The Number One Source For Leesburg Yellow Jackets Football News. www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
Presented by the Carver Heights Quarterback Club.
By Sports Staff Leesburg Morning Commercial December 8, 1928
EDDIE CAHILL, Leesburg's own great grid warrior, has been awarded merited honor, and the greatest honor that comes to prep school football players. A membership in the All-Southern mythical team, awarded by the All-Southern association officials. It is the peak of achievement in the Southern states, and the height of aspiration on the part of the rugged boys of Dixie who play the game with fearless heart and intelligence.
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.
(Joshua C. Cruey, Orlando Sentinel/October 14, 2011) Leesburg's Trevone
Perry runs the return for a touchdown breaking a 0-0 tie during third
quarter action of a high school football game against South Sumter in
Bushnell, Fla. on Friday October 14, 2011.
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
May 30, 2012
LEESBURG - Leesburg High School's Trey Perry has signed a letter of intent to play football at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City Tennessee. Perry played running back and safety for the Jackets last season. He helped lead the Jackets to a 8-2 (2-2) record in 2011. Perry has big play ability from either side of the ball and can score from anywhere on the field.
Perry's most memorable plays were his 96 yard kickoff return against Class 3A #5 ranked South Sumter at Raider Field in Bushnell Florida. The play broke a 0-0 score and led the Jackets to their first win over a ranked opponent in head coach Randy Trivers two year tenure at Leesburg. Perry also had a 90 yard interception return against Orlando Maynard Evans that was called back negating a Leesburg score and a tie for the district lead.
Carson-Newman's Burke-Tarr Stadium
Perry is the grandson of another Yellow Jacket great Mathis Walker. Walker led the Leesburg Boys Basketball team to its first ever state Championship in Leesburg High School history in 1977. His father Bill Perry led Eustis to the Class AA Boys Basketball State Championship game in 1992. His sister Ashley Perry who is a senior at Leesburg helped lead the girls basketball team to a Class State Final Four appearance in 2011.
Mathis Walker 1977 Class 3A Boys Basketball State Champion.
He will get the chance to play for Ken Sparks who is in his 33rd season as Carson-Newman head coach.
Sparks has built a
national football powerhouse first at the NAIA level and now at the
NCAA Division II level. The numbers speak for themselves when
examining the success Sparks has brought to the Eagle football
program - five national championships, four national runner-up
finishes, 21 South Atlantic Conference championships and 22 NAIA or
NCAA playoff appearances. A respected and well-known coach at any
level, Sparks has accumulated the best won-lost record and highest
winning percentage of any coach in Carson-Newman football history.
Carson-Newman College Head Coach Ken Sparks
In 31 seasons at the wheel of the Eagle machine, the 1968 C-N
graduate has guided his troops to a 294-74-2 record. Sparks is the
all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division II and he is third in
total wins among active coaches in all divisions of the NCAA behind
St. John's (Minn.) John Gagliardi and Penn State's Joe Paterno.
The Eagles report for fall camp in early August to begin preparation for
their 33rd season under Sparks, who begins the season with 299 career
wins. Carson-Newman went into spring shorthanded and Perry may have chance to play right away in his freshmen year.
Carson-Newman College Head Coach Ken Sparks
"Some kids really made a lot of strides," head coach Ken Sparks
said. "We've got a lot of guys that had to go the extra mile this
spring so they had to play a lot of positions. They can't complain about
not getting enough reps. We've got some pieces that are pretty good,
but we have some pieces that have got to be a lot better."
Carson-Newman's Assistant Football Coach and Recruiting Director Aaron Hutsell is excited about adding Perry to his team's roster.
"Trey’s
signing will have a huge impact on our program," said Hutsell in a interview with Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff Writer Gerald Lacey. "He is a very versatile
athlete who brings a strong work ethic and natural leadership. He has
the ability to influence others with
his strong character and drive."
Carson-Newman's Assistant Football Coach and Recruiting Director Aaron Hutsell
Perry and others have benefited from Trivers college style system that he has bought to the Leesburg program and community. He has sent 10 Jackets to college in his two years at Leesburg, with more waiting to sign. At his former school Germantown Northwest (MD) he sent over 60 players to college.
I asked coach Hutsell did the solid program that Trivers has built at Leesburg help in the decision to recruit Perry. Hutsell said that Trivers system and reputation played a part in the signing.
"I
believe that certainly helped'" said Hutsell on Trivers and the Leesburg football program. "Coach Trivers has been very helpful
throughout the entire process. After we did our research on Trey,
it just turned out to be a great fit for both sides."
