The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 16

4G PASCO TRIBUNE, Thursday. December 18, 1975 4Qrn Area Tea chools Itienresente Ten Charles Lewis of Wildwood at flanker: Edenbur Richardson of Crystal River at tight end; Robbie Mills of Wildwood and Silvers at tackle: Mark Johnson of Hernando and Skip Cahill of Hudson at guards; Bo Fowler of Pasco at center, and Stewart Grumbling of Citrus as the placekicker. THE DEFENSIVE unit comprises Jinkens and Burkam at ends; Pitcock and Scooter Sellers of Hernando at tackles: Coley Standifer of Pasco. Mike Young of Wildwood, Rowland Huss of Hernando. Randy Douglas of Zephyrhills and Shawn Crane of Gulf at linebacker; Kelly, Floyd.

George Hampton of Crystal River and Dennis Farr of Zephyrhills at halfback, and Dave Sjostrom of Hudson as the punter. Bennett was named honorary captain for the offensive unit and Pitcock for the defensive unit. Alan Knight of Zephyrhills was named The Tribune's Coach of the Year. Richardson. Huss and Johnson have already signed to continue their education and playing at major universities.

Richardson is going to Georgia Tech. Johnson to Southern Mississippi and Huss to the U.S. Naval Academy. Following is a brief summary of each of the All-Stars: CHARLES LEWIS first year of competition led include defensive end Richard Burkam of Zephyrhills, defensive halfback Bill Kelly and defensive end Tim Jinkens of Hernando. Jinkens was the punter on last year's squad while Kelly made it as a flankerback in 1974.

There is size and speed abundant on the squad. Defensive tackle Chuck Pitcock of Gulf and offensive tackle Roy Silvers of South Sumter headline the size category. Both are 6-1 and weigh 230 pounds. Chiefland running back James Bennett is the quickest player. He runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.

IF STATISTICS turn you on. well this squad has them. The four running backs and quarterback have combined for a total of S.446 yards and 60 touchdowns. While watching the squad having their pictures made, Hernando High Coach Bill Humphrey had this to say: "The dream of every coach is to have the opportunity to coach a group of young men who have the ability this squad has. I would take the group and start a college and in four years would take on anyone.

"Football players get bigger and better every year. This is an awesome group of young people." The offensive unit includes Keith Jones of Wildwood at quarterback: Bennett, Reggie Delaine of Hernando. Tom Shaw of Gulf and Rick Samon of Hudson at running backs: By WALT RIDDLE Tribune Sports Writer BROOKSVILLE Gulf Coast Conference champion Hernando and state playoff representative Wildwood spearhead the second annual Tribune's All-Area team. The Leopards placed six players on the 27-man offensive-defensive unit, while Wildwood, which reached the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, followed with four players on the dream team. A TOTAL OF 10 area teams were represented on the sc0jad.

Gulf. Hudson and Zephyrhills followed with three players each, while Citrus. Crystal River and Pasco had two players each chosen. the team was rounded out with one player each from Chiefland and South Sumter. Due to the over-abundance of talent in the area this year there were four running backs chosen, four defensive halfbacks and five linebackers.

The team includes 16 seniors. 10 juniors and one sophomore defensive halfback George Floyd of Hernando. There were three repeaters from last year's squad. They area in pass receiving with 28 catches for 507 yards and seven touchdowns nickname is "Speedy" best assest is leaping ability. REGGIE DELAINE had best average per carry in area at 8.0 first year of varsity competition rushed for 681 yards and scored eight touchdowns is 6-3 and still growing.

TOM SHAW was game breaker for Gulf rushed for 797 yards and nine touchdowns with 7.4 average was marked man. but still got the big vardage hen called on. RJCH SAMON did everything but blow up the footballs for Hudson gained 907 yards and scored seven touchdowns caught 10 passes for 117 yards was a star in secondary and a member of all specialty teams only weighed 160 pounds, but played 48 minutes of football for 10 games. JAMES BENNETT led area in rushing with 1.770 yards and touchdowns with 20 his coach said he is a college prospect at three positions running back, flanker-back and defensive back has 4.5 speed gained more than 300 yards once and more than 200 yards twice this year. -KEITH JONES completed 43 passes for 883 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games missed last part of season with broken leg rushed for 408 yards and six touchdowns called the best veer quarterback in state by coach.

