Jefferson Dragons Football ~ 1951
The 1951 Jefferson Dragons
On April 10, 1951, it was announced that Curtis Segars had accepted a grant-in-aid scholarship to Georgia Tech. It was the first signing of a Jefferson athlete to a Southeastern Conference school. He was signed by Tech assistant coach Dick Jones. It really was not that big a surprise that Segars wound up at Tech with Morris Bryan in his corner and Coach Yancey heading up the program. The Jefferson coach had several former players currently on the Tech squad including quarterback Darrell Crawford, halfback Jack Patterson, halfback Harry Wright, Guards Tommy Trent and Ara Aathbun, tackle Hal Miller and end Cecil Maddox. Coach Yancey was well respected as a strong developer of players by the Tech staff and Head Coach Bobby Dodd. Coach Yancey made an impressive speech upon his Most Valuable Trophy Presentation to Segars. He said, “To have coached him was one of the greatest honors that I have been privileged to have. He best represents those things which sound athletics is seeking to find among boys.
He has been great to work with, he had been cooperative and easy to handle, he possesses a fine sense of responsibility and has demonstrated an intense desire to win, a courage, loyalty and love for athletics that is found in champions and thoroughbreds. In presenting this trophy I know that I am presenting it to an athlete who shall hold both me and Jefferson as well as his teammates, who made possible his recognition, in his esteem. For in him is a modesty seldom found in all athletes, a modesty that has humility, appreciation and sincerity.
Later in the same program, Mr. M. M. Bryan commented that the trophy was outstanding but Yancey’s words relative to his team captain were far more impressive and should and would mean more later in Segars life.
In the May 17 Jackson Herald ~ It was announced that Coach John Davis - The head football coach and athletic director at Rome High school would assume the same duties at JHS. Davis would also serve as the city Athletic Director paid by Jefferson Mills.
Davis grew up in Valdosta - Played for the University of Georgia in 1937 as a three year starter at Tackle.
He had two sons - Jeff and John and two daughters, Junan and Jena.
In the June 27 Jackson Herald - Coach W. H. Red Yancey announced he had been asked to resign by the Jefferson Board. He refused. He was subsequently fired by the Jefferson Board of Education a week later. He stated that this was without reason or warning. Mr. A.W. Ashe did the termination and told Yancey he could state for the press that he was too good a coach to coach at small Jefferson. Yancey said he told him that was not true . . . that he wanted to coach at Jefferson.
Yancey presented recommendations and statements from various sources that seemed to indicate strong teaching and coaching credentials. He had won 94 games and lost 14 games with 5 ties in 11 years as a football coach with four undefeated teams in that period of time.
He purchased a full page and made every effort to get public sentiment to sway the minds of the board.
His statement on that date was;
The following expressions represent my own ideas and are stated in defense of what I consider the best all-around job I have ever done. For the past 12 months I have worked harder under the hardest set of circumstances than at any period of my career.
I came to Jefferson a year ago by invitation to look into the job of athletic director at Jefferson High School. I took it with the understanding and assurance I would have the whole-hearted support of the City Board of Education as well as the community in developing a well rounded athletic program and that the job in itself would be at least a three-year project.
I came highly recommended by outstanding college personnel as to qualifications in character, training and education.
I am not sorry that I came. I have enjoyed my work and I am pleased at the success we have had.
Since coming here one year ago we have moved steadily forward on exactly the schedule that was outlined to me by the school officials and in most instances were able to produce teams of superior caliber two and three years before they said they were expected. The year’s progress consists of an American Legion baseball club which closed the season with 17 straight victories before losing in the playoff for the regional championship.
A superior basketball season again marked with a closing record of 9 straight victories before losing in the finals of the boys’ tournament and going still further to the semi-finals of the district in the girls’ tournament. In track even without a full fledged program, we won points in the state meet and concluded the best all-around spring football drills I have ever had. This overall progress was not accidental and it came about as the result of plans well organized and well laid.
I came here with a record that made me a desirable coach for the town. I cite the last six years and my letters of recommendations which brought me here indicate the same.
Year Football Basketball
Won lost tied won lost
1945 10 0 0 24 6
1946 9 1 0 19 2
1947 6 3 1 33 10
1948 9 1 1 24 12
1949 Did not coach football 33 5
1950 9 1 1 18 9
43 wins - 5 lost - 3 ties in football
151 wins - 44 lost in basketball
The winning percentage in football is .895 and in basketball it is .758. Though proud of the winners ~ I feel it was the soundness of the principle that has enabled the teams to succeed.
