Page 187 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

Lake City Defeats Auburndale 27-7 To Win State Title

By Bob Rathgeber

*Saturday December, 1967*

Auburndale—Bryan Johnson is headed for the Blue Grass and

thoroughbred country, but before he left, he put on an exhibition of race
horsing that resulted in Lake City’s first Class A state football

championship.

Johnson, who will sign a scholarship with the University of Kentucky,

scored two touchdowns, passed for one and set up still another as the
Tigers outmanned Auburndale 27-7.

The 150-pounder who made the third team All-State, Johnson riddled
Aubumdale’s pass defense with pin point passes. He connected on 11 of

22 aerials for 197 yards.

It was a close game until the final period when Lake City scored a pair

of touchdowns to ice the game just as the Tigers did last week in a
semifinal playoff victory over Tampa Jesuit. Johnson had a big hand in

both.

Auburndale, unsuccessful for the third straight time in a bid to win the

state championship couldn’t match the Tigers’ speed and aggressive
line. This was the difference.

Johnson scored the game’s first touchdown on an 11-yard sprint, then
came back to put an insurance counter on the board just as the fourth
period began. Then as the Tiger fans hollered “We’re No. 1” Johnson

passed to speedy Craig Busby for the final touchdown.

Busby, fullback Danny Greene, split end Billy Hale, wingback Robbie

Dobelstein and tight end Pete Geibig were the primary receivers,

consistently breaking into the clear, settling under Johnson’s soft passes.

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