EDENBUR RICHARDSON can do it all signed with Georgia Tech Alan Knight Named Coach caught 11 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns top blocker and tackier on squad. ROBBIE MILLS blocking enabled Wildwood to reach quarterfinals of state playoffs graded out at 90 per cent for year. ROY SILVERS the best player on the team, according to his head coach strength top asset top student in senior class. MARK JOHNSON top college prospect has size and speed colleges started courting him as junior signed with Southern Miss. SKIP CAHILL top blocker on team never blew assignment main reason Samon gained 907 yards.

The Year 0 I j. hr A hsjSM yy fi tiJLUL.i4MJLMt picked as most on his team good quickness BO FOWLER outstanding lineman steady physical very smart player. This Is How It Was Done of Florida Power in Brooksville, arranged the two-hour job. Asplundh is under contract to By JOE HENDERSON Tribune Sports Writer ZEPHYRHILLS If some one had tried to design a perfect football coach for Zephyrhills High School, the finished product probably would have looked, talked and acted like Alan Knight. He would have married his long-time sweetheart, had two kids, lived the quiet life on the end of town, drink cokes, chew tobacco, go to church, turn cartwheels, go on camping trips with his football team and probably watch The Waltons every week.

He would rescue a football program that had sunk lower than the Bismarck and, in only his second year on the job, would coach his team to a 7-3 season that would had to have been seen to be believed. HE ALSO would have been named The Tribune's All Area Coach of the year. Alan Knight is all of these things. This is a story about a happening in a town that stepped straight out of a storybook. This kind of story is not supposed to happen in this souped-up, sophisticated.

Whiskey A Go-Go world. It started about a year and a half ago when Knight was named head football coach at Zephyrhills. The 'Dogs had tied one game in two years while losing 19 others. If there was a high school program that was in more desperate condition in the entire state it would have been hard to find. TWO WEEKS before the start of last season.

Knight found out that he was going to be the coach. "I wasn't really sure that I wanted the job at first," he recalls. "I was head track coach and I had a pretty good program built up that I didn't want to give away, but I decided to go ahead and doit." The Bulldogs were 1-8-1 that first year. The only memorable event was a 10-6 victory over a winless Dunnellon squad to snap Zephyrhills' horrible losing streak. Corbit James of Asplundh Tree Ashley, sits in (he backet used to assist Tribune Photographer Mitch Kezar take pictures of the All-Area football team, Tom Galloway, manager FP( 1 PASCQ The Tribune 's All-Area Football Team Members DEFENSE OFFENSE A A II POSITION PLAYER SCHOOL T.

T. POSITION PLAYER SCHOOL T. T. End Tim Jinkens Hernando 6-1 210 Sr. Flanker Bk Charles Lewis Wildwood 6-0 ISO Sr.

End Richard Burkam Zephyrhills 6-1 190 Sr. Ron'g BackReggle Delaine Hernando 6-3 Jr. Tackle Chuck Pitcock Gulf 6-4 210 Sr. Ron' Back Tom Shaw Gulf 5-8 150 Jr. Tackle Scooter Sellers Hernando 6-0 190 Sr.

Run' Back Rick Samon Hudson 5-10 160 Sr. Linebacker Coley Standifer Pasco S-J 210 Sr. Run' Back James Bennett Chiefland 5-11175 Sr. Linebacker Mike Young Wildwood Jr. Quarterb'k Keith Jones Wildwood 5-10 165 Jr.

Linebacker Rowland Huss Hernando $-11180 Sr. Tight End E.Richardson Crystal River 6 3 195 Sr. Linebacker Randy Douglas Zephyrhills $-11150 Sr. Tackle Robbie Mills ildwood 5-8 185 Jr. Linebacker Shawn Crane Gulf 5-11185 Jr.

Tackle Roy Silvers South Sumter6-4 230 Sr. Halfback Bill Kellv Citrus 6-2 185 Sr. Guard Mark Johnson Hernando 6-3 215 Sr. Halfback George Hampton Crystal RiverS-ll 165 Sr. Guard Skip Cahill Hudson 6-1 199 Jr.

Hallback Dennis Farr Zephvrhills 6 0 160 Jr. Center Bo Fowler Pasco 5 9 200 Jr. Halfback George Floyd Hernando 5-9 160 So. Placek'ker S. Grumbling Citrus 5-10 ISO Sr.