Ken Sparks Athletic Complex
Perry will go into the Carson-Newman program as a defensive back but with his athleticism he could find himself lining up in several different places in college.
"Trey
will be coming in as a Defensive Back, and we will see how he
progresses," said Hutsell. "There are a lot of things that he could play athletically"
Perry is the first player from Leesburg to sign with Carson-Newman since Ken Rooney in the 1990's. Carson-Newman may not be done yet in Leesburg but is very happy to get Perry signed for the 2012 season. Hutsell said he doesn't remember anyone from Leesburg signing with the Jefferson, Tennessee college recently.
"I
don’t think we have in the last couple of years (signed anyone from Leesburg High School), but Coach Sparks has
been recruiting Florida for a long time so I would imagine that
at some point there has been a player from Leesburg who has attended
Carson Newman.
"Coach
Trivers has been excellent during the recruiting process with Trey. He
has experience as a college coach, so he knows what information that we
need to have in order
for us to be able to make a decision on a player."
"Leesburg is a
football program that has always had really good athletes. Coach
Trivers and his staff will do a great job of pushing their players to
get it done on the field as well as in the classroom."
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.
Eastside lineman James Henderson clears a path for quarterback Sir Jackson to run against Leesburg during their spring scrimmage on Thursday at Citizens Field. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
May 25, 2012
GAINESVILLE - Leesburg second year head coach Randy Trivers and his Yellow Jackets squad traveled to Citizens Field Thursday night. They face a Eastside program that has been revitalized by first year head coach Jeff Parker. The visiting Yellow Jackets rallied for two touchdowns in the fourth
quarter, capping it with a 44-yard scoring run by sophomore Bryant
"Mr. No" Benton to beat Eastside 27-26.
"It felt more then great being on the offensive side of the ball during the key moments of the game," said Benton with lots of enthusiasm in his voice.
Benton a sophomore last season spent most of his time playing on the defense last season. He will be seeing a lot more time on offense this upcoming season after his big time spring game performance.
Eastside came into the game with a renewed attitude and a sense of urgency. The Rams offense showed that it can move the football with 223 total yards in the first half. New offensive coordinator Willie Jackson's offense had several big plays and will be a force to deal with in the upcoming season. The offense was led by Jackson's son at quarterback, Sir Jackson who threw three touchdown passes of 22, 59 and 38 yards and had 144 total passing yards, along with 76 yards
rushing on seven attempts. This from a team that was shut out four
times last season.
Jackson only completed four passes in the first half with three of those
going for TDs. The first was a connection with Keandre McCray for a
22-yard score, tying the game up at 6.
“I was pleased with the boys. We lost, but we came out here to get better,” said second-year Eastside coach Jeff Parker.
“We were putting points on the board, moving the ball up and down the field, but we had turnovers and we have to correct that. You come out here and score a bunch of points, and your defense shuts them out that gives you a false sense of security. These boys are hungry and they need to stay hungry.”
The Leesburg "Black Jackets" defense came up with big stops when it needed to. The Jackets intercepted Jackson twice and caused two fumbles, one returned for a Leesburg touchdown by Austin Walker for a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
"I think the key to coming back in that game Thursday was our ability to
handle and embrace adversity," said OLB Jordan Tucker the #50 rated prospect in Florida according to the Miami Herald High School Sports Blog.
Jackson found a streaking Jamari Walker, who caught the pass and ran 59 yards down the left sideline for a score to tie the game at 13 all. Just before halftime Jackson found a wide-open David Smith on a 38-yard scoring strike to put the Eastside ahead, 20-13. The Eastside crowd erupted after the score and the Rams went into halftime with momentum on their side.
"At halftime we had no heads down, nothing
but positivity and ways to get back into it," said Tucker after going into halftime down by seven. "Thanks to Coach Trivers
and his great coaching a halftime deficit doesn't phase us at all".
The Jackets came out of the half and found itself in a deeper hole early in the third quarter. Richard Williams had the third interception of the night against the Leesburg offense, returning it 61 yards to the Jackets' 9-yard line. Two plays later, LaMartinez Walker ran it in from six yards, and Eastside opened a 26-13 lead early in the third.
The Black Jackets came up big once again on the last play of the third quarter when it recovered a Eastside fumble at the Rams 17 yard line. A16-yard run by Benton set up a one-yard plunge for a score, bringing the Yellow Jackets within six, 26-20 with 10:53 to play in the fourth quarter.
