The 1 9B3 footbal l season c losed with the varsity team leaving with a winless
y ear.
Nevertheless,
spirits
and morale were kept high during the long season. The team worked hard to improve each week . At the end of the 1 3-week season, the fighting Pa triots played their hearts out against the B lack Knights, on ly to lose in the final minutes of that long, cold game. However,
the seniors showed the
younger players how never to lose faith in yourself. The defense took on a
new look
when Dan Ward was moved to defensive coordinator.
He instructed his
players in how t o defend against the pass. Clyde Hoy coached the defens ive line into hard hitters. Dick Lage was in charge of the linebackers and defensive ends.
He taught them to
"Stone them with the F lipper" and to make the perfect tackle. The offense had a new face on its side, Gary S hepard. Coach Shepard worked with wide receivers, running backs,
and
quarterbacks,
mak ing
sure that they hit the right holes and ran the right patterns. Head Coach B rian Gra iner controlled the offensive linemen for another season . He drilled them in quick feet and in the six inch punch as well as in keeping their heads up. Co -captains
Henry
Wingate
and
S teve Ivory kept a close eye on the team . Both will be missed next year as will other hard-working seniors. The
v ars ity
team
received
the
worst defeat of the year when Coach Grainer resigned . He had been coaching at AHS for 7 years and had become
head
coach
2
years
ago.
P layers had mixed emotions about his resignati o n. If you were to ask them about him, they would say, "He cared about his players both on and off of the field . " If they had the chance, most would play for him again. In spite of the August heat, young ath letes will always be out there working hard and pushing their bodies to the limit in hopes of having a winning season . With tremendous talent and a lot of effort from the younger players, the AH S team should be a competitive and strong-wi lled team for the 1 9B4 Western D istrict season.
5 1 DB
Football