330 replies to this topic

[fdavids]

1971 was the best team valdosta ever had followed by 1984 and 1969.1986 was a great team but those other teams would have rocked their world.i know cause i saw all of them play.

That's good to know. I remember the 1984 team was #1 that year in USA Today as well as the 1986 team. If you say those other teams were better than the 1986 team they must have been awesome. A Texas Longhorn poll in Texas Football 10-12 years ago ranked the top 12 teams & had the 1986 team as the team of the 80's. Of course they had 1973 John Tyler,Tx as the team of the 70's & I'll never agree with that. There were a couple of Texas teams I felt would have beaten them in the 70's - 1978 Stratford & 1979 Temple. And that wasn't Temple's best team -- the 1992 team was. That poll had a SoCal team #1 for the 60's -- can't recall the team. Did Valdosta ever play any OOS teams in the old days? Cincinnati Moeller & Massillon were the cream of the crop back then. I was wondering if they had ever hooked up.

[fdavids]

No question Aldine with Strayhan kicks any teams a**. Ruston was probably better than Lawton Ok though!

I don't have Ruston's scores but they averaged over 40 ppg which was awesome for back then. They won the final 51-10 and were beating everyone by 35-40 points and up all season. I remember an old movie I saw years ago & the team was undefeated,untied,unscored upon for 3 or 4 years. Of course that was fiction; but Ruston was unchanlenged that year. The NSNS sports writer Barry Sollenberger was positive they were the best team that year.

[Cajun61]

I don't have Ruston's scores but they averaged over 40 ppg which was awesome for back then. They won the final 51-10 and were beating everyone by 35-40 points and up all season. I remember an old movie I saw years ago & the team was undefeated,untied,unscored upon for 3 or 4 years. Of course that was fiction; but Ruston was unchanlenged that year. The NSNS sports writer Barry Sollenberger was positive they were the best team that year.

That 1990 Ruston team was pretty great (think they had 8 or 9 All-State Kids, which is still a record here and 15 D1s)..How do you think they would have matched up with Evangel and West Monroe best teams?

Edited by Cajun61, 22 December 2009 - 01:30 PM.

[fdavids]

That 1990 Ruston team was pretty great (think they had 8 or 9 All-State Kids, which is still a record here and 15 D1s)..How do you think they would have matched up with Evangel and West Monroe best teams?

I think they would have matched up very well. It'd be interesting to feed all that info into a computer & see what you come up with.

[dagrapevine]

That's good to know. I remember the 1984 team was #1 that year in USA Today as well as the 1986 team. If you say those other teams were better than the 1986 team they must have been awesome. A Texas Longhorn poll in Texas Football 10-12 years ago ranked the top 12 teams & had the 1986 team as the team of the 80's. Of course they had 1973 John Tyler,Tx as the team of the 70's & I'll never agree with that. There were a couple of Texas teams I felt would have beaten them in the 70's - 1978 Stratford & 1979 Temple. And that wasn't Temple's best team -- the 1992 team was. That poll had a SoCal team #1 for the 60's -- can't recall the team. Did Valdosta ever play any OOS teams in the old days? Cincinnati Moeller & Massillon were the cream of the crop back then. I was wondering if they had ever hooked up.

