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SPORTS EDITOR % J '~V ” *
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Need A Box
Last Friday night coach Bob Morrow and his
Perry Panthers traveled to Peach County and tore
up a box.
The “box”, for those not acquainted with the
term, was the formation used by Notre Dame
back in the 40’s that produced havoc to countless
foes, and several national titles for the Irish.
Peach County head football coach Scott Conner
dusted off the obsolete “box” last season and used
it effectively; in fact, the Trojans raced to a 7-2-1
record with it.
Conner, in his second season at the helm of the
Trojans, decided to use the Notre Dame Box again
this season. Prior to last Friday night, the Trojans
buried four of their first five opponents (it should
have been five, but they blew a 20-17 contest to
Thompson) by using the “box” better than
seventy percent of the time. Just two weeks ago,
Conner’s Trojans blew a good Washington County
team off the field, 33-14, utilizing the “box” to its
Ofull potential. Kenneth Baldwin, Peach County’s
second best back, ripped off better than 200 yards
in tailback reverses.
Last Friday night Peach County was expected
to put Perry’s 2-3 Panthers in their “box”. But, it
didn’t turn out that way.
Defense Rebounds
Three weeks ago the Panthers were handed
their worse defeat in half a decade (49-28 to Dodge
County) and surrendered nearly a quarter of a
mile in ground yardage. Morrow and his staff
went to work the following week to cure the
problem, and it payed off against Peach County.
Sure enough, the Trojans came out Friday night
in the “box”, as expected. What the Fort Valley
based Trojans didn’t expect is that they couldn’t
jun, with any consistancy, against a reawakened
•Panther defense. “No big deal,” Peach County
fans were muttering, “The Trojans will get
cranked up. It’s only the first quarter.”
The first period ended in a scoreless deadlock.
Peach continued to have difficulties against the
Panthers’ defensive unit in the second quarter. In
fact, it proved to be the Trojans’ poorest stanza of
the evening, 20 total yards.
While Peach continued to butt their heads
against the immovable Perry defense, the Pan
ther offense was putting the winning points on the
scoreboard. James Hillson eliminated the goose
eggs by toeing a line drive 36-yard fieldgoal that
put the jubilant Panthers in the lead, 3-0. Four
minutes later, Lloyd Turner tossed a 12-yard
touchdown pass to Ike King to further increase the
Perry lead to 10-0, after Hillson’s conversion.
In the second half we thought sure the Trojans
would discard their “bread-and-butter” Peach
but they didn’t. And they experienced just
as much difficulty moving the football as they had
in the first half. Mid-way through the third
quarter the issue was as good as settled. Peach,
still in their “box”, didn’t have a chance.
The credit has to go to the Panther defense.
They held the region’s leading rusher, Mathew
Jackson, to 88 yards in 21 carries. Ten times
during the evening he was held to three yards or
less. No other opponent has done that to the strong
195-pounder. Jackson probably had nightmares
about a big ”44” (James Hillson) all night.
Baldwin, the Trojans normally explosive tailback,
was shut off all night. Six times he was dumped
for losses, mostly on first downs. The Panthers’
defensive line was not nice to Mr. Baldwin.
While the Perry defense did surrender 180 yards
on the ground to the Trojans, they did it the right
way...a little here, then nothing. Eight different
limes the Panthers gave the Trojans a first down,
then the wall came up. Only once all night did the
ground-oriented Trojans put together as many as
three first downs in succession.
Perry defensive coaches Allen Shaw and Rick
*f)uncan were responsible for the play-calling
defensively that crushed the “box”. If you can call
a near perfect game defensively, Rick and Allen
did just that. They had the Panthers well prepared
for the box.
Hillson Leads The Way
Aside from Hillson (who had a pretty good
“season” Friday night with 17 tackles and 9
assists), there were several more who deserve
mention. Sophomore Freddy King, who gets
better with every game, made several important
stops from his defensive end post. Linebackers
Jaru Ash and Jess Wright penetrated all night and
introduced themselves to Baldwin and Jackson.
Tackles David Coley and Ronnie Clarington
clogged up the middle and refused to give up their
ground. Cornerbacks William Carswell and Ricky
Rump helped close off the Trojans’ outside run
ning. Keith Padgett and Mark Jones joined in
several times to stack up the Trojans. Randy
Murphy, from his defensiveback post, not only
punted like Jerrell Wilson but made numerous
on Jackson and company.
Friday night’s Panther win leveled off Perry
High’s season slate at 3-3 and leaves them 1-1 in
the region standings. A playoff berth is still a
possibility. Every team in the region, except
Americus, has at least one loss.
By the way, does anybody need a box crushed?
Just call coach Bob Morrow. He’s got some dudes
that can do it.
