[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E303-E304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THOMASVILLE BULLDOGS FOOTBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2005

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, following the New England Patriots' Super 
Bowl win, their third in the last four years, all of the talk was about 
the birth of a National Football League dynasty in the making. Those of 
us who reside in the Sixth District of North Carolina know all about 
football dynasties, and we are proud to report that the dynasty known 
as the Thomasville Bulldogs Football Team is back and champions once 
more. This year, Thomasville High School captured its fifth state 
championship in the school's history and its first since 1995.
  The latest championship for Thomasville may have been secured in the 
most thrilling manner in the school's glorious history. On December 11, 
2004, Thomasville defeated Wallace-Rose Hill 15-14 to capture the Class 
1-A State football championship. That score doesn't begin to hint at 
the drama that ensued for the Bulldogs. Trailing 14-9, Thomasville was 
facing a fourth-and-1 situation, but the Bulldogs completed a pass for 
only eight yards, meaning that the ball went back to Wallace-Rose Hill 
with only 1:21 left to play. On the next play, however, divine 
intervention may have occurred. Defensive back Tavarius Henderson ran 
down Wallace-Rose Hill running back Leverne Coston, stripped him of the 
ball, recovered the fumble, and ran 10 yards

[[Page E304]]

for the game-winning touchdown. The Bulldogs missed the two-point 
conversion, but it was unneeded as Thomasville hung on for the dramatic 
15-14 victory.
  The school's last-minute hero, Tavarius Henderson, told the High 
Point Enterprise that he knew he had to do something dramatic to win 
the game. ``I knew we had him (the running back) real good,'' the 
Bulldog told the newspaper, ``so I went for the ball. It came loose and 
the ball was right there, laying beautifully. I picked it up and went 
into the end zone.'' And with that play, Tavarius went right into the 
history books among the storied names in Thomasville football history. 
For his efforts, Henderson was named as the championship game's Most 
Valuable Player.
  This may have been the most dramatic win, but Thomasville has a proud 
and rich football history and its color is brown--namely as in Coach 
Brown. In 2004, Coach Benjie Brown captured his first State title 
following in the footsteps of his famous father Coach Allen Brown who 
led the Bulldogs to State championships in 1988, 1991 and 1995. 
(Thomasville also won the 1964 State title in the old Western North 
Carolina High School Activities Association.) This 2004 championship 
was the school's first in the new Class 1-A division. The three titles 
secured by Coach Allen Brown were in Class 2-A. Allen Brown was the 
defensive coordinator for his son Benjie's first title as head coach. 
Benjie told the Greensboro News & Record that his father was a key to 
the victory. ``I couldn't have done it without him tonight,'' Coach 
Benjie Brown told the newspaper, ``and I'd like to think I had a hand 
in some of his.''
  Both Coach Browns would tell you that it requires a whole lot of 
effort from a whole lot of people to win a State championship. Those of 
us who reside in the Sixth District congratulate each and every member 
of the Bulldogs squad. First the players: Brent LeMay, Jeremy McKiver, 
Cory Tobin, Willie Green, Chaz Leak, Quinton Jackson, Justin Little, 
Laviery Baxter, Bradley Watkins, Richard Norton, J.J. Lawson, Stephon 
Donnell, Scott Hines, Quan Warley, Jeriod Kersey, E.J. Abrams-Ward, 
Karim Eltokhy, Tavarius Henderson, Chris Webber, E.J. McCormick, Zeke 
Clark, Ricky Hunsucker, Bud Ray, Terrance Pearson, Jaz Tate, Brandon 
Johnson, Aundra Belle, Jamall Steele, Lorenzo Cannon, Kendarius Cox, 
Derek Medlin, Jason Hicks, Antonio Royal, Ratazio Baxter, Ari Foust, 
Brandon Taylor, Senneca Sammuels, Tommy Green, Cornelius Davis, Ji Soo 
Noh, Trey Ray, Joe Brewer, Jason Nelson, Dustin Gloor, Cody Smith, and 
Michael Byrd.
  The players would be the first to tell you that they could not have 
done it without strong backing. We congratulate Head Coach Benjie Brown 
and his outstanding assistants Allen Brown, Roger Bryant, Sam Captain, 
Danny Medlin, Matt Pugh, Scott Pugh, Brandon Staton, and Nick Sweitzer. 
They were joined by community coaches Vince Brown, Ed Courtney, Kemp 
Harvey, and Don Osborne. Also offering valuable contributions were 
trainers Kenny Coker and Charles Crowell; statistician Barry Tucker; 
film crew members Travis Leanord, Wade Loflin, Casey Medlin, and Adam 
Oakley; Middle School Head Coach Eric Rader and his liaison Stan 
Baranowski; team doctors David Williams and Rob Williams; gym 
maintenance supervisor Bill Moore; and team managers Troy Butler, 
Keyshawn Green, Byron Lattimore, Marquis Love, Luke Williams, and 
Jonathan Wright.
  The championship game was thrilling and the entire season validated 
Thomasville High School as one of North Carolina's true football 
dynasties. We congratulate Principal Dirk Gurley, Athletic Director 
Woody Huneycutt, the students, families, faculty, staff, and fans of 
the Thomasville Bulldogs on winning North Carolina's 1-A football 
championship.

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