the 84 team played a much tougher schedule.the clarke central team they beat(21-14)for the state title had 13 d1 players with several going to clemson.we started out 86 ranked 14th in usa today and first game was with lagrange,ga. who was ranked in the top 10.valdosta beat them and moved up into the top 10 and rolled a lot of teams that year.valdosta's o-line weighted 7 lbs more per man than georgia's and 3 lbs lighter than gt per man.they where loaded,but after lagrange no one really challenge them.they beat clarke central 28-0.it was 21-0 at the half and the starters didnt play after 5 mins into the 3rd quarter.
here's some stats from the 71 valdosta wildcats.this was the last team wright bazemore coached who where state and natl champs.stanley bounds qb 2748 yds passing 0 int and 28 tds.overall passing yds for the season was 2971 yds.they had 4 rb with over 400 yds rushing each with a team total 2656-5.8 yds a carry.thru 13 games they scored 629 pnts-48.4 pgv.the average half time score was 30-4.most of the starters didnt even play but one series to start the 3rd quarter.they had 3018 ttl yds rec. with stan rome having 1583-72 rec-22 ypr.the defense gave up 137 pnts-10.5 per game average.most where scored late on piney rooters.they had a team ttl 24 interceptions led by gary rowe.their off. average 200 yds rushing and 200 yds passing per game.they went 13-0 and beat avondale estates 62-12 with all of avondale's pnts scored late in the 4th quarter.avondale coach crawford kennedy said" valdosta was loaded with more talent than any team he'd ever seen.he felt if valdosta could have played both their 1st string and 2nd string in the
71 season they would have both been undefeated and played to a tie in the state championship that year.
we came close to playing moeller back in the 80's.i beleive the 86 or 88 team would have played them.at the time ghsaa had 300 mile travel rule in place.moellers coach wanted a home and home series.coach hyder couldnt get the ghsaa to allow for travel to ohio.hyder did get permission to play the game 2 years in a row in johnson city,tenn. at etsu.moellers coach balked at it and wound up playing some team out of ala.i think etsu has just recently dropped football.we have played the following out of state teams.90/91 jess lanier and r.e. lee out of ala.92/93 glen mills,pa.94/95 aiken,s.c. and 98-07 tallahassee,fla. lincoln.we've played several fla. schools down through the years but this is proably more info than you needed.if you go to valdostawildcats.com click on history,then championships it will list all the state and natl teams year.click on the year and you can read all the stats and articles that where on the games at the time.they have a great data base on their entire history.
71 team ran a pro-set o with 3 wides and a 50 d.bazemore was a genius.later in the 80's the 49'ers ran the same thing and called it the west coast o.
all us old cats just laugh cause we where running that stuff in the 60's and early 70's.
btw:valdosta just hired rance gillespie off. cord.at georgia southern as their new head coach.

[CHS]

That 1990 Aldein Team Was Nasty..I dnt Know Much About Ruston..But I doubt they would of got to 21 on that Defense..I mean we can sit here and talk about who the best was..But we will never Know..Unless we did one of the Simulaters Like they do On ESPN..or something

[lamarfan]

That 1990 Aldein Team Was Nasty..I dnt Know Much About Ruston..But I doubt they would of got to 21 on that Defense..I mean we can sit here and talk about who the best was..But we will never Know..Unless we did one of the Simulaters Like they do On ESPN..or something

When Lamar Played Aldine for State at the Astro dome. 3 players made it to pro's .2 Lamar players RB All American Shawn Walters USC, Kansas city chiefs. Scott Mcgarahan Safety Green Bay Packers. Aldine Defensive lineman Mike Strayhan New York Giants just recently retired..

[bodyguard]

The 1999 DLS team was just over loaded with talent. It wasn't fair for their opponents.

What makes that team the best IMO is that talent level coupled with a program and coaching staff that has had DLS among the national elite with nowhere near that talent. And all those kids from DJ on down wer just as hard-working, executed just as well and were just as team oriented as the overachievers they've hostorically have had. That's what makes them so insanely scary. For all of you who have seen far less talented DLS teams beat teams that look like they should stomp them keep that in mind while I give you the 1999 rundown:

1999 DLS Starters

Offense
LT - Jason Heltsley
LG - Adam Thomas
C - Bill Heppler
RG - Derek Landri (Notre Dame, NFL - Ravens)
RT - Tosh Lupoi (Cal-Berkeley)
TE - Devin Cook (U.C. Davis)
WR - Kevin Fordon
WR - Demitrius Williams (Oregon, NFL-Ravens)
QB - Matt Gutierrez (Michigan/Idaho St., NFL-Patriots)
RB - D.J. Williams (Miami, NFL-Broncos)
RB - Nathan Kirkham
3rd RB: Simon (see defense)
3^rd WR - Favroth (see defense)
OT - Robin Meadow (Washington, NFL-Ravens)
OL - Rob Sandie (Lehigh)

Defense
LE - Joe Miklos (UNLV, led in tackles two seasons)
LT - Lupoi
RT - Heltsley
RE - Adam Cartwright (Iona)
OLB - Kirkham
ILB - D.J. Williams
ILB - Kevin Simon (Tennessee, NFL-Redskins)
OLB - R.J. Bisaha
CB - Charles Favroth (Oregon)
CB - Dem. Williams
S - Fordon
CB - Sean O'Hara (Eastern Washington)
WR/DB - Jonathan Tucker (Florida, MLB-Orioles)

