yesterday's tennessee

BLACK AND GOLD - 1927

ATHLETICS, FOOTBALL

LEROY OZMENT, Captain Quarterback

Among the best of all football players that ever played for Lexington High School we will find Captain Ozment. For three years he played at quarter, and showed his ability as a field general. "Mex" was Captain of last year's team, and proved to be a very capable man. During the past season his ability to throw passes caused Lexington High to make many gains. Not only could he throw passes, but he was an excellent broken-field runner and a consistent ground gainer. However, Captain Ozment excelled in one thing - that of making field goals from placement kicks. Leroy leaves us this year, and his services will be greatly missed. He leaves a place that will be hard to fill. We all wish "Mex" the best of success wherever he may go.

F. C. EWEN, Coach

This year was Coach Ewen's first year in Lexington High School as a teacher, and also his first year to coach a football team. As he had never before coached a team, he could not be expected to put out a championship team; but as he was aided by several members of the team, Lexington High School had the best team in its history.

MASON CONGER, Manager Halfback

"Pete," by his stellar performances at halfback, has made a pleasing impression on the Lexington High School sport followers that will be remembered for many a day. Conger used his head in a way other than a ram in his line-slashing tactics, for many times his quickness of thinking saved many a yard. He will be remembered as a broken-field- runner, a sure ground gainer through the line, and a player who always wanted to be in the thickest of the fray. It will be a difficult job to fill "Pete's" place on next year's team. He leaves Lexington High School with the respect and best wishes in anything he may undertake.

JAMES FRAZIER, Fullback

Frazier, a star tackle of last year, played regularly as fullback this year. "Bull" was a wonderful ground gainer, and was called on to make a large part of the yardage. He received an injury on his foot, which was a handicap to him the remainder of the season. His services will be greatly missed next year as an offensive player and as a man to back up the line.

N. F. LAGRANGE, Tackle

Nestor, as he was such a small man, weighing only 195 pounds net, could not be expected to play football. But little men cannot be judged by their size. This was LaGrange's first year to play football for Lexington High School. He proved to be a man who would always open the opposing team's line for a gain. Many gains were made through Nestor by his teammates, and very few gains were made through him by his opponents. Nestor has played his last game for L.H.S.

FLETCHER DAVIS, End

Davis earned his first "L" this year. He started out on the Scrub Team, but played in such a manner that he could not be kept off the first team. He is one of the best defensive ends that has ever worn the "Tigers" regalia. "Fletch" was not only a terror on defense, but worried his opponents on offense. Next year Davis is counted on to develop into one of the best flanksmen in this section of the country.

JAMES MCHANEY, End

"Tot" had the reputation of being the smallest man on the team, and also one of the best. James was a fast little end, who always got his man. He was always full of "pep" and never gave up. "Tot" made his letter this year. and still has two more years to play for Lexington High School.

VARNEL TAYLOR, Tackle

Taylor waited until' his Senior year before he decided he wanted to play football. He came out last fall and made the team. Varnel was a man you could depend on to always do his best. He could open up a bole in the enemy's line and could always hold his part on the defense. Taylor will be greatly missed next year when time for football comes.

HENRY B. DAVENPORT, Center

"Kitchen" came out his first year and made his letter in football. Although he was green at first, he soon learned what he was to do. With one year's experience, Henry B. should star in his position next year. He has three more years to play for old L.H.S., and during that time the "Tigers" will feel secure as far as the center position is concerned.

FRANK BUNCH, Captain-elect, Guard

Frank for the past two years has shown himself such a player as to be chosen Captain of next year's team. Bunch is a terror on both defense and offense, and is perfectly capable of coming out of the line and running splendid interference. He has two more years to wear the Black and Gold, and will win greater fame in the future than in the past. Frank will make a good Captain, and we wish him luck on the gridiron and socially.

PETTIGREW HAY, Halfback

Hay was a fast little half, and did good work offensively on sweeping end runs, fakes, and time after time he would spill his man when running interference. "Pea" Hay will be the only one of the "Four Horsemen" to report for practice at the first sound of the whistle next fall.

