Battle Ground Academy - Cannon Ball Yearbook (Franklin, TN)

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Springfield was big and tough. The rains that started that afternoon were ominous. They lasted throughout the game, making the ball slick and hard to handle. The defense did a creditable job, but we couldn’t get our offense moving. The Yel- low Jackets “upset” us 14 to 0. We were downcast, but Buzz soothingly reminded us, “We've got a lot of games to play. 9 and 1 won't be such a bad sea- son!” We all emphatically agreed. The next three weeks passed slowly. We fell to Lawrenceburg (19 to 7), Deshler (7 to 0), and powerful Clarksville (55 to 7). We couldn't go to a bowl now, but there was still time left to win games. Shelbyville was a team we could beat. The offense finally started to move. David Gerth broke through the line several times for fine gains. The defense was strong. With any kind of luck we could have won, but luck was not with us and we salvaged a 13 to 13 tie. While not being a victory, it was certainly not a defeat. Words of praise after the game encouraged us to try for victories in the coming weeks.

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It started in early August. The days were not as hot as those in previous years. The cool breezes made the practices more bearable but no easier. We again suffered through camp. No changes here. The linemen’s green cabins were still a good thirty yards from the latrine, and the fresh morn- ing dew still melted into the lower atmosphere to make the field as muggy as it was hot. It only lasted a week, though, and we returned to face Hendersonville. Over forty-five hundred fans jammed the Com- mandos’ new stadium to see if the defending state champions were as good as their title. Elizer’s long run was the only Hendersonville offense generated in the first half. It was good enough to give our opponents a 6 to 0 halftime edge. The situation was remedied in the second half as Brother Camp- bell scored twice, capping long drives. The defen- sive charges of Allen Anderson, Buzz Hamilton, John Moran, and Jimmy Rader were too much for the wearied Commandos. They led the defensive effort that stopped Hendersonville’s last minute drive. We won, 13 to 6. Page 20

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Herrington, H. ager Wright. Back Row: Manager Stephens, Coach Bobby Moran, Harris, Greene, Mitchell, Blackburn, Campbell, Gentry, A- Gentry, Hamilton, Rader, Martin, J. Moran, Gerth, Faircloth, Williams. Second Row: Muncy, Ross, Benz, Chambers, Anderson, Coach Cherry, Manager J. Gentry. Thompson, Dunn, Hoover, Little, Estes, Lee, Dodson, Man- Murfreesboro was a tough loss (14 to 13). We kept the ball in their territory early in the game, but could only score once. In the second half Buzz Hamilton single-handedly took a long pass from Steve Mitchell to score. It was not enough, though. The next week the B-team merged with us, and we formed offensive and defensive platoons. That Friday night at Lebanon the defense had its finest game of the season. Allen, Buzz, John, and Jimmy again led the charge with Phil Martin, David Gerth, and Buddy Parker close behind. Lebanon could manage only one drive that night, a long one in the third quarter. It was all they needed, though, and we fell 6 to 0.