Without warning and without reason I was asked to resign and state that I considered myself too good a coach for Jefferson. Since I harbored no such idea and since I felt there was no reason why I should, I refused and was told it was “for the best interest of the school.” I want to know why my record of achievement is not for the best interests and I want to know what I have done this year at Jefferson which is not in line with my past records --- records they studied before hiring me.
Since I was not re-elected and would not resign, I was paid off, and fired three weeks ago and asked to leave the campus. Since that time a whispering campaign has been underway to taint my character and attach to my career record an element of shame. In defense of my work and my own self I make these statements and publish with pride and humility my recommendations.
W. H. “Red” Yancey
Morris Bryan had reportedly opposed hiring Yancey up front, but had yielded to the wishes of his fellow board members and allowed Yancey to be hired.
His coaching credentials were indeed impressive.
My cousin Tom Williamson had played on the team and said Yancey was the best coach he had ever seen. He was amazing as an offensive coach that made the game fun every minute you were playing it.
Back during the interview process it was rumored that Bryan made the statement that he had grave concerns about Yancey as a person and that he would re-evaluate him after the first year as Jefferson Coach. Bryan made it clear to the board that the ultimate destiny of Yancey would be his determination upon his hiring.
Yancey did not coach another game in Georgia. He reportedly returned to Tennessee and resumed a successful coaching career for a number of years. As far as anyone knows, he never returned to Jefferson even for a visit.
For an update on "Red" Yancey go to Jefferson Dragons Football ~ 1956 .
The Jefferson Dragons lost star fullback Earl Carithers for four weeks as he underwent an operation for appendicitis four days before the opening game against Clarkston.The starting lineup for the Dragons against Clarkston were;
Ends; Raymond “Ace” Adams, Cisco Watkins
Tackles; Charlie Barrett, Thomas Williamson
Guards; Dwight Howard, Tom Crenshaw
Center; John Anderson
Quarterback; Billy Sailors
LHB; Y.D. Maddox
RHB; Donald Cole
FB; Mac Elder
Jefferson - Clarkston . . . September 7, 1951 - Friday at Clarkston.
The John “Stooge” Davis era kicked off on a rainy night in Clarkston with an inauspicious 6 - 0 loss to a young Clarkston team.
The Jefferson team had a far more experienced group than the Angoras and were expected to win the game. No one had foreseen a record 13 fumbles, with 10 of them recovered by Clarkston. This inept performance doomed the Dragons from the beginning of the Game. It is believed this is still a Jefferson record for fumbles in a game. Clarkston had fumbled six times and lost only two of them.
With Fullback/Tackle Earl Carithers out of the game and Star halfback Donald Cole putting the ball on the ground 5 times during the game, the Dragons simply could not sustain a drive long enough to score a touchdown.
It was a heartbreaking loss to start the season for JHS.
Final score ~ Clarkston 6 - Jefferson 0
Jefferson - Winder . . . September 14, 1951 - Friday at Jefferson.
After four years of head-to-head competition, the Dragons evened the series with neighbor Winder-Barrow with a 20 - 13 win at Memorial Field.
Dragon Captain Billy Sailors scored all three touchdowns on an 18-yard run, a 4-yard run and a 6-yard scamper to the corner of the end zone.
The winning touchdown was scored early in the fourth quarter after an “Ace” Adams fumble recovery at the Winder 41-yard line.
Cole had rushed for 112 yards on 13 carries.
Sailors had 41 yards on 11 carries.
Final score ~ Jefferson 20 - Winder-Barrow 13
Jefferson - Stone Mountain . . . September 21, 1951 - Friday at Jefferson.
On a beautiful Friday night at Memorial stadium the Dragons bushwhacked the Stone Mountain Pirates 46- 0.
Donald Cole ran for two touchdowns of 61 and 39 yards in the first half and returned a punt for a 71-yard score early in the fourth quarter as the Dragons demonstrated the firepower that their running attack was capable of achieving. Cole rushed for 182 yards on only 8 carries.
Billy sailors ran for two scores of 17 and 6 yards.
Sydney Johnson and Mac Elder scored on short runs in the third quarter
Y.D. Maddox zipped 26 yards for a third quarter tally that stretched the Dragon lead to 40 - 0 in the fourth quarter.
The Dragons led at the half 18 - 0.
Final rushing totals for the Dragons was 384 yards with Don Cole running for 203 yards. Maddox rushed for 76 yards and Sailors ran for 63 yards. Elder, Sidney Johnson, and Marvin hall also carried the ball for the Dragons.