JOHN HOWARD, Halfback

Howard, in winning his first letter, played a good brand of football at half this year. John was an accurate receiver of passes, and made many gains in this manner. He also was a good man to break up forward passes for the opposing team. "Disrespectful" will be back next year to fight for the Black and Gold.

WILLIE S. MUSE, End

Of his two years on the team, the best games were the last games of the season and against the same team. This shows that Muse was always ready to work hard for the betterment of the team. He was an end whom opponents always found hard to block out of a play. "Scoot" has played his last game for L.H.S.

ALFRED ARMSTRONG, Center

"Babe," as Alfred is better known, played center this year, and played it well. Besides having the hardest position to play on the team, Alf showed that he was capable of taking care of the position. He was a fine defensive player, and usually opened up .a hole for his teammates. "Babe" has three more years to play for L.H.S., and he will make a valuable man.

PLAUTT LINDSEY, Guard

Plautt started out his second year to play football for L.H.S., but was injured in the shoulder the first game of the season and was kept from playing the remainder of the season. Plautt was a "regular," and was a good man in the line. He will be seen in a uniform again next year.

ERSEL JOHNSON, Guard

"Battler" didn't get into many of the games this year, but he showed that he will make somebody work for his position next year. Ersel proved to be a hard worker, and we are expecting him to be playing in the line for L. H. S. in the future. "Battler" has three more years left in which to win his "L."

DONALD DAVIS, Tackle

This was "The Don's" first year on the gridiron. He was always willing to work, and showed that he would give some man a good race for tackle next year. Don didn't play in all the games this year, as he had too many experienced men to play against. He will bear watching next year.

OREN GILLIAM, Tackle

This year was Dick's first year to play football. He won his letter, and has two more years to win it again. Dick showed that he could play football when he wanted to. He was a good tackle, and often he would show his teammates that he could he depended on by stopping many of the enemy's plays.

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RESUME OF FOOTBALL SEASON

With seven letter men of last year's team back, a good number of new men out, Lexington High School held its first practice of the season on August 20, 1926.

On September 24 we opened the season with Hohenwald on their home field. Although we lost this game 6 to 0, it showed that L.H.S. had a scrappy team, that didn't know the meaning of the word "quit." Their touchdown occurred in the latter part of the last quarter.

The following Friday the opening of the season at home was celebrated by the defeat of Milan High School 19 to 0; and, to make the victory complete, Milan was not allowed to make a single first down.

October 8 found us suffering a defeat in Waverly at the bands of Waverly High School. It was just another close game that was hard to lose. The game ended 7 to 0. The aerial attack of the enemy was a deciding factor of the game, over a hundred yards being gained that way.

October 15 we brought our percentage up to 500 per cent by defeating Greenfield High School on their own field by the score of 24 to 0. Three touchdowns, with points after and a goal from field, was the cause of the defeat.

Somerville suffered a 28-12 defeat on the local gridiron, their two touchdowns being made by forward passes.

Grove High School handed us our third defeat of the season on the Paris field - 17 to 7. In this game we carried the ball eighty yards down the field on off tackles and line plays for our only touchdown.

On November 5 Humboldt High gave us our only defeat on the home field by the score of 20 to 10. Our team made 10 points before the opponents ran with the ball from scrimmage. Humboldt scored their touchdowns in the second and third quarters.

Savannah brought the heaviest team to Lexington that we had played this year, but their weight didn't keep them from a 12-0 defeat.

To close the season we played our old enemy, Brownsville, on their field. At the close of the game the score stood 7 all. All dope was against us in this game. Brownsville having defeated Humboldt, a team which had won a victory at our expense. Our team put its best into the fight, and showed that we did not mean to close the season with a defeat.

The only team outweighed by L.H.S. was Greenfield. Though 500 per cent is not a record to boast of, L.H.S. is proud of the spirit displayed by its team in every game.

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