Top20 continued grams in Texas. Throughout the years, Lobo football history has been spotted with success: state champions in 1937, district champions in 1947, 1958, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1976. In 1971, Clint Humphreys and his staff arrived on the scene to add one ingredient to Longview football - consistency. The following year it paid off with winning results and a 10-0 district championship. In 1973, the Lobos won eight games but lost out in the district race to eventual state champion Tyler John Tyler. In the spring of 1974, Doug Cox took over as head coach and Humphreys retained the athletic directorship. After representing the district in '74, Cox and his group of dedicated assistants led the Longview grid team onto the state semifinals after another district crown was claimed. It was repeated last fall as the Lobo team became the first ever to win three consecu- With speed merchants like Dinky Edwards (30) in the backfield, head coaches like Doug Cox have watched Longview win 50 games in the last five years against tough Texas AAAA tive district championships. The 1977 team, with 24 lettermen back competition. Lobos are always blessed with strength and quickness, and last spring had 30 from last fall's impressive 10-1 outing, different players benching more than 300 pounds. pledges to uphold the great Lobo tradition which has won 50 games in the past five Energy Research and Development Ad- won 258 games, lost 75 and tied II. Head years. Each team has been ranked among ministration in the fields of atomic energy coaches have included Ben Martin ( 1943the top ten teams in Texas by the Asso- research. It has also managed to produce 47), "Buz" Warren (1948-51), John Francis ( 1952-54), Jack Armstrong (1955-68) ciated Press polls. "Our teams are always top-notch high school football teams. quick and strong," says Doug Cox, who The local schoolboy team, called the and Emory Hale (1969-present). Over the last spring had 38 players on the roster Wildcats, have never suffered through a years hundreds of young Wildcat players who could bench press 300 pounds or losing football season since the school was have given Oak Ridge thrilling football more. Giant Hosea Taylor (National Prep, formed in 1944. Oak Ridge captured the and community pride. This year should be June/July) is now at the University of Tennessee state championship four times no different. Houston, but little (6-3, 215) brother and were voted mythical national champs Aundray played the other defensive tackle in 1958. The Wildcats were beaten by position next to Hosea in Longview's 4-3 Knoxville Central, coached by Tommy defense, and he's back for another round. Shumpert, in the next to last game on the Rancho Cordova With quality players on the roster like regular season last fall, giving them a 9-1 quarterback Kenneth Jackson (6-0, 165), season after winning the Tennessee state titailback Dinky Edwards (6-0, 165), tight tle the year before. end-safety Reno Hutchins (6-1, 1.95) and This season the Atomic City school redefensive end Eugene Williams (6-2, 195), turns 26 experienced gridders from that 9the future looks bright for Lobo grid fans 1 campaign which almost made it two in a as these and more Longview gridders dedi- row. "Our offensive line should be the best cate themselves to becoming the first Lobo since our 1975 state championship club," Ever hear of Reggie Young, Shawn team to win the Texas AAAA title. Long- insists head coach Emory Hale. It could Brady, Chris Whetstone or Gary Teague? view's Green Wave could go all the way, also be one of the quickest in the state with Football fans at Rancho Cordova High but in Texas that's a monumental task, one center Rick Zitzman (6-2, 205), tackle near Sacramento have, and after this upwhich could take the winner 15 long weeks. John Burgess (6-1, 210), tackle Jimmy coming grid campaign, you can bet college But ask defending champion San Antonio Young (5-9, 180), guard Don Stanley (5coaches throughout the West will know of Churchill, and they'll tell you it's worth it. 10, 200), guard-tackle Chipper Lasher (5them, too. These four gentlemen make up 8, 165), split end Donnie Sanders (5-10, the Lancers' offensive backfield- a back165) and tackle Carl Freeman (6-1, 250). field which might be the most explosive in Not many offensive lines fire out like the California- if not the U.S.A. Wildcats at Oak Ridge. In quarterback Gary Teague, fullback Senior David Webber (6-0, 175) could Shawn Brady and halfbacks Reggie Young Oak Ridge develop into the best Wildcat QB in years. and Chris Whetstone, head coach Ron The backfield is loaded with talent in Lancaster has four of 32 returning letterAlfred Stephens (5-8, 160), Bobby Withermen from last year's Il-l club which won spoon (6-0, 180), Sam Krakoviak (5-10, the Northern California AAA Section 160) and Terrell Ayers (6-0, 160). "We championship. The Lancers have great could have some defensive secondary and tradition on the gridiron, winning 67 of their last 70 games for one of the most Oak Ridge was formed by the federal linebacker problems," adds Hale. "But impressive "big school" records in the government to build the atomic bomb dur- our down linemen should be tough and country. ing World War II. It is now a scientific that could give us time to fill in the gaps." In 33 years of existence, Oak Ridge has Lancaster has been on the Cordova leader with all plants working for the
10.
CALIFORNIA
9.
TENNESSEE
20
PREP I SEPT.-OCT. 1977