Maurice Jones-Drew wasa FR on the JV in 1999 and a backup on varsity in 2000 as a SO

Key Wins (rankings are overall in California unless noted)
=========================================
#7 & Southern Section D-I Co-Champ Mater Dei (won 42-0, MD tied state #2 LB Poly, who were #3 in the nation before the tie)
#11 & NCS 3A Champ Ygnacio Valley (won 71-32)
#15 & #2 D-II & OAL Champ Skyline (won 37-0)
D-III #4 San Leandro (won 38-14 in NCS Championship, in 4 years SL lost 4 games to DLS and 1 game to everyone else. SL is a D-I enrollment school, but Cal-Hi made up the divisions based on overall league enrollment and strength. SL competed as a D-I team in NCS)
Beat WCAL Champion St. Francis 35-7 (SF was state-ranked and #1 in the CCS all season, but were upset in the playoffs)

Edited by bodyguard, 23 December 2009 - 01:57 AM.

[steeler 01]

What makes that team the best IMO is that talent level coupled with a program and coaching staff that has had DLS among the national elite with nowhere near that talent. And all those kids from DJ on down wer just as hard-working, executed just as well and were just as team oriented as the overachievers they've hostorically have had. That's what makes them so insanely scary. For all of you who have seen far less talented DLS teams beat teams that look like they should stomp them keep that in mind while I give you the 1999 rundown:

1999 DLS Starters
Offense

LT - Jason Heltsley

LG - Adam Thomas

C - Bill Heppler

RG - Derek Landri (Notre Dame, NFL - Ravens)

RT - Tosh Lupoi (Cal-Berkeley)

TE - Devin Cook (U.C. Davis)

WR - Kevin Fordon

WR - Demitrius Williams (Oregon, NFL-Ravens)

QB - Matt Gutierrez (Michigan/Idaho St., NFL-Patriots)

RB - D.J. Williams (Miami, NFL-Broncos)

RB - Nathan Kirkham


3rd RB: Simon (see defense)

3^rd WR - Favroth (see defense)

OT - Robin Meadow (Washington, NFL-Ravens)

OL - Rob Sandie (Lehigh)

Defense

LE - Joe Miklos (UNLV, led in tackles two seasons)

LT - Lupoi

RT - Heltsley

RE - Adam Cartwright (Iona)

OLB - Kirkham

ILB - D.J. Williams

ILB - Kevin Simon (Tennessee, NFL-Redskins)

OLB - R.J. Bisaha

CB - Charles Favroth (Oregon)

CB - Dem. Williams

S - Fordon

CB - Sean O’Hara (Eastern Washington)

WR/DB - Jonathan Tucker (Florida, MLB-Orioles)

Favroth, and Tucker were probably the 8th or 9th best player on that DLS team. They would be the best player on 99 percent of the teams in America. That is whats so scary about that DLS team.

[steeler 01]

I'd say Favroth, and Tucker were a lot like Noah Perio.

[bodyguard]

Favroth, and Tucker were probably the 8th or 9th best player on that DLS team. They would be the best player on 99 percent of the teams in America. That is whats so scary about that DLS team.

Even more scary is Lad has said the 2000 team had even more overall talent, but they didn't gell the same without the obvious talents, and not as obvious leadership, of DJ Williams and later found out Gutierrez, who was strangly inconsistent that year, played the season with a fractured wrist on his throwing arm. They still went undefeated and were probably near the level of the 1999 team at the end of the season.

I'd also like to point out to those who point to the national polls that year:

1) DLS finished 3rd in the USAToday poll and #2 in the SS poll (behind Evangel) because they started the season with those teams higher and they didn't lose so they didn't drop. SS later published an article listing the top 10 teams in the history of high school football and this 1999 DLS team was on that list. They didn't rank the top 10, just listed 10 teams. Evangel and Midland weren't on it.

2) DLS did finish #1 in the country in 1999 in the National Prep Poll, which was the precursor to Jamie's PrepNation Poll I believe.

3) DLS swept all the major national polls for #1 honors in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. But most DLS observers consider the 1999 team the best DLS team ever.

Edited by bodyguard, 23 December 2009 - 01:47 AM.

[bodyguard]

I'd say Favroth, and Tucker were a lot like Noah Perio.

Tucker yes. Favroth had better measurables, was more phyisical and was more highly recruited than Noah.