Final score ~ Jefferson 46 - Stone Mountain 0
Jefferson-Cornelia . . . september 27, 1951 - Thursday at Cornelia.
The Dragons scored in every quarter as Quarterback Billy Sailors ran for 104 yards and scored two touchdowns. The Jefferson star scored on a 69-yard run in the first quarter and added a 4-yard touchdown plunge early in the second quarter.
The Dragons got good production from Sailors, Don Cole and Y.D. Maddox. Tommy Manus caught two passes for 21 yards and 18 yards, both prolonged drives that produced eventual touchdowns.
Don Cole scored on an 18-yard run in the third quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter Sidney Johnson dashed in from the 7-yard line to close out the Dragons scoring and secure their second win of the season.
Final Score ~ Jefferson 25 - Cornelia 0
Jefferson - Rabun County . . . October 5, 1951 - Friday at Jefferson.
An estimated crowd of over 2,000 watched as former Dragon Coach Frank Snyder returned to Jefferson with his Rabun County Wildcats. Coach Snyder had built a powerhouse in the North Georgia Mountains.
The Dragons were never in the game as they could muster only 55 yards rushing and 26 yards by air.
Coach Davis was to later say that Rabun County was by far the best team they would play in 1951.
The Wildcats walloped the Dragons 39 - 0. It was over by halftime as Rabun rushed to a 26 - 0 lead. Coach Snyder played his regulars sparingly on offense the second half or it could have been even more one-sided.
Final score ~ Rabun County 39 - Jefferson 0
Commerce - Jefferson . . . October 11, 1951 - Thursday at Commerce.
The Tigers and Dragons resumed their rivalry at Shankle Field in Commerce on the night of October 11, 1951. They had not played the previous year when Jefferson broke off the competition after the Tiger’s 61 - 0 stomping in 1949. Coach John “Stooge" Davis felt the rivalry and the gate receipts afforded too much of an opportunity not to play the game each year. He also expected the rebuilding Tigers to be an relatively easy win for the experienced Dragon team.
The first quarter was scoreless with both teams having two three and outs. In the second quarter the young Tigers surprised the Dragons with a competent passing attack. Halfback Bootsie White threw to right end Burley Hemphill for 24 yards to the Jefferson 10-yard line. Hemphill caught the ball at the 16 and ran to the Dragon 10-yard line. On fourth down from the Dragon eight, White passed to left end David Hunt for the first Tiger score. The Tigers scored again in the second quarter after another Jefferson three and out. Commerce started the drive on the Dragon 48-yard line. White ran for a first down on the 34 on a handoff from Jerry Aiken. After White rushed to the 23, Billy Sailors crashed through the Tiger line to hit him for a loss back to the 30-yard line. A white pass to Akin carried to the Dragon 16-yard line for a first down.
Aiken and White carried the ball to the Jefferson 2-yard line before White dove over to make it Commerce 12, Jefferson 0. Aiken plowed off left tackle for the extra point and a 13 - 0 Commerce lead.
After the half, Jefferson Dominated the game from a time of possession and offensive standpoint, but they could not cash in on three good scoring opportunities. The Dragon’s only touchdown started at the Dragon 46-yard line. Mac Elder received a Commerce punt at his own 40 and was brought down on his 46-yard line. Sailors ran to the Commerce 47. Elder was stopped short of the first down, but Sailors plunged into the line to make it at the Commerce 42. Maddox ran to the 31, Carithers to the 25 and Donald Cole ripped to the Commerce 4. Carithers ripped over for the score.
Late in the fourth quarter Jefferson drove to the Commerce 16-yard line. Cole was stopped 1-yard short of the first down on the 2-yard line. Commerce took over with three minutes left to play. Carithers hit Akins in the end zone for a safety to put the final 13 - 8 score on the board. A desperation last minute pass by Sydney Johnson was intercepted by the Tigers to seal the victory.
Final score ~ Commerce 13 - Jefferson 8
Jefferson - Avondale . . . October 19, 1951 - Friday at Avondale.
The sluggish Dragons had fell behind the Atlanta based Bluebirds 12 - 0 at the half. They had managed only two first downs.
A one-yard plunge by Donald Cole after a 21-yard run by the same back cut the Dragon deficit to 12 - 7 early in the third quarter.
Avondale came right back with a 64-yard march to score and increase their lead to 18 - 7 going into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter fullback Earl Carithers cashed in for Jefferson with a 4-yard run to pull the Dragons within 18 - 13.
