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| Head Coach Wilbur Lofton |
Small Disasters Changed To Luck and Cleared (?) Title Pictures
By Sports Section
By Sports Section
Daily Commercial
Novbember 9, 1969
LEESBURG - It started as a yelling contest between the Leesburg and Eustis cheering sections
- "We're Number One!" from both sides of the field. But a series of small disasters made it look bad for Leesburg,
the first quarter came close to being a big disaster, and the State Championship
aspirations of the Panthers looked for a while much more valid than the
Jackets'
First small disaster: The boy carrying the big V-for-victory pennant ran onto the field, tripped, sprawled across turf and pennant, digging V-for-victory, yes ominously, in the dirt.
Second small disaster: Eustis kicked off, the ball spiraling toward Mike Chatman, the Jackets' big, bruising, dependable fullback and deep-man on kickoffs - and it went through his hands, bounced crazy - and it went through his hands, bounced crazy-football-like away, and by the time Chatman ran it down and stopped it, Panthers were assembling like fans at the concession stand, and the Jackets ran their first series of plays from their own five yard line.
First small disaster: The boy carrying the big V-for-victory pennant ran onto the field, tripped, sprawled across turf and pennant, digging V-for-victory, yes ominously, in the dirt.
Second small disaster: Eustis kicked off, the ball spiraling toward Mike Chatman, the Jackets' big, bruising, dependable fullback and deep-man on kickoffs - and it went through his hands, bounced crazy - and it went through his hands, bounced crazy-football-like away, and by the time Chatman ran it down and stopped it, Panthers were assembling like fans at the concession stand, and the Jackets ran their first series of plays from their own five yard line.
Third small disaster: Mike Napier slashed through the Panther line for seven of eight yards, enough for first down and breathing room, but a penalty nullified that, sent the Jackets back to their seven.
Fourth small disaster: David Humes punted, a good punt, and Panther Pearlie Moore took the ball and was downed immediately at mid-field. But a penalty nullified the play, and Humes had to punt again.
Fifth small disaster: Squirming and scrambling, the classy Moore returned this one to the Jacket 17.
And with the rest of the first quarter went this way, most of it within the Yellow Jacket 20 yard line. But the
Jackets stopped the Panthers - not quite cold as Rick Day's pass to Dwight Dunham came within inches of a first-and-goal- - and the Jackets took over. Leesburg began to move, made it to their 47 before Humes boomed another fine punt, and as the second quarter began, Eustis was first and ten, but on their 20. When a long Day pass skimmed through Kenny Austin's fingers, with Austin three steps ahead of the nearest Jackets defender, four tune began to smile on the Yellow Jackets.
And it kept smiling, through the end of the game, and Leesburg's 15-0 victory, past it. And just as the first small disaster came before the game, the last big stroke of fortune came after, when Coach Wilbur Lofton learned that Lyman had defeated Sanford 21-12, and the Yellow Jackets' hopes for that District Class A title brightened considerably.
It had been dimmer than many realized.
For though Sanford had lost one game - to Palatka - and the Jackets were undefeated, Sanford led in the only category that counts in deciding district champions - points.
Until last night, Sanford, 5-1 against all Class A schools, had 50 points. Leesburg, 6-0 against four Class A schools and two class B schools, had 48 points. A victory for Sanford last night would have given them 60 points while the Jackets, beating Class B Eustis, went to 52. As it was, Leesburg crept ahead of Sanford.
They still have to beat Sanford. If they don't they could finish 9-1 and still lose the district title to Sanford, finishing 8-2.
Here's How.
Only eight games a team plays count toward the points a district race is decided on. All losses have to be included in the eighth.
If the Jackets went undefeated, they could drop two of the three Class B teams they played - Lakeview, Eustis and Wildwood - for a total of 74 points and the district championship.
If the Jackets lose one game, that to Sanford they must include it, and since it would be to a Class A team two of the Class B victories would have to be included in their record - or the most points they could get would be 58. (Five victories over Class A teams at 10 points apiece - 50 - plus two victories over Class B teams at four points apiece, for a total of58) If Sanford doesn't lose again, it will have six Class A victories to include, for 60 points.
If the Jackets beat Sanford, they can lose the other two of their remaining three games and still beat Sanford for the District title, for Sanford could count only 50 points, the Jackets 54. Unless of course some other Class A team in the district is compiling more than that - not a distant possibility since 54 isn't a large number.
Follow that?
Eustis meanwhile, saw its hopes of a seventh straight visit to the state Class B playoffs splinter and fall in the cool night. Ocoee, its prime opponent in the District, beat St. Cloud and faces no tough competition the rest of the year except Lakeview, that rugged loser. Unless Lakeview beats Ocoee, the Panthers' hopes are gone.
There's only the bowl games to brighten the post season. The Panthers have made themselves a prime candidate for Leesburg Dad's Club's Holiday Bowl and one of the leading candidates for their opponents are the Wildwood Wildcats.
Great game? Sure.
But with all the talk now of District championships, and Bowls, Lofton is thinking of smething else and that's Ocala, next week's opponent.
The Wildcats dropped anther game last night to further dull a season which was supposed to be bright. The main problem seems to be injuries. Even a crippled Ocal, though is bigger hthan the Jackets, and possesses a potent running attack.
So Lofton walked off the field last night, giving credit to the whole team - "I'd have to say it was a fine team effort" and to Greg Williams expecially - "That run he made after he caught the pass was the finest run I've ever seen in high school football" - but dismissing talk of District.
"We can't think too much about it," he said. "The rest are so tough, we have to take them one at a time. That'st the only way we can do it"
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