[steeler 01]

Even more scary is Lad has said the 2000 team had even more overall talent, but they didn't gell the same without the obvious talents, and not as obvious leadership, of DJ Williams and later found out Gutierrez, who was strangly inconsistent that year, played the season with a fractured wrist on his throwing arm. They still went undefeated and were probably near the level of the 1999 team at the end of the season.

I watched the 00 DLS team, and it was the weakest one I saw from the ones I saw live from 98-03(I watched the other teams during their streak on tape). Bryan New connects on a 31 yard FG that DLS team would've been in O.T. against a 2nd round loser in Mater Dei. The C for DLS that year got manhandled by number 60 of Mater Dei in the 2nd half. Have to archive through my stack of programs to find the name of those guys.

[bodyguard]

I watched the 00 DLS team, and it was the weakest one I saw from the ones I saw live from 98-03(I watched the other teams during their streak on tape). Bryan New connects on a 31 yard FG that DLS team would've been in O.T. against a 2nd round loser in Mater Dei. The C for DLS that year got manhandled by number 60 of Mater Dei in the 2nd half. Have to archive through my stack of programs to find the name of those guys.

They had issues with DJ not being there after being the man for three seasons, losing Meadow to injury, and Gutierrez with that broken wrist missed on a sure TD that would have put DLS up by 24 and threw an interception that led to an MD TD that got them back within 10 points. They almost lost to otherwise undefeated Buchanon (the best central section team since Clovis West in 1993 until now) when the offense, due mostly to Gutierrez being inconsistent, couldn't put them away with a 17 point lead. It wasn't until afterward that the broken wrist was discovered. MD also had a QB named Leinart who got hot in the 2nd half. Can't believe a kicker as good as New shanked that kick.

Edited by bodyguard, 23 December 2009 - 02:19 AM.

[bodyguard]

They had issues with DJ not being there after being the man for three seasons, losing Meadow to injury, and Gutierrez with that broken wrist missed on a sure TD that would have put DLS up by 24 and threw an interception that led to an MD TD that got them back within 10 points. They almost lost to otherwise undefeated Buchanon (the best central section team since Clovis West in 1993 until now) when the offense, due mostly to Gutierrez being inconsistent, couldn't put them away with a 17 point lead. It wasn't until afterward that the broken wrist was discovered. MD also had a QB named Leinart who got hot in the 2nd half. Can't believe a kicker as good as New shanked that kick.

Getting back to the 199 team. The fact that a kid like Devin Cook, an atletic 6-3, 215 lb TE who was 3rd team all-Bay Area and played at D-II power U.C. Davis couldn't crack the starting defense and is a virtual unknown on that team by even pretty long-time DLS fans. In the MD game they held Matt Leinhart to 55 yards passing.

Edited by bodyguard, 23 December 2009 - 02:27 AM.

[steeler 01]

They had issues with DJ not being there after being the man for three seasons, losing Meadow to injury, and Gutierrez with that broken wrist missed on a sure TD that would have put DLS up by 24 and threw an interception that led to an MD TD that got them back within 10 points. They almost lost to otherwise undefeated Buchanon (the best central section team since Clovis West in 1993 until now) when the offense, due mostly to Gutierrez being inconsistent, couldn't put them away with a 17 point lead. It wasn't until afterward that the broken wrist was discovered. MD also had a QB named Leinart who got hot in the 2nd half. Can't believe a kicker as good as New shanked that kick.

Nor could I. New was the best kicker in division 1. I remember thinking the game was gonna go to O.T., and MD is gonna win since they had all the momentum, and DLS couldn't run on MD in the 2nd half. DLS's only TD in the 2nd half was a WR screen that Demetrius Williams cut across the field on and scored.


Gonna buy this movie.

http://perfecteffort.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=34

[bodyguard]

Nor could I. New was the best kicker in division 1. I remember thinking the game was gonna go to O.T., and MD is gonna win since they had all the momentum, and DLS couldn't run on MD in the 2nd half. DLS's only TD in the 2nd half was a WR screen that Demetrius Williams cut across the field on and scored.


Gonna buy this movie.

http://perfecteffort...&id=9&Itemid=34

Yes. I have it. It follows the trails and tribulations of that 2000 team. Lots of highlights of that MD game, Buchanon, etc. Good stuff. Kevin Simon was a phenominal LB and could run over 99% of the high school teams at RB, but he didn't have DJ's RB instincts and against a very good MD team that is traditionally strong up front they couldn't get it going on the ground. Bythe end of the season Matt's wrist developed scar tissue that basically held the small bone in place, numbing the pain, and they were much better.

