week signed a scholarship with Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach. They are our Most Valuable Player Selections.
Being the team of the year in the Area meant just more than offensive show for Leesburg. The majority of the time their defense was the big factor in their record. Napier passed for over 2,000 yards his senior year and threw for 23 touchdown pass in every one of his senior games, except the last one.
South Sumter, the only other Area team to represent us in the state play-offs, placed five boys on the first and second teams. The Rebels were led by their potential All-State tackle Ralph Eldridge and their strong side safety Timmy Lee.
Eustis, last year's Team of the Year, placed eight boys on this year's first and second teams. The Panthers ended the season with a fine 9-1 record losing only to Leesburg. The Panthers were led the entire year by Don Ball and Rick Day.
And then along came the runt of the group, but if you ever ran into them you
might just change your mind fast. Umatilla, the smallest school in the area, came up with
one of the biggest surprises of the year as they improved from a dismal 2-8 record last
year to a fine 7-3-1 record this year. With veterans Kenny Roundtree and Joe Scott leading the
way, the Bulldogs were one of the better teams in the area at the end of the year. They
placed three boys on the first string offensive team.
Tavares high led by Harold Hanna, the prime defensive player last year in the area, was without the horses this year, but they still made a showing of themselves when they got on the football field. Mount Dora probably came up with one of the most unusual records for any high school football team around here in many a year. The Hurricanes finished the year with an 2-3-4 record. Led by Melvin Durias, All-State material, and Terry Snowberger the Hurricanes placed three boys on the first and second teams.
Clermont High came up this year with one of the prize offensive linemen in the state in Buford Creech, who leads the Highlanders pick of three boys on this year's first and second teams. Groveland came up with another Pederson, this time with Teddy, brother of Florida State flanker Donnie. He is joined by tackle Charlie Rowe for the Greenies.
Tavares high led by Harold Hanna, the prime defensive player last year in the area, was without the horses this year, but they still made a showing of themselves when they got on the football field. Mount Dora probably came up with one of the most unusual records for any high school football team around here in many a year. The Hurricanes finished the year with an 2-3-4 record. Led by Melvin Durias, All-State material, and Terry Snowberger the Hurricanes placed three boys on the first and second teams.
Clermont High came up this year with one of the prize offensive linemen in the state in Buford Creech, who leads the Highlanders pick of three boys on this year's first and second teams. Groveland came up with another Pederson, this time with Teddy, brother of Florida State flanker Donnie. He is joined by tackle Charlie Rowe for the Greenies.
Last but by no means the least, we have the Wildwood Wildcats. Led by Wayne
Allen and Elijah Jackson the Wildcats placed six boys on the first and second teams. The
Wildcats were winners of the Area's only bowl game, the Leesburg Dad's Holiday Bowl.
This year's Coach of the Year is held by two coaches. First we have Coach Wilbur Lofton of Leesburg. Lofton coached the Jackets to the finals of the state playoffs with a team that he said earlier in the year would be lucky to go 5-5 on the season. The other co-holder is Coach Ed McGonial of Umatilla. Perhaps the brightest spot in the unusual small community in north Lake county was the good football team that McGonial made into a winner from that went 2-8 the year before.
The selections of this year's All-Area team was not based on strictly positions that a boy played the entire year. In some cases we might have a boy that played defensive tackle, all year, as a guard or a linebacker. This is because we went with the boys with overall potential and not just their position potential.
Leesburg: Mike Napier, quarterback: All-Region and All-State, Greg Williams, split end; All Region and All-State, Greg Johnson, offensive tackle; All Region, Mike Chatman, linebacker, Lynn Gilbert, linebacker, David Osborne, defensive tackle, Gene Elton, place kicker. Tony Hart, offensive halfback, Sherrill Lackey, split end, Mark Sneed, offensive tackle, Kenny Hicks, offensive tackle, Rocky Norris, offensive center, Sam Rixie, linebacker, James Mackey, defensive tackle, All-Region and honorable mention All-State.
South Sumter: Ralph Eldridge, offensive tackle, All-Region, Timmy Lee, safety, All-Region; James Rienkiewicz, fullback and All-Region, Clarence Curtis, defensive cornerback, Buster Ward, linebacker
Eustis: Donnie Ball, defensive linebacker and All Region, Rick Day, Cornerback and All Region, Jimmy Tyre, defensive guard and All-Region, Pearlie Moore, offensive halfback, Kenny Austin, split end, Eddie Prevatt, offensive guard, Robbie Ball, safety, Tim Barber, defensive guard.
Umatilla: Joe Scott, offensive halfback, Paul Kenny, offensive guard, Ken Roundtree, offensive center and All-Region,
Tavares: Harold Hanna, safety
Mount Dora: Melvin Durias, fullback, All-Region, Terry Snowberger, defensive tackle, Marty Lamens, linebackers.
Clermont; Larry Jackson, safety, Dan Gurney, cornerback, Buford Creech, defensive tackle.
Groveland: Teddy Pederson, punter, Charles Rowe, offensive tackle.
Wildwood: Wayne Allen, offensive halfback, All Region, Elijah Jackson, wideout, All-Region, Richard Watkins, cornerback, Dale Nichols, quarterback, Craig O'dell, offensive tackle, Vaughn Black defensive guard, Steve Masters, offensive guard.
This is it fans, with the pictures that we have displayed before you, the second annual All-area team has now been presented to you. Cherish the thought that these boys will be the ones that will run this country in two decades, and remember that it takes a good leader to be a good athlete.
