State Champs By AIr, By Land, By Super D
Morrow High School in Morrow, Georgia, has enjoyed a fine winning tradition in football. Coach Bud Theodocion has guided his Mustangs to the region playoffs eight out of the last ten years. In his years at MORROW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL “Home of the Mustangs 1987 AAAA STATE FOOTBALL Morrow, Coach Theodocion has had a remarkable .690 winning percentage. As a baseball coach, his Dykes High School team won the state championship in 1970.
Coach Theodocion wanted the same thing in football. He assembled an outstanding staff which included five previous head football coaches: Mike Bankston— defensive line, Mike Creasmen—defensive backs and receivers, Jerry Moore—running backs and defensive backs, sign says it all. Cheerleaders Lauri Hendon, left, and Lora Howard, right, with QB Jeff Howard, Georgia Player-of-theYear.
A.C.
Trivette—linebackers and offensive line, and Glenn May—quarterbacks and defensive ends. Dr Fred Allman, a sports medicine specialist who is the director of the Sports Medicine Foundation of America, provides quality care for the players along with Nora Eichvalds, the team trainer. Coach Theodocion also wanted a notch and to get the state football championship. The team raised nearly $5,000 with a lift-a-thon. That money was used for weight equipment and their BFS clinic. Coach Rick Anderson did the clinic for Morrow, which is located near Atlanta. Coach Theodocion reflected back, “I was really impressed with Coach Anderson’s enthusiasm and motivational expertise.
We like BFS because of the positive leadership concerning weight training. BFS is run by ex-coaches who know things first hand concerning problems of high school athletes. We also like the motivational articles in the BFS Ray Doran (5-9, 210 FB) squatting. Ray will attend Journal. The BFS equipment is good and reasonably Jacksonville State University. Spotting on left is Paul Clark priced. We like the toll-free number that we can call that (5-9, 235 Lineman), on right is Bernard Gibson (5-7, 185 has a staff available for help.”
LB, and returning letterman), and back spotter is Brian Ellis (6-3, 186 QB for 88).
Athletes at Morrow High School lifted four days a week during the school year, three days in the summer, and two days a week during the season. “The thing | like best is that the BFS program keeps changing every week and this keeps your players motivated,” praised Coach Theodocion. He continued, “How hard you work in the weight room is in direct relation to how much football means to you! We got a great effort from our players and a lot of hard work by our coaches. We received great support from our cheerleaders, band, student body, and community.” Coach Theodocion wants his team to lift for two reasons.
He stated, “First, it will help us to improve our football skills and, second, it will help us from getting injured in a collision sport.”
Morrow plaved 15 games in 1987. Only two players missed games during the year. One player was out for two Tony Harris (Dead Lifting 505) is a 5-foot 11-inch, 250- pound Nose Guard, who will attend Georgia State.
Morrow High Quarterback Jeff Howard, Georgia Wide Receiver Andre Hastings caught 61 passes for Player-of-the-Year. Jeff signed with Georgia Tech.
11 touchdowns as a sophomore. games with a bruised knee and another player missed one with great conviction said, “Greg, I'll guarantee you, those game with a minor injury. teams that make it to December are glad to be there.”
When Bud Theodocion arrived at Morrow in 1977, the On December 5, 1987, Morrow played McEachern High school had won only 15 games in seven years. “They were School of Powder Springs, Georgia, which was ranked $12,000 in debt after buying two Universal gyms and had second in the state. They had given up only 52 points in 12 no free weights,” remembered Theodocion. “We got a freeball games and were 12-0. The Morrow Mustangs weight program going, and then we really got it going with stampeded past the McEachern Indians 49-20. It was Coach a BFS clinic with Rick Anderson.”
