Leesburg Rocks Apopka Eleven, 21-7, Fall 1953

By RICHARD BOBER

Sentinel Sports Correspondent

Orlando Sentinel

1953

APOPKA - The Leesburg Yellow Jackets stung Apopka's defending Orange Belt Conference Champions, 21-7, here last night as Vincent Fechtel, Jack Woodard and Ronald Schlosser all made paydirt jaunts.

The lone Blue Darter score was made by Bobby Pitman who changed his style and ran for the points. The Jackets had the initial score. 

Ed Stack's lads grabbed the kickoff and marched to the Apopka nine. There a pass from Bill McLean to end Fechtel got them into the lead. Ray Richardson booted the first of three placements. The Darters came right back with the marker and Pitman added the extra point on a kick.

That was the way it stood at the half, 7-7.

Apopka's tally came when it took the Leesburg kick and Guy Woodum went on a reverse for 32 yards to the Jacket 13. From here Pitman made it to the three and then scroed.

Fourteen big points in the third period made the difference as the clubs went scoreless in the last. Pitman was removed from the game early in the second half on a personal foul and on the Woodard went 49 yards over right tackle for the one that put the winners in front to stay.

A fumble, which Howard Eaton grabbed on the Darter 35, fixed up the last scoring of the game. Woodard went to the 20, Schlosser to the one and then Ron lugged it over on the next play.

THE YARDSTICK

Leesburg                                                  Apopka

17                        First Downs                       8

275                      Rushing Yards                  177

18                        Passing Yardage                50

4                          Passes Attempted              8

2                          Passes Completed             2

0                          Passes Intercepted            2

1                          Punts                                2

20                        Punting Average               24

2                          Fumbles Lost                    1

55                        Yards Penalized               35

Leesburg (21) E- Fechtel, Holloway, T, Wee Reginald, Richardson, Warren, Simmons, Pelt, G - Grigsby, Eaton, Myer, C - Glenn, Bell, B - Hall, McLean, Woodard, Marshall, Schlosser, Cundiss, Pepper, Richardson.

Apopka: (7) E- Hall, Watters, Hood, Hooper, T - Stanley, Edwards, King, Smith, Malarky, Edwards, G - Lee, Todd, Holt, Goff, C- C, Goff, Barksdale, B- R. Pitman, Woodum, Sangster, Reid, Adkins, B. Pittman, Wright, Johnson.

Score by periods:

Leesburg---------------7   0   14   0 - 21

Apopka----------------7   0    0    0 -  7

Scoring touchdowns: Leesubrg: Fechtel, Woodard, Schlosser, Apopka: R. Pittman.

Points after touchdowns: Leesburg Richardson 3, (placement) Apopka: R. Pittman (placement)

Leesburg Nips Winter Park, November 7, 1953

By Edd Taylor

Staff Writer

Leesburg Commercial

November 7, 1953

Leesburg's fierce Yellow Jackets' made Coach Ed Stack and a host of chilled followers happy at Harper-Shepherd Field in Winter Park last night as they hung a surprising 20-19 loss on Winter Park.

It was a rugged Orange Belt Conference struggle all the way. The Jackets dominated during the first half, the third period was fairly even and the Parker's came roaring back in the final stanza, only to fall a point shy as the fired-up visitors snatched the victory.

A good-sized crowd looked on as Leesburg burst into a blinding two touchdown lead with less than seven minutes gone. Jimmy Marshall, the best back on the field, scored the first TD on a 47 yard ramble and Billy McLean tossed nine yards to Vincent Fechtel for the other. Ray Richardson's extra point try was good after the second marker.

The third Jacket score - and the last - came in the next 12 minutes when Ronald Schlosser, a thorn in the Wildcats' side all evening, banged over from the one. Just as on the second attempt, Richardson's boot was true - a boot that proved the winning margin.

It was turn about in the fourth period, though, after a slam bang third quarter in which neither club could tally.

Halfback Larry Irving made his first touchdown a spectacular one as he tore through a still strong Leesburg line for 34 yards to get Jack Jones' Wildcats back into the ball game. Bender Snodgrass' point boot bounced back off the crossbars and it was 20-6, Leesburg.

The Parker stands cheered loudly moments later when Leesburg's Wallace Hall, back to kick, had it blocked by 'Cat end George Swartout, who finally scooped up the ball and ran 15 yards for the TD. This time Bender's kick was true.

