A Brief History of LHS Football

LEESBURG
FOOTBALL

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1928, 1929, 1934
STATE RUNNERUP 1927, 1969
UNDEFEATED SEASONS 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934

Leesburg High School Football Team of 1924

Top row L-R: J. D. Cox (Q.B.), Sanford Wicks (L.G.), Robert Morrison (R.G.), Buster Porter (C.), David
Browder (C.) (F.B.), Sydney Herlong (L, E.), Harold Wicks (L. T.), Kenneth Thompson (R.T.), Felix
Green (R. H.)

Middle row L-R: Drennen Brown (H.B.), Guy Boyer (R. E.), Franklin Ezell (G.), William Morrow (C.),
Donald McCann (G. & F.B.), Marvin Entz (T.)

Bottom row L-R: William Morris (Q.B.), Everett Burgdoff (L.E.), Clifford Flood (H.B.), Eugene Morris
(L.T.), Otis Butler (L.H. & Q.B.)

Note: two people on right, top row, not named

Record
L. H. S. - 0 St. Leo - 64
L. H. S. - 0 Brooksville - 50
L. H. S. - 0 Orlando - 45
L. H. S. - 6 Alumni - 21
L. H. S. - 14 Orlando - 18
L. H. S. - 13 Winter Haven - 18
L. H. S. - 7 Trenton - 0

1924 Leesburg Yellow Jackets Football Archives, Leesburg High School, 1401 Yellow Jacket Way, Leesburg, Florida 34748, LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL, 1401 YELLOW JACKET WAY, LEESBURG, FLORIDA 34748, Gerald Lacey, Staff Writer, Carver Heights Quarterback Club

A Brief History of LHS Football

By Beverly Barcus Ohnstad
Class of '67
August 31, 2007
Updated: Thursday, June 28, 2018, 1:10 p.m.

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Leesburg High School began its football program in the fall of 1924 under the direction of Coach Orville
Davis. The first games were played on Cooke Field, where Cutrale juice plant is now located. By the
fourth year the team became a powerhouse and in the fifth year Leesburg High School football team
was state champions under the direction of Coach Frank Banning. Throughout the 1930's the
Leesburg Jackets continued to have dominating teams. Between 1927-1937 the Jackets had
combined record of 79 wins 4 ties and only 7 losses, going undefeated in the '28, '29, '30, '21 and '34
seasons.

During the war years of the 40's many of our young men delayed their education to join the service. After
the war they returned home and earned their high school diplomas. The Yellow Jackets had their ups
and downs during this time with the 1944 team having the best record, 6 wins and 2 losses.

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This article was provided by Gerald Lacey
Gerald Lacey is the senior sports writer covering Leesburg High School Sports for the Carver Heights
Quarterback Club. You can reach him at: geraldlacey@leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com