Jefferson Dragons Football ~ 1949

On September 9, the Jefferson “Red Dragons” made their debut in Cornelia.

A contest had been held to select a school mascot in March. Coach Frank Snyder disliked the name “Mud Turtles” from the first time he heard it. It was too comical and he worried that it implied slowness. He felt it inappropriate for a high school sports team.

The local newspaper continued to use the name in all its write-ups so Snyder stayed away from submitting articles to the newspaper during the season. He preferred calling the team the “City Team” for the time being until a proper name could be established.

Results for the season were;

September 9, South Habersham Defeated the Red Dragons 20 - 0. Coach Snyder had family illness that kept him from coaching in the game. John Godfrey and Henry Robinson acted as co-coaches on this night.

September 16, Winder-Barrow won over JHS 52 - 7.

September 23, SW Dekalb - The Jefferson Red Dragons won their first football game 14 - 13. Earl Carithers and Joe Glosson were the offensive stars as Glosson scored on a 16-yard run for the teams first touchdown. Carithers bulled straight ahead for the conversion. In the third quarter Carithers scored on a 3-yard blast off tackle and then added his second conversion as the Red Dragons held on for the win.

On September 30, the locals lost 6 - 0 to Clarksville. 

October 7, Elijay beat Jefferson 35 - 0.

October 14, Lavonia blasted the home team 26 - 0.

October 21, saw Jefferson play a good game against Toccoa before falling 32 - 12.

October 28, The Red Dragons won their second game of the season in convincing fashion over Stephens County 27 - 7. Joe Glosson scored three touchdowns, rushed for 122 yards and Curtis Segars scored his first touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Billy Sailors.

November 18, Thomson beat Jefferson 33 - 7.

On November 23 the locals played on Thanksgiving evening at Memorial Field before an estimated 1200 fans. The Tigers jumped on the Jefferson team early and often as they ran up a 31 - 0 score at halftime. After the intermission the Tigers continued to pour it on the hapless Red Dragons. Frustrations mounted on the sidelines and on the field. Words were exchanged frequently on the field and across the field from the opposing coaches. Several small skirmishes broke out on the field as Commerce continued to move the ball almost at will up and down the field. Finally the debacle ended with Commerce scoring a touchdown with 2:08 left on the clock on a pass from the 23-yard line.

The Tigers had won 61 - 0 and totally embarrassed the locals.

Several weeks later it was announced by Coach Snyder that Jefferson would not play Commerce in 1950. The Board of Education also concurred that it was not in the best interest of the team to play Commerce until Jefferson could be more competitive on the field. That was the official announcement. Many in Jefferson felt that Commerce had ran the score up on Jefferson. While the truth was that Commerce was just far superior in every facet of the game, it was a big embarrassment and did not sit well with school administrators and the Board of Education.

MVP - Football - Curtis Segars

Best Back - Joe Glosson

Best Lineman - Garnet Parks

1949 Football Team members were;

LE - Curtis Segars # 26, LT - Garnet Parks # 25, LG - Billy Thurmond # 24, C - Dickie Copas # 23, RG - Bobby Loggins # 22, RT - George Davis # 21, RE - Raymond Adams # 20, QB - Billy Sailors # 10. LHB - Joe Glosson # 11. RHB - L.G. Jackson # 12, FB - Earl Caruthers # 13. The second team was; LE - Charlie Tolbert # 33, LT - Charles Barrett # 32, LG - Nelson Tolbert # 31, C - Henry Allen # 30, RG - Davis Roberts # 29, RT - Billy Crenshaw # 28, RE - Herman Craven # 27, QB - Mark Elder # 14, LHB - Louis Toney # 15, RHB - Carlyle Ray # 16, FB - Sidney Johnson # 17. Others on the team were; LE - Tommy Manus # 35, LHB - Roland Brooks # 19, LG - John Anderson # 34, RT - Carol Dadisman # 36, RG - Hugh Blackstock # 37.