Best In The State?
September 24, 1969
Jackets Passing Too Much
Ask Wilbur Lofton and he'll tell you his Leesburg High Yellow Jackets will be lucky to win five games. Ask a Yellow Jacket fan and he'll tell you they'll win them all.
Which of the two is right? Only time will tell, But one thing is for sure, the Yellow Jackets could go all the way.
The size, depth and experience is there at all the key spots - quarterback, wideouts, tackles, linebacking, In fact, the only key spot that remains a question mark is at running back, but that position may take care of itself.
"We could end up with a fine ballclub," remarks Lofton. We'll have as fine a Class A team as anybody, but you have to take into consideration our schedule. It's loaded with tough games."
A quick look at the schedule indicates such. It's dotted with two Class AA schools, four Class A schools and three Class Bs. It's about as varied a schedule as you can get
How can they be that tough with three Class B schools on the slate? It's simple ... the Class B teams are Eustis, Winter Garden Lakeview and Wildwood. Any of the three make a formidable opponent for any Class A school. Eustis has enough boys to be a Class A, But managed to stay in Class B one more year.
Winter Garden was a class A last year, went 8-2 against a predominately Class A schedule, but lacked two boys of having enough this year. Wildwood, though small even for a Class B, won the 1965 state Class A football championship.
The Class AA schools are Deland and Ocala. DeLand has 736 boys in its top three grades, Ocala 1080. Leesburg has 471.
But, despite the awesome foes, there were many schools that dared not even schedule the Yellow Jackets this year, so feared were they of the passing of Mike Napier, the catching of Greg Williams, the defensive play of Greg Johnson, Sam Rixie and Mike Chatman.
Basically, this Leesburg team could be the finest in the school's history, and it has the potential to win the 13 games necessary for a state Class A football title.
Lofton considers Napier the finest all-around quarterback he has ever coached. The 6-1, 185 pound senior has college scouts drooling with a passing arm that accounted for nearly 1,500 yards last season and legs that ran for nearly 600 more.
He is an odds-on favorite for All-State honors and a major college scholarship. Lofton also plans to use him as much as possible. When he's not on offense, he'll be a safety on defense and a fine one. He also will handle the punting chores.
Leesburg will go to the air much more than last year, Lofton promises, Napier's aerials will be directed primarily at Greg Williams, a 185-pound speedster who caught 51 last year for 973 yards and 11 scores. He, too, is all-state material.
But Williams isn't the only Napier target. Williams demands double (and sometimes triple) coverage with his speed, sure hands and quick moves. So Napier may go more to a capable crop that includes wideouts Tommy Ryan (190), Theodis Williams (160), Sherrill Lackey (165) AND Denny Bradford (160).
Napier may also be used as a wideout at times, with sophomore Andy Carlton: Destined to become as fine - if not finer - than Napier, at the quarterback slot, Carlton threw a 49-yard touchdown pass in the spring game and hit on four of five as a freshman last year.
Lackey, who played defense lat year, could become the pair's prime target. He caught both touchdown passes through in the spring game and has the speed to get open quick.
We may have to pass a little more than I like," cautions Lofton, "unless we can find ourselves a running game."
Sam Rixie, who doubles as an outstanding linebacker, will be the key. The 170-pounder will
run from the fullback spot and could be a fine one, though the lacks experience at that
position. Ryan, Anthony Hart (160), James Hulsh (175), Henry Kerrison (180) and Napier are
also expected to handle the running chores.
Weakest places along the line are right in the heart - at guard and center, Isaac Williams, a
monster at 235-pounder, was lost in the spring by grades and would have been the starting
center.
But the tackle position is so well stocked that Lofton decided over the summer to move Rocky Norris, all 270-pounds of him, to offensive center.
The tackles may be the strongest point on the team. Greg Johnson, a starter as a freshman
last year, will go both ways, as will newcomer James Mackey. Johnson is 6-4 225.... Mackey
6-3, 205. Both have exceptional speed and have all-star credentials.
Mark Sneed, if he doesn't play guard, is big at 205, and will see a lot of action.
RESOURCES
September 24, 1969
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
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.
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