Lyons’ 1975 State Championship

No. 25 in “Georgia’s Greatest 100 High School Finals,” as featured in the LHSAA archive.

Note: Keep in mind this is not the 100 Greatest Finals from just Class B, but from every high school from every classification in the state of Georgia! Lyons was a three touchdown underdog entering the game!

Trailing 12-7 in the fourth quarter, Lyons faced a third-and-14 from its own 9-yard line. Lyons hadn’t completed a pass in the game. The other team had George Rogers, the future Heisman Trophy winner. Not looking good for the home team. Next came a screen pass to Eugene Corbett. The Lyons Progress newspaper wrote that Corbett “zig-zagged, twisted, turned and broke at least five tackles.” The play went for 77 yards. Lyons needed five plays to advance the final 14 yards, but Corbett’s 3-yard run hit paydirt, making it 14-12. The Bulldogs still had to contend with Rogers, or maybe not entirely. Duluth had a third-and-1 at its own 35 yard line but was stopped cold on consecutive plays. Rogers didn’t get the carry in either play. Lyons quarterback Timmy Vaughn then completed his second pass of the game, a 24-yarder, setting up another score and a 20-12 lead. Duluth got to Lyons’ 43 yard line after a long Rogers kickoff return but was sacked twice and lost a fumble. Rogers finished with 135 yards rushing. Corbett ran for 93 and had a game-high 170 yards from scrimmage.

(Courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily)

Posted by: Billy Yarbrough, LHSAA Sports Editor