Theodocion’s 150th career win. The proud Morrow defense “Anyway, we went 7-3 in 1986, and we set a goal to beat held the opposition to just 22 yards in 15 carries. those teams that beat us. We had only 15 seniors, but they However, there was more good news. National were good ones. We dressed out only 39 players. We powerhouse Valdosta High School got beat in Southern avenged all three of those defeats last season and beat Georgia in their quarterfinal game. It was now anybody's perennial conference champion GrifÏn High School twice. right to go get the state championship trophy.
After that second victory against GrifÏn, I told our kids that One week later, Morrow took on S.W. DeKalb and won we could be playing on December 19 for the state 14-7 to claim the North Georgia Championship. The game championship,” revealed Coach Theodocion. was tied with 1:13 left in the half. The Mustangs charged 80 l exclaimed, “Wow, December 19! Isn’t that carrying out the season too long? yards and scored in less than a minute with the passing skills of Jeff Howard.
Coach Theodocion looked me square in the eye and Continued on next page Ray Doran rushed for all three touchdowns ina 21-0 Rusty Wright helped lead a defense which shut out 6 of 15 shutout of EfÏngham County High School in the opponents and held 12 of 15 to 7 points or less.
State Championship game. Then, the big moment arrived on December 19 at Tara Stadium. you want, but you have to stay faithful to your goals.”
Needless to say, | was impressed with this group of EfÏngham County High Rebels, the Southern Georgia great young men. [| then asked each one of them what AAAA Champions. The gate receipts were $61,000, which advise they would give to high school players this fall. set a state record. EfÏngham County was the highestscoring team in the state, averaging 32.3 points per game.
Ray Doran: “Work hard on the practice field.”
But Morrow High had shut out 5 of their last 14 opponents.
William Moody: “Work hard in the classroom.” and held 11 of 14 to 7 points or less. The stage was set for a Andre Hastings: “Always believe in yourself.” Mike Gaskins: “Use your books as a way to build your classic offensive-defensive struggle, but it didn’t turn out that way. The Morrow Mustangs ran roughshod over the mind.”
Tony Harris: “Set high goals and aim for them.”
Rebels from EfÏngham County. The Mustangs galloped for Brian Ellis: “Work together as a team. Don’t worry about 326 yards of total offense and 15 first downs. EfÏngham County had only 160 yards and six first downs, with their the individual things.”
Paul Clark: “Work as hard as you can in the weight deepest second-half penetration going only to the Morrow 47-yard line. Morrow was State Champion! The final score: room.”
Bernard Gibson: “Be careful what you say and do Morrow 21, EfÏngham County 0! “To win the State Championship was the most fun I’ve ever had,” beamed Coach Theodocion. around others. You want to influence others for the positive.”
Steve “Peanut” Fuller: “Have a great positive attitude in L asked the players about “peer pressure” and its effect on drug and alcohol abuse. They agreed unanimously “First of all, say ‘no!” If people can’t accept you as you are, then they're not true friends. Second, you could get into it if everything you do.”
Todd Nettles: “No matter what happens—don’t give up.
STATE CHAMPS And finally, Quarterback Jeff Howard (who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA), stated, “Set down priorities in life and stick to them. For me, my priorities are God, and Family, then my education, and sports.”
What a pleasure it was to visit Morrow High School and to be around so many Upper-Limit people. We at BFS thank you for being a great example.
William Moody benching. At 6-1, 320, he plays wide receiver. Just kidding! William will attend Morehouse College. His top bench is 365.
Head Coach Bud Theodocion with Greg Shepard, BFS President. Morrow High School, our 75th State Champ.
Part of the team that made it happen at Mustang Country in Morrow Georgia. Top Row, L to R: Ray Doran, Coach Mike Bankston, Steve Peanut Fuller, Brian Ellis, Jeff Howard, Andre Coach Glenn May. Bottom Row, L to R: Tony Harris Todd Nettles, Bernard Gibson, Mike Gaskins, William Moody.
6-0, 165. super soph., Andre caught 61 passes.
From BFS Magazine — September/October 1988. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