Time was running out on the home club when McLean's throw was intercepted by Ray Ponder. Another interception, by Dwight Mentzer, had started the 'Cats off to their first score. On the first try, Charles Rainey faded and heaved, Bob Richmond caught, and the Wildcats had their last marker. The play went 70 yards.

Then came the big moment as Snodgrass paused for the boot.

The stands were quiet and then roared as huge Dick Holloway, the Jacket end who had grabbed off one 29-yarder set up the last Leesburg points broke through and blocked the try.

That was it, with the Jackets holding onto the ball as the game ended. It was the first conference loss for Winter Park, now 5-2 on the year. The win was Leesburg's sixth against a single defeat.

Leesburg's big tough line was rough on the home club all evening with Bobby Peppers, who made several nice tackles, Hall and Skippy Webbb leading the way. For Winter Park, Roland Azar, and Mickey Overstreet did well.

The Parker's played without their first string end, Billy Kimber, and quarterback Bobby Rogers. Leesburg also had several players out.

The lineups:

Leesburg (20) E-Holloway, Fechtel, M. collins, King. T - Webb, Regnvill, Richardson, Keedy, Parker. G - Grigsby, Webb, Bell, Pelt,Myers. C - Petitt, Glenn, Putman. B - McLean, Hall, Milam, Schlosser, Marshall, Peppers, R. Collins, Woodard.

Winter Park (19) E - R. Richmond, M. Overstreet, Wise. B - LaCroix, Chandler, Ponder, Mentzer, B. Snodgrass, Rainey, Irving.

Score by periods:

Leesburg-----------13   7   0   0  - 20

Winter Park-------- 0    0    0  19  - 19

Scoring touchdowns: Leesburg - Marshall, Fechtel, Schlosser. Winter Park - Irving, Swartout, B. Richmond.

Points after Touchdowns: Leesburg - Richardson 2 (placements). Winter Park - B. Snodgrass (placement).

Article written by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School 

leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Jackets Face Melbourne In Season Finale Tonight, November 1953

Sports Section

Leesburg Commercial

November, 1953

LEESBURG - The Leesburg Yellow Jackets will wind up the 1953 football schedule tonight against the Bulldogs of Melbourne High on the East Coast school's gridiron. The match was postponed from an earlier October date due to high waters and a threatening hurricane.

Head Coach Ed Stack reported his squad in good physical shape, with all of the players ready for action. The team showed plenty of zip in Wednesday's practice session and ran through the offensive plays with clockwork precision. A letdown followed in Thursday's drills, which is a favorable sign according to past performances. Especially on two occasions before important OBC tilts, the Jackets were up for the Wednesday drills, slacked off on Thursdays, and then played stellar games against Apopka and Winter Park.

Although halfback Jack Woodard is still carrying a bandaged hand, the first six of Coach Stack's backfield performers are in the peak shape of the season, and should be able to chalk up several touchdowns against the up-and-down Bulldog team. Guard Howard Eaton, who has been out of action since the Sanford game with a leg injury, may see some action.

Melbourne's chief scoring threat is Fred Howard, a dangerous speed merchant who has tallied six TDs this season. Don Bice and Charles Layne are two other backfield performers that may give the Jacket defense trouble.

The Bulldogs, who boast a tie with the strong Winter Park outfit, were contenders for the conference title until loss to Apopka and Cocoa knocked them out of the picture.

The Yellow Jackets are favored to win by three touchdowns, but the prestige to be gained by knocking off the loop champions may inspire the host team to make it a closer contest than expected.

Resources
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School

leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com

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.

Athlete of the Week, October 1953

Sports Section

Leesburg Commercial

October 1953

This week we will have only one athlete, "Giles Daycon" Pettit. Giles has been playing football since the tenth grade when he played first-string in his first year, which is not usually done. Giles played center that year on a team consisting mainly of Sophomores.

Last year, Giles played center and played an important part in the upset of Melbourne. He also played in the backfield part of the time, filling in for injured backs.

This year, Giles hurt his foot in pre-season drills and has seen limited service so far. But Giles told us this morning that he expected to see a lot of work Friday.

Giles stands 6' 1 1/2" weights 165 and is 17 years old.

Resources
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School

leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com