University of Virginia Library

Eighteen Future Gridders
Accept Blackburn Grants

By Hugh Antrim
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Zeke Fantino and his hardy
congregation of recruiters have
spent the cold winter months
wandering through the North and
surrounding areas in search of
gridiron talent. These persuasive
gentlemen have done their job with
great success and dispatch, signing
18 high school seniors to
grant-in-aids.

Dennis Ford, from Halifax High
School in South Boston, plays both
defensive and offensive end.
Standing 6-4 and 185 pounds, Ford
is a member of the Virginia
All-State first team. Another
in-stater is Warren Dedrick. From
Granby High School in Norfolk,
Dedrick used his 6-3, 220 pound
size to earn himself a berth on the
AR-Tidewater squad as a defensive
and offensive tackle.

Dave Bratt comes from
Sherwood High School in Olney,
Maryland. This fleet footed
halfback rushed for some 1,400
yards last season compiling an
average of eight yards a carry. Two
Fork Union players have been
signed; Billy League excelled at
defensive halfback, and Greg
Godfrey performed well at both
linebacker and fullback.

Bob Anders will come to
Charlottesville from Bishop
O'Connell in Arlington. An
All-Catholic League member,
Anders went both ways at tackle
last fall, using his 6-2, 220 pound
measure to full advantage. Randall
Brown played offensive and
defensive tackle for James Madison
in Vienna. This lanky 190 pound,
6-3 receiver distinguished himself as
a member of the All-District and
All-Northern Virginia squads.

Another top prospect at
offensive end is Mike McGugan. At
6-3 and 185 pounds, this
Northwood High School standout
was elected for the All-Area and
County teams. Bill Farrell played
end at Bethlehem Catholic in
Pennsylvania. Effective not only on
the turf, Farrell is also a proficient
wrestler. His 6-4, 225 pound frame
no doubt aided his successful
conquest of the Pennsylvania
heavy weight title.

Fred Kaspick, from Tyrone,
Pennsylvania, can play halfback,
but he is also capable of handling
five musical instruments. Another
Pennsylvania standout is Phil
Cerpanya, an offensive fullback
from Pittsburgh who was selected as
the most valuable player in his
conference.

Yet another Keystone state
gridder is Denis Scott. Scott, a little
small for his fullback spot, weighs
185 pounds and stands 5-11. Alan
Clements has lettered at Kellum
High School in Virginia Beach for
three years. His 6-1, 185 pound size
suits him well at halfback.

From Ohio comes flanker and
defensive back Jimmy Roberts. He
has led St. Ignatius of Cleveland to
two successive city championships.
John Yocum hails from
Uniontown, Pennsylvania. An
All-State squad member, Yocum
stands 6-1, 200 pounds.

Topping the list of quarterback
hopefuls are Bill Troup and Rick
Babula. Troup towers at 6-5, 205
pounds and played this fall at
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Babula
will graduate from Peddin School in
Burlington, New Jersey. Chuck
Belic, a 6-1, 195 pound
Pennsylvanian, performed well
enough at fullback and linebacker
to be selected to the All-State team.