"We have to fix the little things in order to get to the top where we want to be during the fall season," said Benton.
"We have a lot of seniors but only one captain, so we do have to become a little more focused and mature to be successful," said Tucker.
Leesburg's defense gained momentum after the score on offense and on the next Rams possession its offensive sputtered. On Leesburg's next possession it got consecutive big runs from Benton, who ran for 18 and then 44 to tie the game at 26-26 with 4:38 left. Chandler Strong's extra-point kick was successful and proved to be the difference for the Jackets in their road win.
"My attitude towards the spring and the spring game win is we all played a
hard game, and went hard through out the spring," said Benton after the game. "So I can't just say
I'm satisfied with our team. I am proud and grateful to be a JACKET."
Parker praised the play of Sean Scott and Barry Johnson along the line.
“We found ourselves a linebacker in Sean Scott. He made a bunch of plays for us,” Parker said. “Barry Johnson had a really good game also. We put them in a couple of tough positions with the turnovers.
“We want to build a group of guys that keep fighting all the time. They came out here and fought until the end. We had plenty of chances down there, we just have to make some plays. We have to hold onto the ball. When it hits your two hands, you need to catch it.”
Tucker and the Jackets are looking forward to a great summer and hope that the win gives them some momentum going into the fall.
"Well after a good spring game I look forward to the fall," said Tucker after the come from behind win over Eastside. "Our team and
myself did some good things and I know there are some things for me to
work on so I look forward to getting better and having a good fall."
"The team including myself just has to keep working hard through the summer and just remember the taste of victory."
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.
LEESBURG - On Tuesday a member of the Yellow Jackets Nation became multi-millionaire. Danny Trevathan officially became a Denver Bronco, signing a four-year, $2.2 million contract according to Aaron Wilson of Profootball.scout.com.
Trevathan was picked by the Broncos in the sixth round of the draft,
and his contract includes a signing bonus of roughly $104,000 and base
salaries of $390,000, $480,000, $570,000 and $660,000. Trevathan joins a
trio of Kentucky alums in Denver, with Jacob Tamme, Wesley Woodyard,
and Jeremy Jarmon on the roster, as well as former UK wide receiver
Anthony “Champ” Kelley on staff.
"I'm proof that nothing is impossible," Trevathan said. "It took a lot
of work from a lot of people, but I got there. I want that to be an
example to everyone at Leesburg that you can accomplish anything with
hard work."
Justin Edmonds - Getty Images ENGLEWOOD, CO - MAY 11: Linebacker Danny Trevathan #59 of the Denver
Broncos participates in a drill during rookie camp at Dove Valley on May
11, 2012 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Trevathan is a athletic linebacker whose speed and playing intensity have drawn
comparisons to UK All-SEC linebacker Wesley Woodyard. He was a three-year
starter at Leesburg High School (Leesburg, Fla.), leading the team Leesburg to two state
playoffs appearances and a District Championship in 2007 the first since 1992. Trevathan was named Third-team all-state, covering all
classifications, by the Florida Sportswriters Association in 2007.
The Denver Broncos are wasting no time in signing their draft picks. Trevathan gives the Broncos four draft picks under contract. There are three draftees still unsigned as the team continues their Organized Team Activities. The sixth-rounder is the fourth pick to sign with the team and the signings have come on the last four weekdays.
The Denver Broncos used their final pick in the 2012 NFL Draft on Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan. The pick was included as compensation in the trade that sent former quarterback Tim Tebow to the New York Jets.
Trevathan is expected to compete on special teams and add depth to a
Denver defense that looked destructive for stretches last season.
"I can't wait to get out there and get to work, learning the system," Trevathan said.
Trevathan is one of the top 5 SEC steals of the draft according to Barrett Sallee SEC lead blogger for www.bleacherreport.com.
"Trevathan's size is what limited him during the draft process. At 6'1",
232 lbs, he's a little bit undersized as an NFL linebacker. That didn't
seem to stop him at Kentucky though," said Sallee.
Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan tips a
pass from Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray at Commonwealth Stadium in
Lexington on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. UT lost to UK for the first time
since 1984 with a score of 10-7.(AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)
"He will have to prove himself on special teams with the Broncos, but
once he proves himself at the NFL level, he should enjoy a long and
prosperous career."
Trevathan is excited about having the opportunity to play in the NFL after outstanding careers at Leesburg High School and the University of Kentucky. He was the only player with area ties to be selected in the Draft.