Punter Dave Sjostrom Hudson 5-11165 Jr. 'Honorary Captain. "I told the kids to care for themselves. I told them that the only people who mattered was the 26 people on the bus and believe in that." Knight wasted little time lamenting the past, however. Once the season was done, he had his players start on a weight program.

"We sent the word around school about the weight program." he said. "We gave everyone a couple of weeks notice to sign up and we had 26 players come out. "We decided to cut it off at 26 players and leave it at that. We had other kids who wanted to come out later on, but we wouldn't let them. We made a promise to those 26 kids and we stuck with it." THE BEGINNING was underway of, something extraordinary.

"We'd lift weights three nights a week," he says. "We'd bring music down for the kids and afterwards we'd all go out to the Pizza Hut and other places throughout town. "I could see it bringing the kids together little by little. "We went on a big camping trip down to Tampa Bay one time. We cooked up 100 pounds of beef and had grits and everything.

We were all one big happy family and it brought the school together. "It sounds corny, but it worked." On Friday, Sept. 12, Alan Knight stood inside a bus on a rainy night in Tampa and addressed his team. The occasion was the first game of the season against Temple Heights. "I TOLD THE kids to care for themselves," he says.

"I told 'em that the only people who mattered were the 26 people on the bus and to believe in that." They believed well enough to shut Temple Heights down 7-0 while holding it to minus-60 yards on the ground. District champion Wildwood had to sweat out a 13-2 win the next week, but by that time there was no doubt that something special was happening. Pasco found that out the next week. It was "Win For Zinn" night. Paul Zinn, a senior move-in from Brandon, broke his arm against Wild-wood and was being operated on the day of the Pasco game.

Knight walked into the locker room in Zephyrhills before the players loaded the bus for the trip to Dade City, and wrote a single word on the blackboard. "Zinn." The players responded by taking pieces of tape and putting "Win For Zinn" on their helmets. THEY SPOTTED Pasco a 6-0 lead, then roared back to dump their archest of rivals 7-6 before over 5,000 fans. There were other high points, of course, such as Warren Meyer's 40 yard, last second dash to beat Gulf, but the sight of Knight turning cartwheels on the sidelines near the end of the Pasco game said it all. What about Alan Knight, the human being? "I guess I'm doing what I really want to do," he says.

"I like this little town and I plan to stay here. "I like being able to go into the grocery store and have the manager know who I am. I like to be able to get a dollar's worth of gas at the gas station when I'm short of money. "I GUESS MY aspirations are to be a principal or an administrator. Old coaches never die, they become principals.

But that's a while off. "This year was something that was incredible. It was something that had to happen and even if we go 10-0 next year, I don't think it will match the excitment of this season. i "I was glad to have been a part of it." STEWART GRUMBLING kicked two field goals this year usually kicks inside five top extra point kicker in area. TIM JINKENS when' big play was needed, he made them college prospect because of hustle and desire few offenses ran to his side very emotional player.

DICK BURKAM very aggressive and physical player hard tackier just runs over blockers repeater from last year's all-star squad. CHUCK PITCOCK strongest player in the area can handle run or pass just as easily major college prospect will sign with either Florida or Auburn. SCOOTER SELLERS the Leopards' "Wild Man" started season at nose guard, but moved to tackle because of size and quickness most aggressive lineman on his team. COLEY STANDIFER built like a Sherman tank team leader called assistant coach on the field by head mentor nickname is "Meat Man." ROWLAND HUSS broke school record in tackles with 128 recovered five fumbles made 20 tackles in last game against Lake Weir has appointment to Naval Academy. MIKE YOUNG called by coach (he finest linebacker among 2-A schools in state leading tackier on the team with eight individuals and seven assists per contest.

