West Mecklenburg High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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First Row: Starnes; Lamb; Austin; Biggers; Garnett; Pearson; Keener, co-eaptain; Justice; Bethune; Harper; Roland; Cook; Bridges; Meeks. Second Row: Coach Day; Coach Peek; Watson; McCullen; Graham; Sells; Grimes; Bingham; Perkins; Vaughn; Kistler, co-captain; Allen; Shaw; Blanks; Wilson; Winters; Coach Clouse. Third Row: Bass; Sizemore; Harkey; Cavany; By rum; Gaskin; Gayle; Payne; Cochran; Counts; Severs; Caldwell; Miller, co-captain; Burgin; Self; Coach Brown. Sturdy Defense leads Tribe to Best Season Behind a hard hitting, ball hawking defense, the Indians compiled a 6-4 record, the best ever for a West squad. Running the T-formation for the first time in several years, Indian gridders under new head coach Clyde Peek got off to a slow start with consecutive losses to the Harding Rams and South Sabres, 19-6 and 14-12. The first win of the season came at the expense of Second Ward. Defensive end Troy Harkey blocked a Tiger punt and tackled Tiger quarterback Henry Shropshire in the end zone for a safety. The Indians won 21-6. The next loss came at the hands of Gastonia Ashley, 21-7, as the potent Green Wave offense proved too powerful for the Indians. In the following game the Indians hit the war¬ path as they beat the Hunter Huss Huskies 26-0. For homecoming the Indians played East, the state’s tenth ranked team. The Indian defense, led by linebacker Phil Keener, proved too much for the Eagle offense. Scoring the Tribe’s only touchdown on a 2-yard plunge, Herman Kistler led the Indians to a 6-2 win. Relying on the passing and running of quarterback John Severs and the pass receiving of end Bill Cavany, the Indians beat Lincolnton 22-6 in the seventh game of the season. The Tribe’s next opponent was the North Rebels. The Tribe played a close game but lost to a potent North offense 19-7. In their next two games, the Indians pulled off their biggest upsets. Behind the punting of Baxter Bridges and the stubborn ballhawking of Ray Miller, Phil Keener, and Lewis Wilson, the Indians stopped cold the highly ranked Wildcats. The Wild¬ cats scored first on a 44-yard run by fleet halfback Charlie Jetton. With four seconds left in the half, Severs lifted a pass to end Bill Cavany, who caught it on the two and then stepped in for the score. During the second half the Tribe defense took over and never let the Wildcats pass the midfield stripe. Late in the game Baxter Bridges boomed a punt that landed on the Wildcat 3-yard line. Wildcat safety Charlie Jetton tried to field the punt, but he was tackled by Lewis Wilson. A fumble followed. The Indians’ recovery set up the clinching score. The Indians won 13-7. In their last game of the season, the Indians met the Myers Park Mustangs. In the beginning it looked as if the Mustangs would walk away with the game as they marched 67 yards for a touchdown the first time they got the ball. Then a determined West defense took over. West scored twice in the ball game. The winning tally was scored by senior full¬ back Herman Kistler. Post season awards were numerous for the Indians. Three senior players—Cavany, Keener, and Miller —made the News and Observer All County Teams. Indian head coach, Clyde Peek, received the coach of the year award to top his first year as head coach at West. Hard hitting fullback Herman Kistler goes for a short gain against the Harding Rams in the Indians’ opening game.