"I feel good," said Trevathan. "I
wanted to get drafted in an earlier round, but I'm certainly not upset.
How could I be disappointed? I got drafted!
Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Danny Trevathan (22) broke up the pass to
Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Ricco Sanders (11) as
Mississippi State defeated Kentucky 28-16 on Saturday October 29, 2011
in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff MARK CORNELISON |
STAFF
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/09/1951990/kentuckys-trevathan-constantly.html#storylink=cpy
"Danny was the heart and soul of our team," Kentucky defensive
coordinator Rick Minter said.
"Not just on our defense but on our team.
He lived up to the reputation that preceded him -- or that I found out
about when I got here. He was a leader. He worked hard. He was a
playmaker, a producer.
"I was never disappointed in the way he brought it."
"This kid makes a ton of sense for the Denver Broncos," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said on the network's draft broadcast.
Linebacker Danny Trevathan. Photo By Danny Mason www.maxdenver.com
Trevathan
led the Wildcats -- and the entire Southeastern Conference -- in
tackles in 2011 with 143, the second straight year he accomplished that
feat.
For his career, Trevathan has 374 tackles, six sacks, 32.5
tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, nine passes
defensed and four interceptions.
"Danny Trevathan is everywhere," Mayock said, noting that scouts he talked to called him "one of the toughest kids in the SEC."
Danny Trevathan carries the ball in a Leesburg High School game.
Below are a list of some Trevathan's accomplishments at Leesburg High School:
First-team All-Central Florida by the Orlando Sentinel
Area
Defensive Player of the Year for Lake and Sumter counties by the
Sentinel
Area Defensive Player of the Year by the Leesburg
Daily Commercial
Senior statistics included 117 tackles, seven
tackles for loss, 5.5 quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries (one
returned for a touchdown), and three caused fumbles
Played
quarterback and running back on offense
Rushed 56 times for 427
yards, a 7.6-yard average, and three touchdowns
Notched 98 tackles,
including 17 for loss, along with five caused fumbles, three fumble
recoveries, and six sacks as a junior
Played in the Central Florida
East-West All-Star Game following his senior season
Played for the
winning West team, causing a fumble with a big hit and had a long return
on another fumble to set up a touchdown
Was timed as fast as 4.45
seconds in the 40-yard dash
All-around
athlete who was a member of the school's weightlifting, basketball,
baseball and track teams ... Ran the 100- and 200-meter dashes in track,
along with the 4x100-meter relay.
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.
Photo from the 2011 Spring Football Game Gainesville Eastside at Leesburg, May 21, 2011. (ASHLEY BEYER/Freelance Photographer)
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
May 21, 2012
LEESBURG - The 2012 FHSAA Spring Football Season will be coming to a close in a few days. After a couple of weeks of enduring Florida spring time temperatures soaring in the 90's, teams will now have a chance to see how much progress they have made in game conditions. Leesburg second year head coach Randy Trivers will take his Yellow Jackets squad on the road Thursday night to face Gainesville Eastside to see how they match up with the Alachua County School. This will be the first trip to Citizens Field/Milton Lewis Stadium at James F. Niblack Athletic Complex, for the Jackets since the 2008 season.
"I think you are going to have some exciting football for people to see," Trivers said.
For the second spring in a row Trivers will have to replace one of his coordinators. In 2011 Offensive coordinator Greg Malling left LHS to take a head coaching job in Wisconsin at powerhouse Arrowhead High School. This Spring Defensive Coordinator Curt Bradley has taken a head coaching job with Braden High School in Bradenton Florida.
Eastside High School football coach Jeff Parker watches his team go
through drills at spring practice. (CLEVELAND TINKER/Special to the
Guardian)
Trivers and his coaching staff have used this spring to focus on togetherness, being a smart team and staying disciplined. The Yellow Jackets were in playoff contention the past two seasons going to its final game. The Jackets finished the season 8-2 (2-2) barely missing the playoffs with their only losses coming to Orlando Maynard Evans (2011 FHSAA Class 7A Regional Semifinalist) and Clermont East Ridge (2011 FHSAA Class 7A Regional Finalist) Leesburg is seeking its eighth State Championship game appearance and first playoff game since 2007.
"All of our goals are still intact we want to be a playoff team," Trivers said in a interview with Frank Jolley on Friday Night Lights. "That's still very much a achievable goal for us so we are excited to be able to continue to improve, work together and go after that goal."
Jackets talk it over on the sideline during senior night. Ocala Lake Weir at Leesburg, November 4, 2011(By Ashley Beyer Freelance Photographer).
