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

Page 19 text:

Wiping out interference and making the tackle, the West defensive unit led by senior linebacker Bobby Counts and followed by Mike Bingham, Steve Vaughn, Doug Starnes and Reggie Caldwell halts the East drive. Spinning out of the grasp of a South tackier and gaining tough yardage, tri-captain Charlie Justice moves downfield. SCOREBOARD West. .14 East . . . . 21 West. .19 Shelby. . . . 7 West. .42 Harding. . . . 6 West. . 6 Ashley . . . . 30 West. . 0 Hunter Huss . . . . . . 19 West. .13 North. . . . 7 West. .35 Second Ward . . . . . 6 West. .27 Olympic . . . . 6 West. .14 South. . . . 32 West. .14 Myers Park . . . . . . 7 While breaking a tackle, right end Jimmy McCullen makes an attempt to lateral after the completion of a short pass. Proving his exceptional speed to several Olympic defenders, Johnny Severs turns left end on a quarterback option. Showing the running ability that placed him on the Shrine Bowl Team, Johnny Severs moves upfield against East. 15

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First Row: B. Counts, J. Severs, D. McGee, B. Thompson, R. McCall, J. Brock, M. Bingham, R. Gaskin, C. Justice, B. Bridges, K. Biggers, T. Joy, M. Mullis, B. Beckham. Second Row: R. Moore, R. Caldwell, R. Walker, J. Beatty, M. Bass, J. McCullen, M. McAleer, M. Perkins, S. Vaughn, L. Graham, M. Cox, C. McCullough, R. Latour, S. Powell, D. Benfield, D. Turner. Third Row: C. Guignard, J. Watson, D. McCall, M. James, R. Calomeris, C. Burgin, K. Beatty, M. Van Malssen, B. Faile, S. Hinson, M. Plummer, D. Starnes, S. Lamb, J. Boone, E. Allen, M. Payne, T. Eaton. West Finishes Second in Western 4A with a 6-4 Season Combining strength and skill, the football team compiled a 6-4 season to place second in the Western 4A Conference. Losing a fourteen-point lead in the third quarter, the Indians lost their opening game to East. Experienced seniors-Severs, Counts, and Justice - acting as tri-captains took charge the fol¬ lowing week and led West past Shelby. Eager for another victory, West then faced Harding. Aided by a thirty-yard field goal from Jimmie Brock and four touchdown passes. West out¬ classed Harding, 42 to 6. Forty-six West players participated in the rout, which was the second time the Indians had defeated their arch rival. West lost the next two games to the Green Waves of Ashley and to the Huskies of Hunter Huss. Determined and angered by these losses, West battered North into submission the following week. David McGee rammed over for the first touch¬ down from the two-yard line. John Severs raced thirty-five yards for the second score. Defense became the strong point of the game as the Indians protected their six-point lead by holding North four downs inside the West five-yard line. Scoring on the opening play and making two other quick scores in the first quarter sparked the Indians in their win over Second Ward. In¬ spired by the victories in previous games and spirited because of Homecoming, West scored four touchdowns in the first half against Olympic and held the lead to triumph over the Trojans by a score of 27 to 6. South momentarily stopped West’s winning streak, but West recovered and ended the season with a hard fought win over Myers Park. Leading the team in the last game was Johnny Severs, senior quarterback, who scored once on a twenty-two- yard run and once on a sixty-four-yard run with an intercepted pass. Senior quarterback Severs was duly recognized for his play during the season by being selected for both the Shrine Bowl Team and the All-County Team. Demonstrating rough defense, halfback Mike Bingham and Mike Payne move to make the tackle on Second Ward runner.

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With great control and dexterity, West’s Gary Bolt jumps and lays in a goal for two, as Charlie Bragg looks on. West . . . . . 57 SCOREBOARD Independence . . ... 65 West . . ... 44 East. .... 66 West . . ... 73 Garinger. .... 62 West . . . . . 51 Hunter Huss. . ... 75 West . . . . . 51 South . . . .... 65 West . . ... 57 North. .... 76 West . . ... 54 Gastonia Ashley . . . . ... 58 West . . ... 44 Garinger. . ... 50 West . . . . . 55 Myers Park. .... 60 West . . ... 83 Harding. . ... 74 West . . .. .72 Olympic. . ... 68 West . . . . . 67 North. . ... 62 West . . ... 67 Second Ward. . ... 61 West . . . . . 41 Gastonia Ashley.... . ... 56 West . . . . . 53 Hunter Huss. . ... 61 West . . , . . . 65 Harding. . ... 72 West . . . . . . 45 Mvers Park. . ... 73 West . . . . . . 84 Olympic. .... 65 West . . . . . . 63 Second Ward. . ... 82 West . . . ... 58 Tournament Garinger. . ... 56 West . . . . . 42 West Charlotte. . ... 69 Attempting to make a goal for the team, Devon Brookshire jumps high above the Olympic center and scores two points.