[steeler 01]

Yes. I have it. It follows the trails and tribulations of that 2000 team. Lots of highlights of that MD game, Buchanon, etc. Good stuff. Kevin Simon was a phenominal LB and could run over 99% of the high school teams at RB, but he didn't have DJ's RB instincts and against a very good MD team that is traditionally strong up front they couldn't get it going on the ground. Bythe end of the season Matt's wrist developed scar tissue that basically held the small bone in place, numbing the pain, and they were much better.

That Buchanon team they beat was really good according to people. Never watched them, but they did beat everyone else after losing to DLS that season by 6. They also had a chance to beat DLS on the last drive.

[fdavids]

the 84 team played a much tougher schedule.the clarke central team they beat(21-14)for the state title had 13 d1 players with several going to clemson.we started out 86 ranked 14th in usa today and first game was with lagrange,ga. who was ranked in the top 10.valdosta beat them and moved up into the top 10 and rolled a lot of teams that year.valdosta's o-line weighted 7 lbs more per man than georgia's and 3 lbs lighter than gt per man.they where loaded,but after lagrange no one really challenge them.they beat clarke central 28-0.it was 21-0 at the half and the starters didnt play after 5 mins into the 3rd quarter.
here's some stats from the 71 valdosta wildcats.this was the last team wright bazemore coached who where state and natl champs.stanley bounds qb 2748 yds passing 0 int and 28 tds.overall passing yds for the season was 2971 yds.they had 4 rb with over 400 yds rushing each with a team total 2656-5.8 yds a carry.thru 13 games they scored 629 pnts-48.4 pgv.the average half time score was 30-4.most of the starters didnt even play but one series to start the 3rd quarter.they had 3018 ttl yds rec. with stan rome having 1583-72 rec-22 ypr.the defense gave up 137 pnts-10.5 per game average.most where scored late on piney rooters.they had a team ttl 24 interceptions led by gary rowe.their off. average 200 yds rushing and 200 yds passing per game.they went 13-0 and beat avondale estates 62-12 with all of avondale's pnts scored late in the 4th quarter.avondale coach crawford kennedy said" valdosta was loaded with more talent than any team he'd ever seen.he felt if valdosta could have played both their 1st string and 2nd string in the
71 season they would have both been undefeated and played to a tie in the state championship that year.
we came close to playing moeller back in the 80's.i beleive the 86 or 88 team would have played them.at the time ghsaa had 300 mile travel rule in place.moellers coach wanted a home and home series.coach hyder couldnt get the ghsaa to allow for travel to ohio.hyder did get permission to play the game 2 years in a row in johnson city,tenn. at etsu.moellers coach balked at it and wound up playing some team out of ala.i think etsu has just recently dropped football.we have played the following out of state teams.90/91 jess lanier and r.e. lee out of ala.92/93 glen mills,pa.94/95 aiken,s.c. and 98-07 tallahassee,fla. lincoln.we've played several fla. schools down through the years but this is proably more info than you needed.if you go to valdostawildcats.com click on history,then championships it will list all the state and natl teams year.click on the year and you can read all the stats and articles that where on the games at the time.they have a great data base on their entire history.
71 team ran a pro-set o with 3 wides and a 50 d.bazemore was a genius.later in the 80's the 49'ers ran the same thing and called it the west coast o.
all us old cats just laugh cause we where running that stuff in the 60's and early 70's.
btw:valdosta just hired rance gillespie off. cord.at georgia southern as their new head coach.

Thanks for all the info. That magazine I mentioned had 1969 Pasadena Blair,Ca as "Team of the Decade". I'll have to look at that website to find out what Valdosta had that year.

[fdavids]

Midland Lee (2000) is the 4th best Texas team of all time according to your link...

4. 2000 Midland Lee: Led by record-setting running back Cedric Benson, Lee won its third consecutive state title. But there was more than Benson to handle. Standout lineman Eric Winston was a terror at tight end and on defense.

2000
West Monroe 36
Midland Lee 8

In the West Monroe game Benson scored in the 1st quarter on an 80 yard run to tie the game 8-8. For the rest of the game he had 40 yards on 39 carries.