Both teams faced each other in the 2011 Spring game at Leesburg Memorial Field at Hubert O. Dabney Stadium. The game was halted with six minutes left due to bad weather with the score tied at 7-7. Eastside leads the all-time series between the teams 5-3.
Eastside's second year head coach Jeff Parker is instilling a winning attitude in his team during his second spring practice as coach of the Rams.
"I don't like to lose," Parker said.
"We
are focusing on the kids competing hard and having a winning attitude
about everything they do, taking nothing for granted, and working to
fight as a unit," Parker said. "When they go out there on that field,
they have to know that they have each other's back. We are trying to
weed out any individual attitudes."
Junior Anthony Burch (DE, OLB) is one of the players who is leading the team with the new attitude.
"Most
of us have been through the pain and suffering of the last two and
three years, and we are seniors now and we already know what to expect
and to go through, so we should be all right," said Burch, adding that
he also takes being a leader seriously. "I am trying to be the best that
I can be, and when I see the younger guys slacking off like I did when I
was younger, I correct them because I have already been through that."
Eastside will work out of a new offense installed by former eight year NFL player Willie Jackson (Gainesville P.K. Yonge, University of Florida, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys). Jackson's son Sir Jackson is Eastside's quarterback and will be leading the new offense.
Sir Jackson said that the winning attitude has already set the tone for this spring and the upcoming season. According to the junior quarterback this team has some intestinal fortitude and has displayed it throughout the 2012 spring campaign. Jackson says this is one of the hardest working groups that he has ever played with.
"I think we have more hard
working people than people who just want to talk, and I think that is
going to make us better," said Jackson, adding that he takes being a
leader seriously. "I am a hard worker and I always push my guys and I
always encourage them to do better and dig deeper."
Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune archive New
Orleans Saints receiver Willie Jackson (Gainesville Eastside Offensive Coordinator) tied an NFL playoff record for
touchdown receptions in a game, shared with nine others. He caught a
10-yard slant pass from Aaron Brooks for his first; a 49-yarder over
Dexter McCleon' and his last on a slant pattern from 16 yards.
Willie Jackson's offense will try to take advantage of the athletic ability of his players. It is a pro style offense that will use multiple sets to try and create mismatches in the Leesburg defense. Last year the Rams ran the spread, but will run a lot of formations with one or two backs and tight ends this year.
"We are definitely going to get the ball to our playmakers," Parker said.
Leesburg's offense will have some new faces this spring. The Jackets will enter the game a little nicked up from one of the most intense spring practices in the history of Leesburg High School Football. The Jackets eleven are one of the smallest teams in FHSAA Class 7A
football. For what this squad lacks in size they makeup for it with
physical conditioning, speed, athletic ability and technique.
"Fundamentally we try to teach our kids to utilize what they have the
best way they can, in terms of leverage and fundamental techniques",
said Trivers." "We try to be smart with scheme and certainly things such
as strength and stamina that come into play."
The biggest hole to fill on offense will be at Wide Receiver this spring. 2012 University of Miami (FL) signee D'Mauri Jones, Juillard Roberts and Jalen Dozier all have been lost to graduation, placing the wide receiver position up for grabs. Brian Jefferson, Adrian Falconer and Lee Bennett have had a great spring and will be counted on heavily in the fall. Bennett is very versatile and will be moved around so he may get the football in his hands more often this season.
Leesburg at Orlando Maynard Evans October 21, 2011 (By Ashley Beyer Freelance Photographer)
"If we have to throw it 30 times than that's what we will do," said
Trivers on the Jackets weekly game plan on offense. "If we have to throw it 3 times
than that's what we will do."
Another receiver to keep you eye on is Afernee Scott the brother of Jalen Dozier (D'Mauri Jones first cousin). He has great speed and is very dangerous in the open field giving the Jackets a game changer at that position.
Anthony Miller comes back at running back after a solid junior year, despite missing a couple of games due to injury. Miller averaged about six yards per carry last season and will be looked upon to be the workhorse of the backfield. Brad Scott and Travon Johnson will also get some carries in the game.
On the defensive side of the ball for the Rams they are led by Burch, sophomore Barry Johnson and junior Micheal Linton (6'1", 255 pounds). Expect to see some some solid play Eastside linebacking corps and secondary. The defense is the backbone of the Eastside team especially the defensive line.