This year's Coach of the Year is held by two coaches. First we have Coach Wilbur Lofton of Leesburg. Lofton coached the Jackets to the finals of the state playoffs with a team that he said earlier in the year would be lucky to go 5-5 on the season. The other co-holder is Coach Ed McGonial of Umatilla. Perhaps the brightest spot in the unusual small community in north Lake county was the good football team that McGonial made into a winner from that went 2-8 the year before.
The selections of this year's All-Area team was not based on strictly positions that a boy played the entire year. In some cases we might have a boy that played defensive tackle, all year, as a guard or a linebacker. This is because we went with the boys with overall potential and not just their position potential.
Leesburg: Mike Napier, quarterback: All-Region and All-State, Greg Williams, split end; All Region and All-State, Greg Johnson, offensive tackle; All Region, Mike Chatman, linebacker, Lynn Gilbert, linebacker, David Osborne, defensive tackle, Gene Elton, place kicker. Tony Hart, offensive halfback, Sherrill Lackey, split end, Mark Sneed, offensive tackle, Kenny Hicks, offensive tackle, Rocky Norris, offensive center, Sam Rixie, linebacker, James Mackey, defensive tackle, All-Region and honorable mention All-State.
South Sumter: Ralph Eldridge, offensive tackle, All-Region, Timmy Lee, safety, All-Region; James Rienkiewicz, fullback and All-Region, Clarence Curtis, defensive cornerback, Buster Ward, linebacker
Eustis: Donnie Ball, defensive linebacker and All Region, Rick Day, Cornerback and All Region, Jimmy Tyre, defensive guard and All-Region, Pearlie Moore, offensive halfback, Kenny Austin, split end, Eddie Prevatt, offensive guard, Robbie Ball, safety, Tim Barber, defensive guard.
Umatilla: Joe Scott, offensive halfback, Paul Kenny, offensive guard, Ken Roundtree, offensive center and All-Region,
Tavares: Harold Hanna, safety
Mount Dora: Melvin Durias, fullback, All-Region, Terry Snowberger, defensive tackle, Marty Lamens, linebackers.
Clermont; Larry Jackson, safety, Dan Gurney, cornerback, Buford Creech, defensive tackle.
Groveland: Teddy Pederson, punter, Charles Rowe, offensive tackle.
Wildwood: Wayne Allen, offensive halfback, All Region, Elijah Jackson, wideout, All-Region, Richard Watkins, cornerback, Dale Nichols, quarterback, Craig O'dell, offensive tackle, Vaughn Black defensive guard, Steve Masters, offensive guard.
This is it fans, with the pictures that we have displayed before you, the second annual All-area team has now been presented to you. Cherish the thought that these boys will be the ones that will run this country in two decades, and remember that it takes a good leader to be a good athlete.
Listen live on my790am or www.my790am.com Saturday April 21, 2012.
Former Leesburg High School, Florida State University and NFL player Greg Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) will make his second appearance on The Lake County Sports Show April 21, 2012. Johnson is one of only four players to have their Number retired at Leesburg High School.
Former Leesburg High School, Florida State University and NFL player Greg Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) will make his second appearance on The Lake County Sports Show April 21, 2012. Johnson is one of only four players to have their Number retired at Leesburg High School.
Johnson and Jordan Tucker senior
linebacker Leesburg High School, Tory Harrison (University of Southern
Mississippi, and Hartford Colonels UFL, Omaha Beef IFL) and Wayne
Hamilton (former Leesburg High School, University of Alabama, San Diego
Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Standout) will be the
featured guests along with the show host Billy Matthews (The Voice Of
The Leesburg Yellow Jackets), Sonny Bronson (Belton Bail Bonds
Scoreboard Show Host), Allison Crawford (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard
Show Co-host) and Gerald Lacey (Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff
Writer).
Below is a short list of Johnson's accomplishments:
-Carver Heights High School Varsity Letters 1966, 1967
-Leesburg High School Football Varsity Letters 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972
-Leesburg High School Basketball Varsity Letters 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
-Leesburg High School Track Varsity Letters 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
-Florida State University Football Captain 1975
-1970 Leesburg Commerical Defensive Player of the Year
-1969 Class A Football State Runnerup
-1969 Class A Football First Team All-State
-1975 Class AAA Football Defense All-State Honorable Mention Team
-1971 Parade High School Football All-American
-Four Year Varsity Football Starter Leesburg High School
-Class AAA Football State Semifinalist (Kissimmee Osceola Head Coach)
-Average 15 tackles a game from his defensive tackle position in 1970.
READ MORE CLICK BELOWBelow is a short list of Johnson's accomplishments:
-Carver Heights High School Varsity Letters 1966, 1967
-Leesburg High School Football Varsity Letters 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972
-Leesburg High School Basketball Varsity Letters 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
-Leesburg High School Track Varsity Letters 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
-Florida State University Football Captain 1975
-1970 Leesburg Commerical Defensive Player of the Year
-1969 Class A Football State Runnerup
-1969 Class A Football First Team All-State
-1975 Class AAA Football Defense All-State Honorable Mention Team
-1971 Parade High School Football All-American
-Four Year Varsity Football Starter Leesburg High School
-Class AAA Football State Semifinalist (Kissimmee Osceola Head Coach)
-Average 15 tackles a game from his defensive tackle position in 1970.
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| Gerald Lacey (Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff Writer), Allison Crawford (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Co-host), Sonny Bronson (Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Host), Lake County Sports Show Host Billy Matthews (The Voice Of The Leesburg Yellow Jackets). |
Greg Johnson On The Lake County Sports Show
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Daily Commercial
December 28, 1969
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