Coach Jim Rakestraw probably wasn’t serious when he made a bargain with his football team before the season began, but the Red Devils lack just one victory before they come collecting on the agreement.
Rakestraw told his mighty mites, now 4-0 after blanking Cross Keys 22-0, that he would repaint his red Volkswagon if the team’s helmet of the Red Devils came to the Southwest DeKalb game 5-0.
The only thing standing in the way now is North Cobb, a team that Rakestraw respects despite its 1-4 record.
“They hit us as hard as anybody we played last year,” recalls Rakestraw, “but the kids are all talking about getting my car.”
“Not to have the Red Devils counting their chickens, so to speak, but just as a reminder, Rakestraw’s Bug will look a bit different at school next week should Druid Hills pull off another win.”
It will have two white stripes down the middle and a black stripe between them. On the doors will be emblazoned cross pitch forks, and on the back part, where the Devils’ numeral and game stars usually appear, will be the team’s record.
Rakestraw says he is serious about holding up his end of the deal.
“They have to win first,” he cautioned, “but if they do, I told them that I would.”
The Red Devils helmsman praised the Devils defense would be improved after an extra week to prepare for Cross Keys, and Indian backs could undoubtedly attest it was tough.
Even without all-state tackle candidate Mike Cutting (nursing a knee injury), Druid Hills gave up only 49 yards rushing and 35 yards passing.
Spearheading the defense was senior linebacker Al Shepherd, who recorded seven tackles and five assists.
“That was Al’s best game of the year,” said Rakestraw.
Junior linebacker Dennis Yarbrough, sophomore Bill Merriman, filling in for Cutting and doing “an excellent job,” according to his coach, defensive back Richard McDermott, and defensive end Richard Fears were other defenders who also had particularly fine games.
Leading the offense was senior fullback David Adams (see TD Club story), whose 28-yard run in the second quarter gave the Red Devils a 6-0 halftime lead.
Tommy Southard, rushing for 96 yards on 12 totes, scored the next TD on a seven-yard run in the third quarter.
QB David Middour’s five-yard scamper, and Mike Goodwin’s 34-yard field goal and one PAT completed the scoring.
