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Leighton 'Sleepy' Johnston "One of Collingwood's grealesl rugby fool- baU players. Leis!Jlon "61eepy" Johnslon. recent- ly passed away in 6L. Calherines. The nickname
··61eepy ·· was a misnomer. because Leighton was wide awake when he and his !ale brother Bob. played on Lhe inside wings during lhe C.C.!.·s hard hilling football Learns of Lhe 1920's. They were known as Lhe "lwo blocks of granite.. Lhroughoul Lhe Georgian Bay Collegiate League in Lhe days when Collingwood ran up scores of 50 and 60 lo 0 against Owen 6ound. Barrie. Orillia and Penelang.
Bob weighed 240 pounds and Leighton lipped lhe scales al 230. They cerlainly had lhe avoir- dupois lo go along wilh courage and lenacily. During Lheir career. Lhey were responsible for caving in more ribs Lhan Lhe famed wresller
"Crusher" McKay. Although lheir role was slricl- ly defensive. lhey gol Lheir share of touchdowns. WhenlheC.C.I.movedlhebaULowilhinLenyards of Lhe goal line. The quarterback would simply shoul " Insides back! .. . call Lhe signal number and Lhen hand lhe ball Lo eilher·Bob or 61eepy. They usually would end up 10 feel over Lhe goal line wilh a half dozen opposing learn tacklers Lrying lo impede lhe progress of lhe human freighllrain.
One exceptional line play slands oul in my memory. ll was lhe final game of lhe 1925 season against Owen 6ound . The Grey counly boys had a prelly husky learn lhal year. especially on lhe line. Bob and 61eepy were bolh slopped on lwo line plunge plays and il was Lhird down and goal Logo. The !ale Harvard "Doc" Connolly was lhe quarterback. Doc weighed aboul 140 pounds bul he was as acrobatic as acal and jusl as quick
lhinking.DoccaUedlheJohnslonsback.lookLhe ball from Lhe cenlre and jusl fell back inlo Lhe brawny arms of Bob and 61eepy. The Lwo "blocks of granite·· calmly lifl.ed Doc over lheir shoulders and lhrew him bodily over lhe line of scrimmage for lhe winning touchdown. Connolly landed on his feel and Lhen kicked lhe extra poinl for good measure.
I recall a banquel following a game against Owen oound in which visitors had laken a prelly good drubbing. The Owen oound coach. a Mr. Qun- nals. made lhe following remark. in responding lo aLoaslbyCollingwood'scoach. Lou6Laplelon. " We have high hopes Lhal some day we will beal Collingwood. because some day lhe Johnslons are going Lo graduate...
By 6colly Carmichael
Rugby liJ foolboll