RANDY DOUGLAS best defender on strong defensive team smart and quick leading tackier on squad know you have been hit when he tackles you. SHAWN CRANE called the finest linebacker he has ever coached, said Gulf Coach Jim Riser, a head coac for II years can bench press 315 pounds smart, quick and loves to hit people BILL KELLY tup all around performer on team the past two years good enough to make all-area team either on offense or defense member of all speciality learns throws mean pass for flanker there isn't a thing he can't do in football GEORGE HAMPTON top qY fensive back on strong unit that permit ted only 28 points in last seven games voted top back on team teams stayed away from him when passing. DENNIS FARR leading pass theft in area with 10 interceptions had good nose for the ball tough against rush GEORGE FLOYD dilficult to believe only a sophomore tied for team lead in pass interceptions with three recovered a fumble one of team's surest tac klers DAVE SJOSTROM brought ram most of the time with his high booming punts averaged 38 yards a boot never had one returned over 10 yards. And that's. The Tribune's All-Area team A dream come true for any football coach 'Honorary Captain The Honorable Mentions Success: A Mixture Of ees Degr man of Crystal River.

David Williams of Sumter. CENTER Spud Watson of Crystal River. Rickey Burnett of Gulf. Vince Ledford of Citrus. DEFENSE END Bobby Barker of Pasco.

Randy Tilly of Zephyrhills. John Atkins of Citrus. TACKLE Clifford Williams of South Sumter. Jimmy Youngof Wildwood. LINEBACKER Tom Jones of Pasco.

Mike Waugh of Hudson. Don Sampson of Gulf. Tony Clubb of Chiefland. Lamar Williamson and Greg Teel of Citrus. Earl Boyette of Zephyrhills.

Richard Nussell and Tony Michiletti of Williston. HALFBACK Terry Humphrey of Hernando. Ricky Jackson of South Sumter. Willie Fasmon of Dunnellon. Tony Tranucci of Hudson.

Morris Hannah of Wildwood. OFFENSE FLANKER BACK Phil Teston and Ken Blanken-ship of Land O'Lakes. Randy Gilbert of Bronson. RUNNING BACK Warren Meyer of Zephyrhills. Stanley Stephens of Hernando.

Louis Brown and Mark Mammond of Citrus. Doug Fowler of Dunnellon. QUARTERBACK Vernon Williams of Bronson. Wendell Maples of Zephyrhills. Perry Boncz of Land O'Lakes.

Marc Lovell of Citrus. Donnie McCoy of Williston. TIGHT END Jack Waters of Wildwood. Donnie Heath of Dunnellon. TACKLE David Thompson of Pasco.

Phillip Stephens of Crystal River. Tim Folds of Bronson. Bruce Causey of Hernando. GUARD Keith Bullock of Chiefland. Walt Hart- To eturn Tribune Bureau It was a mixed year for new football coaches at area high schools.

ONE NEW face. Bill Humphrey at Hernando, took over for the departed Jim Gladden and promptly won the Gulf Coast Conference championship and the coach of the year award for tht league. On the other hand, Dan Sikes at new Land O'Lakes struggled through a 1-9 season with his first -year football team. Despite the record. Sikes did an outstanding coaching job at the school which had never played varsity football before this season.

MIKE DOWLING succeeded Mickey Agner at Bronson and went 3-6, bettering the 2-7 record of last year. Jimmy Sessoms had his Pasco Pirates in contention for the District 6 title until the ninth week and ha da shot at tiie Gulf Coast Conference championship until the final night. The Pirates finished wih a 4-6 record, bettering their 2-8 mark last year under Tate Marsh. In fact. Sessoms came within one game of winning as many games (five) as wJU won in tct.two past seasons 11 Players All-star teams are usually dominated by seniors but that isn't necessarily the case with The Tribune's second annual All-Area team.

six players return for another go-round On offense, nextvear College recruiters will note that r11 "-it They include running backs Reg Delaine and Tom Shaw of Hernando and Gulf. Wildwood quarterback Keith Jones, center Bo Fooler of Pasco, tackle Hob Mills of Wildwood and guard Skip Cahill from Hudson players return next year to see if they performance. GEORGE FLOYD, a defensive back from HernanooT JONES IS generally regarded as one of the finest 2-A quarterbacks in the state while Delaine and Shaw are both speedy, rugged running backs capable of breaking long touchdown runs at any ime Crane, nicknamed, Buzzsaw because of his furious tackling, will spearfTad the Gulf defense again from his linebacking spot. was the lone sophomore to make the first team. Rugged Wildwood linebacker Mike Young.

Gulf's Shawn Crane. Zephyrhills' leading interceptor Dennis Farr and Hudson quarterback and acekicker David Sjostrom are all juniors ho are For More Sport-, See Section jjl A.