With three minutes left in the game, halfback Donald Cole took a pitch from Sailors and dashed 36 yards to put the final 19-18 score on the board.
Jefferson had rushed for 235 yards in the game and had 14 first downs. Avondale had only 7 first downs in the game, only two after intermission.
Final score ~ Jefferson 19 - Avondale 18
Jefferson - Royston . . . October 26, 1951 - Friday at Royston.
This game featured the speed of Sailors, Cole, Hall, Maddox and the power of fullback Earl Carithers.
Carithers started the scoring parade for Jefferson with a 3-yard run in the second period. He also kicked the extra point. On their Dragons next possession , Don Cole ran for a score from the Dragon 26. Carithers again converted the extra point on a kick.
Royston was able to put a score on the board late in the second half to make it Jefferson 14, Royston 7 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Dragons managed a drive that appeared to be stalled at the Royston 35.
On fourth down Sailors threw to a wide open Y.D. Maddox on the 10 and he scored easily to make it 20 - 7, Jefferson.
With the game winding down and Jefferson on the Royston 22, Sailors again threw to Maddox in the end zone. The Jefferson halfback was literally knocked down by the Royston defensive back, but managed to catch the ball while sitting on the ground to put the final 26 - 7 score on the board.
Jefferson had rushed for 266 yards and had hit on 4 of 9 passes for another 73 yards.
Final score ~ Jefferson 26 - Royston 7
Jefferson - Madison . . . November 1, 1951 - Thursday at Jefferson.
Jefferson Coach John Davis called it the “finest game for the Dragons of the ‘51 season.
Jefferson defeated a very strong Madison team 12 - 0 in Memorial Stadium on a chilly Thursday afternoon.
The first Dragon score came early in the second quarter when big fullback Earl Carithers crashed into the end zone after an 11-year run for a 6 - 0 lead.
In the fourth quarter the Dragons added an insurance touchdown when speedy halfback Don Cole raced 55 yards on an end sweep to make the score 12 - 0, Jefferson.
Coach Davis praised his defense as they held the highly touted Madison offense to four first downs and only 67 yards in total offense.
Final score ~ Jefferson 12 - Madison 0
Jefferson - Tucker . . . November 9, 1951 - Friday at Tucker.
The Jefferson Dragons wrapped up a successful 1951 football season with a 19 - 12 win over the Tucker Tigers on their home field.
Big fullback Earl Carithers scored the first touchdown for the Dragons on a 9-yard run early in the second period.
Donald Cole shook loose for a 34-yard run late in the second quarter. Carithers kicked the extra point to give the Dragons a 13 - 6 lead at halftime.
Both teams were able to add an addition score in the third quarter with Billy Sailors doing the honors for Jefferson on a 2-yard sneak as time expired in the third quarter.
Jefferson played excellence defense for the balance of the game holding Tucker without a first down on their last two possessions.
Jefferson rushed for 223 yards in the game with Cole garnering 91 yards and Maddox picking up 68 yards.
Final score ~ Jefferson 19 - Tucker 12
Jefferson concluded a 7 - 3 season. There were, of course. some who felt that Coach Davis had "coached down" the team after the previous year 9 - 0 1 regular season.
At the end of the 1951 season it was easy to see where Jefferson could very well have had only one loss. Without the sloppy, fumbling conditions during the Clarkston game, the Dragons would clearly have been the better team.
In the Commerce game, the Dragons seemed to underestimate the Tigers with their younger players. The Commerce tradition jumped out at the Dragons for the first time during this season. This tradition would on many occasions pull out a Tiger victory over the Dragons in future years.
The Rabun County game was clearly lost to a better team on that particular night. Rabun County played Thompson for the region crown and was beaten 20 - 7. Thompson had only beaten Madison 12 - 9, the same Madison team Jefferson had beaten 12 - 0.
Jefferson was very likely the third best team in the region in 1951.
The 1951 Jefferson Dragons ~ Coach John Davis' first team.
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Sydney Johnson ~ Fullback ~ Guard
While I never had the priviledge of watching Y.D. Maddox play halfback for the Dragons, I did see him perform as a member of the Jefferson Mills Baseball and Basketball team. He remains a good friend to this day. ~ Cecil Buffington
Tom Crenshaw ~ Guard
Fullback/Tackle Earl Carithers
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Raymond " Ace" Adams ~ End
Davis Roberts ~ I think I've known Davis all my life. He was and excellent athlete. ~ Cecil Buffington
John Anderson ~ Halfback
Charlie Barrett - End
Donald Cole - Halfback