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6 OCTOBER, 1966
The Panther
Panthers Smoke
Dragons
The Clark College Panthers
launched their 1966 season with
a 28-21 victory over the Lane
College Dragons, September 24
at Herdon Memorial Stadium.
With speed merchant Elijah
Nevett picking up where he left
off last season, the Panthers
wasted little time getting on
the scoreboard. On the first
play from the line of scrim
mage, quarterback Dwight El
lison flipped a 58-yard scoring
pass to Elijah Nevett. However,
the Dragons came right back for
their first score and took the
lead 7-6.
On the first play of the sec
ond quarter, Ellison and Nevett
teamed up for the Panthers’
second 6-pointer, a 29-yard pass
play. Still Lane came back with
another score to regain the lead.
Then, just before the first half
ended, Ellison connected Ron
ald Mclllwain. A pass to Nevett
was good for a two-point con
version. Half-time found Clark
in the driver’s seat 20-13.
The Red and Black blew an
other opportunity for another
TD in the third quarter when
Ray Ruffin blocked a punt
which landed in the end zone
but was unable to gain posses
sion of the ball. However, it put
two more points on the score-
board for the Panthers. Stub
born Lane then came to within
one point of the Panthers with
a touchdown and two-point con
version.
The final and deciding tally
came late in the fourth period
when Clark’s strong wing back,
Wayman Docks,•'picked his way
15 yards to pay dirt.
Panthers Edge
Ft. Valley 14-13
The Red and Black Panthers
of Clark College squeezed past
Ft. Valley State College by a
score of 14-13.
After the first quarter, which
was dominated by defensive
play, the Panthers generated a
scoring drive about five minutes
into the second quarter. The
drive was capped by Clark’s
sensational halfback Elijah Ne
vett, who penetrated the Ft.
Valley defense for the score
from the two-yard line.
The Wildcats of Ft. Valley
later scored by recovering a
Clark fumble in Panther terri
tory. After a series of downs
the Wildcats knotted the score
at 6 apiece. Ft. Valley later
took the lead 13-6 just before
half time after recovering a
punting attempt.
Then late in the third quarter
the Panthers came roaring back
with Elijah Nevett crossing the
chalk from 25 yards out. A two-
point conversion, a pass from
Dwight Ellison to Nevett, gave
Clark their margin of victory.
This game could have ended
with Clark winning by as much
as two touchdowns. A touch
down was nullified because of
a penalty and on another drive
had the Panthers on the Wild
cats’ goal line as the game
ended.
With mistakes kept at a min
imum and the improvement of
the team as the season pro
gresses, the Mighty Panthers
should make a strong bid for
the “B” Division Title of the
SIAC.
All-American Bound
Faster than a speeding bullet? NO! Able to keep tall buildings
at a single bound? Hardly! More powerful than a locomotive? I
doubt it! But he is the best running-back to ever come out of
Bessemer, Alabama.
Born Elijah Nevett about the time Hiroshima was going up in
smoke, he has the distinction of being one of the most under-rated
halfbacks in the conference. He is the best of a fine stable of
running-backs used by Coach Leonidas Epps.
At 6 feet and weighing 183 pounds with boots on, Nevett is
not over-powering but has more moves than a malt has calories.
With good speed and deceptive motion he is most effective on the
power sweep which is executed with perfection by Quarterback
Dwight Ellison. This play is the most popular play in Clark's play-
book and well it should be to take advantage of Nevett’s speed to
the outside. He can turn the corner with the best of them and is
seldom, if ever caught from behind.
After graduating from high school in Bessemer, Nevett was
sought after by a number of southern schools. He instead decided
to attend Clark and carry on the Nevett tradition which began
when Clark was mostly cow pasture. Nevett has come on in grand
style and proven that he is made in the great traditions.
Nevett is also equally as dangerous as a pass-receiver. He has
the best pair of hands in the conference. If it is thrown he usually
will get it. Often you will see him double or even triple covered
but each time he will come up with that pill. He has become a
favorite target of Quarterback Ellison and the combination has
power to be quite explosive.
Made in the hard-nose tradition, Nevett plays that type of ball
and very seldom fumbles which has plagued some of the best backs.
He is often seen breaking tackles when it seems as though he
surely will be stopped.
In his three seasons at Clark he has been ALL-CITY and
ALL-CONFERENCE each of those years. He has been voted
Clark’s Most Valuable Back the past two years and is the leading
candidate for that honor this year.
He was voted the BACK of THE YEAR by the Sportsmen
25 Club and has been voted W A O K'S BACK of THE WEEK
several times during his career.
Nevett hopes to join the professional ranks and has been con
tacted by numerous pro ball clubs. Among those are the Minnesota
Vikings and Los Angeles Rams of the HFL and the Kansas City
Chiefs and Houston Pilers of the AFL.
Last year Nevett ran five straight kickoff returns for touch
downs, the shortest of which was 96 yards. He did this in carries
against Bethune Cookman, Lane, Savannah State. With eight touch
downs in the first three games (two being called back) Nevett is a
cinch to be among the conference scoring leaders.
INTRODUCING . . .
Fullbacks (L to R), John Johnson, Tim
Gardner, and Eugene Rhodes are called
upon on short yardage situations.
Panther Signal-Callers are (L to R)
Henry Earle, Dwight Ellison, and James
Curb.
"It's what's up front that counts." One
of the mainstays in Clark's interior line
is center William Trice, a native of
Atlanta.
Bobby Nevett in action on his usual
rampage for a touchdown.
Bobby Nevett a gentleman, scholar and
athlete.
1966 Clark Panthers
Members of The Panther Coaching staff are (L to R) Louis Nevett, Asst, line
Coach; Head Coach Leonidas Epps; Leroy Hambrick, Backfield Coach; Curtis
Crockett, Asst, line Coach.
Ends L. to R. Top Row: Donald Mclllwain (80); O'Neal Banks (86); Charlie North
(82); Morris Stroud (85). Bottom Row: Larry Bolton (82); Raymond Ruffin (87);
Richard Bolton (83).
Guards L. to R. Top Row: Mike Choice (69); Carl Hurt (50); Walter Burton (64);
Melvin Jenkins (78); Drajoh Morrow (61). Bottom Row: William Peoples (67);
Jesse Childs (68); Ralph Green (66); and Donald Lisby (61).
Wingbacks (L to R): Walter Easley (14); Eddie Johnson (43); Raymond Docks
(44); and James Baskin (26).
Tackles L. to R.: Sam Hill (76); Byron Jones (73); McDuffie Mims (79); Richard
Lee (77); Marvin Harris (75); William Levett (74).