Valdosta High School - Sandspur Yearbook (Valdosta, GA)

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land. SECOND ROW: John Smrcina, Kim Rider, Vic Ledbetter, Jim Clary, James Clifton, Philip Aschom, Coach J. B. Roland, Ed Puckett, manager. THIRD ROW: John George, Glenn Williams, Danny Spicer, Billy Las- tinger, Danny Williams, Coach Joe Wilson. FOURTH ROW: Mike DeLoach, Bobby McCrary, Duane Dod- son, Bob Bolton. Against Jenkins in the South Georgia Region AAA championship game, Ronald Strobo looks for an escape from the maze of Savannah defenders. 59

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TOP ROW: Mike Paine, John Flythe, Richard Vann, Mike McMillan, Jerry Greene, Rhett Dawson, Jim Wilkes, Jerry Neal, Grady Blankenship, Guy York. SECOND ROW: Coach Julian LeFiles, Matt Paine, manager; Ronald Strobo, Bill Brannen, manager; Cecil Dubberly, Larry Griner, Ray Chitty, Walter Jones, Jimmy Hiers, Tommy Luke, Sandy Ellison, Eddie Terrell, Jerry Brooks. THIRD ROW: Coach Wright Bazemore, Jim Lloyd, Scooter Singletary, Richard Moore, Don Davis, Byron Glover, Mike Markham, Billy Grondahl, Billy Gandy, Charlie Bob Bridges. FOURTH ROW: Bob Boh- ler, David Crockett, Stan Coppage, Harvey Swearinger, Harry Pilkington, Frank Deming, Ronnie Pitcock, Joe Clary. TOP ROW: George Carter, Gary Dallas, Ben- nett Luke, Roddy Scruggs, Rollin Matthis. John Cope- FINAL EFFORTS PROPEL CATS INTO STATE CONTEST Because of a loss to Albany, the Wildcats plunged into a frenzied struggle to win the last four games or drop their Region AAA title hopes. Preferring the simplicity of winning to the confu- sion of losing, the ’Cats in the next weeks blended smooth running and passing with stubborn defense. First they knocked over MOULTRIE, 34-6. Then the TIFTON Blue Devils breezed into town with every intention of blocking the 'Cats path to the crown. When the Wildcats posted a 21-6 victory, these Devilish hopes collapsed. To lambast LAGRANGE'S Grangers, 20-0, the Cats again relied on a strong defense and determination. This victory added the final link to the long chain of regular season successes. In the South Georgia AAA Championship game against JENKINS of Savannah, the Wildcats flirted with defeat. But again the defense held until the of- fense started to click for a 16-7 triumph. Co-captains Rhett Dawson, Danny Williams, and Billy Grondahl, TOP, prepare to speak at the pep rally before the Tifton game in which Mike McMillan, BELOW, and the other Wildcats bowled over the Imps. 58

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DEFENSE DETERMINES HAS-BEEN, WILL-BE SCORE Winning a state championship title takes motivation plus coaching, like that provided for the 'Cats by backfield coach J. B. Roland, defensive coach Joe Wilson, line coaches Julian LeFiles and Charlie Greene and head coach Wright Bazemore. Coach Bill Crook and Charlie Bob Bridges, right, discuss defensive plans on the sidelines while the Has-Been offense works. 60 Will-Be Robinson looks on helplessly as Has-Been Mike DeLoach tackles Billy Gandy.