Leesburg's defense will deal with the loss of 2012 High School Butkus Award winner Noor Davis. Davis is headed to California to play for the Stanford Cardinal. Without Davis in the lineup commanding double and triple team blocking schemes the Jackets will have to have some other players step up.
The Jackets also with will have to deal with the loss of last year's leading tackler Chase O'Donell (Thiel College). Leesburg has some studs on the defensive line in Tyler Reed, Devonte Williams and Adriel Handsborough and look to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.
The linebacking core is led by Jordan Tucker who is being coveted by the University
of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Miami (FL),
University of South Florida, Florida State University, and University of
South Florida too name a few. Tucker is listed on the Orlando Sentinel Super 60 watchlist and is rated #50 in the Miami Herald High School Blog Class of 2013. With a strong spring game performance he will watch his list of college offers soar.
Austin Walker the teams second leading tackler last year returns and will add his senior leadership to the linebacking corp. Walker has a nose for the football and should have a big spring game performance. Devonte Williams, Jerrel Sims all have had great springs and will see plenty of playing time in Thursday's game.
Tavares at Leesburg, September 5, 2011. (ASHLEY BEYER/Freelance Photographer)
The secondary will have to deal with the loss of Trey Perry (Carson-Newman College) and Zach Mahan. Jermaine Gasden, Bryant "Mr. No" Benton and Demetric Blue help lead a solid secondary with plenty of experience under game conditions.
Eastside's kicking game will be led by returning starter Nick Fethire. Fethire will probably handle all the kicking duties, except for punting according to Parker.
Special teams is one of the Jackets strengths with Walker returning as punter. James Elridge who won the placekicking job as a sophomore last year returns and will handle the placekicking duties.
"I think one of the biggest differences this spring is that we are a more together football team and a more mentally tougher football team in a lot of ways," Trivers said.
Overall Parker is pleased with how things have taken shape this spring with his Rams squad. He believes that the program is taking the right steps towards becoming a state powerhouse again.
This will be the first trip to Citizens Field/Milton Lewis Stadium at James F. Niblack Athletic Complex, for the Jackets since the 2008 season.
"You
don't build anything overnight, it takes time to lay a foundation,"
Parker said. "We are seeing the fruits of what we did with these guys
last year, and we are excited about the progress they have made."
This should be an exciting spring affair and both teams seem to be headed in the right direction.
School: Leesburg High School, Leesburg, Florida
Class-District: 7A-4
2011 Record: 8 -2, (2 -2)
Head Coach: Randy Trivers (2nd season) Leesburg Coaching Record: 14-6
Key Returnees: Anthony Burch
(DE, OLB, JR), James Henderson (5'8", 240, OL), Sir Jackson (QB 5'11", 185, JR), Richard Johnson (C, 6'4", 280, SR),
Jamari Walker (6'1", 190, RB, LB), Tracey Williams (FB, LB) and sophomore Barry
Johnson (6'2", 240, DE, TE, JR). Seth Brown (6'5," 230 pounds TE), Michael Linton (6'1," 255 pounds DL, JR), Jesse Houston (5'11", 185, OL,SS,SR), Sean Scott (5'9", 185 LB), Kevin Jenkins (6'1", 320, LG, JR), Quintarvis King (5'11", 200, JR, MLB,OLB), James Scott (5'11", 210, DL,OL, JR)
Leesburg vs. Gainesville Eastside Series Records
1974 Leesburg 20, Gainesville Eastside 14
1975 Gainesville Eastside, 21 Leesburg 7
1976 Leesburg 57, Gainesville Eastside 7
1999 Gainesville Eastside, 12 Leesburg 7
2000 Gainesville Eastside, W Leesburg L
2005 Gainesville Eastside, 21 Leesburg 9
2006 Gainesville Eastside, 13 Leesburg 7
2007 Leesburg 14 Gainesville Eastside 7
2008 Gainesville Eastside 20 Leesburg 0
LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL FHSAA PLAYOFF HISTORY
7 Playoff Appearances 3-7 All-Time Record
State Championships 1927, 1929, 1934
State Runnerup 1928, 1969
District Championships 1969, 1971, 1992, 2007
1969 CLASS 2A District Playoffs: Leesburg 12, Auburndale 0
1969 CLASS 2A Semifinals: Leesburg 36, Belle Glade 23
1969 CLASS 2A Championship: Blake (Tampa) 27, Leesburg 6
1971 CLASS 3A District Playoffs: Haines City 34, Leesburg 0
1992 CLASS 4A District Playoffs: Leesburg 47, Land O’Lakes 0
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.