Colts Tough Foe For Westfield
Hornets Shoot For Number 9
Friday Night Against Jonesco
An unruly band of Jonesco
Colts ride into Perry Friday
night, set and ready to knock
the Westfield Hornets from
the unbeaten ranks. The
bosses are big, rough, and
quick, and make no secret of
wishing to spoil Westfield’s
hopes of going undefeated. A
defensive line averaging 195
pounds and a college material
linebacker by the name of Joe
Johnson head the Colt horses.
Johnson wears number 74 on
his 200 pound frame, and
several Region 2-AA SEAIS
coaches rate him the best
player they've faced all year.
He plays linebacker and of
fensive tackle, and several
college scouts are hot on his
trail. Monroe head coach
Edgar Hatcher said Johnson
made about 14 tackles in a
losing effort to the Mustangs
last week.
The mighty Mustangs edged
Jonesco 20-li and two of their
three touchdowns came on
drives of less than 20 yards.
An interception and a blocked
punt led directly to the two
scores. Other than that the
Colts played Monroe on even
terms, shutting off the
Mustangs’ high-powered
offense.
On offense the Colts are led
by 175 pound senior field
general Kandy Jackson.
Hornet fans well remember
last year’s game (won by
Westfield 26-14) where on the
last play of the game Jackson
threw an 85 yard TD pass on
the Hornets' secondary, which
to be truthful last year looked
suspect. “He’s quite a
(linger,” remarks Westfield
Head Coach Marvin
Arrington.
The Colls are loaded in the
backfield, with 180 pounder
Mike Payne and 190 pounder
David Crawford getting the
most ink. Hut David Jiles, 160
pounds, is “pretty good, too’’
says Arrington. Last year
Payne ripped the Hornet line
for 75 yards. The bosses are
varied with their sets,
springing the Wishbone,
straight “T", the “I”, and slot
sets on opponents.
Head Coach for Jonesco is
David Atkins, former Pied
mont mentor. Assistants are
Club Championship
McDonald Wins HLCC Title
Brown McDonald, Sr.,
Sunday fired a 73-74 on the
spacious Houston Lake
Country Club course Saturday
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Brown McDonald
.... HLGC Golf Champion
Casey Jones and Grady Pitt
man. The game is Westfield’s
Homecoming clash and the
Hornet seniors will be honored
in pre-game ceremonies.
Football sponsor is Mrs. Ruth
Evans this year.
The Hornets are hurting
physically, with All-Star
center Donnie Fountain lost
for the year with a broken leg
and Hanker - running back
David Bryant doubtful
following oral surgery
/ N
54. S \ ard Average
Murphy Breaks
Punting Record
Perry High senior wide receiver Randy Murphy
established a new punting record in last Friday W
night’s 10-6 Panther win over Peach County. The
155 pounder, pressed into the punting role due to
an injury to kicking specialist Bob Brown,
averaged an unbelievable 54.5 yards on six punts, i'BeSHML,
The old Perry High standard was a 51 yard
average set by David Meyer against Dublin in
1970. Meyer, a junior that season, led the region in *■
punting for two seasons. jKp.
Murphy’s foot show started Friday night with a
“short” 42 yarder, his “poorest” punt of the night.
The blond-haired senior then clubbed a 58 yarder,
followed by an awesome 61 yard spiral. Murphy’s Jh
fourth punt went over 60 yards, but he was
credited with only a 50 yarder (he punted it out of *Sa|
the endzone from the 50 yardline). M BRHBP
Murphy’s fifth punt was the one that helped seal Jk
i he lid shut on the heavily-favored Trojans.
Backed up on his own A-yardline (the line of HHKS .HH
scrimmage was the Perry 18), Murphy unleashed
city-block-long punt that traveled all the way to
the Peach County 10-yardlinc. The 72 yard shot
was the second longest punt in Perry High School
history. Meyer had a 78-yarder, in 1970. ■■H
Randy’s final punt of the night was another
Randy Murphy
J
and Sunday to become HLCC
champion with a score of 147
for the two-day competition.
McDonald edged by one stroke
Wednesday morning for an
impacted tooth. Edwin Ellis
will replace Fountain and
George Richerson will
probably replace Bryant.
Arrington lauded Donnie.
He slated, “This boy has
snapped every down for three
years and was a real leader.
He was the best center in our
region, probably the state.
Anytime we wanted three or
four yards, we just told Tom
Malone to run behind Donnie.
David Hathaway, who shot
rounds of 74-74 for a 148 total.
Placing third was Joe Starr
with a 76-73, 149 score.
In the Championship B
division, Brown McDonald,
Jr., had rounds of 83-77 for a
160 total to take the division.
Second was French Jones with
an 83-83-166. Third was Ron
Rusin with an 87-81-168.
In the first flight, three
golfers lied with 169 scores.
After a three way match of
cards, Ted Murray was
declared winner. Ted shot an
' —HHJ SPORTS EDITORIAL— '
A Change Is Needed
What I am about to say sounds like a case of
sour grapes, but really isn’t. More and more I am
coming to realize that All-Star team selections by
the vast majority of newspapers and magazines
are in reality farces. Last week, for instance, the
Middle Georgia Prep Honor Roll selected by the
Macon Telegraph and News has over fifty names
listed (including several backs who rushed for
under 60 yards). Nowhere is a Westfield Hornet on
the list, or Perry Panther.
Anyone who saw October ll’s 26-11 Hornet win
over Deerfield knows that runningback Matt
Mellette, fullback Jep Liipfert, and the entire
offensive line (Donnie Fountain, Stan Wills, Mayo
Sexton, Phi! Gentry, and Ken Simpson) should be
on anybody’s honor roll for the week. But they
weren’t named. Why????
One reason is that the Telegraph, like all dailies,
relies on correspondents to phone in area scores.
L for instance, call in Westfield results. At no time
does anyone ask for the names of interior linemen
who blocked their hearts out. The emphasis is on
And Tom would get those four
yards, every time. 1 really
hate to lose Donnie, but he’ll
Bile Baker 26-12
Lit Stingers Roll
Westfield’s Lil Stingers
walloped the Bakci Academy
87-82. Second was Billy
Graham with an 82-87, and
third was Jeff Brown u, lth an
81-88.
The second flight was won
by Roy Haney who shot a 93-
87-180. Taking second was
Jerry Gordon with a 92-90-182,
Placing third was Steve
Deubellis with a 96-86-182.
Houston Lake Country Club
is a 6,300 yard par 72 course
acclaimed as one of the
toughest in Georgia. Pro is
M L. Langston.
be on sidelines cheering us on,”
Fountain was injured in the
third period last week when a
Bruins last week 26-12 in a
contest played in Perry, “It
was by far the best game for
us," said Coach Chip
| Washington The Stingers
rolled up 176 yards through the
trenches and 58 yards via the
aerial route. The defense
played exceptionally well, and
the first team held Baker
within its own 30 yard line,
giving up only two first downs.
The first time the Stingers
got their hands on the pigskin,
Rusty Thames scored from
five yards out, behind the
blocking of Mike Nipper and
David Washington. Bill
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The Houston Home Journal
PAGE 1-B
OCT. 24, 1974,
Next Meet Oct. 28
Boosters Meet
At Perry High
The Perry Panther Booster Club met Monday
night in the Perry High Library with one of the
largest crowds of the year in attandance. PPBC
President Shelby Langston presided over the
meeting.
Coach Bob Morrow showed and discussed the
film of the Perry-Peach County football game and
told the Boosters about Perry’s Friday night
opponent, Americus.
The Panther Booster Club will meet again
Monday night, Oct. 28, in the PHS library at 8:00
P.M. All members and supporters are invited to
attend.
rushers... and in a very few instances, leading
tacklers. So nobody at the Telegraph (or any
daily) in reality knows who played outstanding
games. It’s really guesswork, prejudiced by
familiar names and familiar schools.
I am not knocking the Telegraph as much as I
am knocking the system used to select Honor Roll
names. And the same applies for Perry High, or
Jones County, or Vienna, 0r.... The fact is, area
schools are shortchanged. And in particular so are
offensive linemen. What really hurts is that some
colleges rely on newspapers for scouting pur
poses. So many qualified athletes are denied shots
at collegiate football.
Although admittedly not thoroughly familiar
with college football all-star selections, I would
almost bet the same procedure takes place. Ed
Marinaro of Cornell some years ago was almost a
Heisman Trophy winner due to out-and-out
propaganda. Headlines make Honors. Something
should be done about it, but I’m not too sure wbat.
—JJi. j
Warrior lineman fell on his
leg, breaking the small bone in
the lower leg.
O'Neal added the PAT on a
run, upping the count to 8-0.
After the stingy Stingers
defenders quelled Bruin of
fensive notions, the pint-sized
Hornets got control again.
Five plays later Thames, on
a halfback option play, passed
15 yards to end Dale Thomp
son for another TD. Paul
Smallwood ran in two extra
points and after one period of
play, the Lil Stingers were
ahead 16-0.
In the second stanza Bill
O’Neal caught a 50 yard pass
and ran it in for another touch
down but a clipping penalty
nullified the play. The reserve
team took over at this point.
Tommy Thomson, Dan
Hamer, Van Mcßae, and
Cater Pierce ran the ball for 48
yards but didn’t score. The
reserve defense held (he baby
Bruins in check for the
remainder of the second
quarter.
In the third period, QB
Perry Stanley picked up the
tempo of the contest by
scampering 14 yards for
another score. Bill O’Neal
again added another two
points and Westfield was
ahead 26-0. From that point,
the reserves played most of
the way.
Coach Washington stated,
"It would be difficult to single
out an individual star because
all 48 of our lx>ys contributed a
fair share of hard knocks.”
Next Wednesday the
Stingers travel to Hawkin
sville for a return bout with
the Bruins. The Stingers now
possess a 3-1 season record
and hope to end the season
with a fourth victory.