[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2644-E2645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FOURTH TIME A CHARM FOR WESTERN ALAMANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, the old adage, ``If at first you don't 
succeed, try, try again'' wasn't written specifically with the Western 
Alamance High School football team in mind, but as its players and fans 
will tell you, that statement perfectly captures the fighting spirit of 
the Warriors. On December 8, 2007, Western Alamance won the North 
Carolina 3-A high school football championship on its fourth try in the 
title game. The Warriors completed a perfect 16-0 season by defeating 
North Gaston 62-36.
  Having lost three straight state championship games, the Warriors of 
Western Alamance were used to playing in a big game setting. As Head 
Coach Hal Capps told the Times-News, however, there was something 
different about this year's squad. ``North Gaston is an outstanding 
football team, outstanding,'' Coach Capps told the Burlington 
newspaper, ``but this team was on a mission, they were not going to be 
denied.''
  Senior receiver Levon Curtis, who was named the game's Most 
Outstanding Player, was part of those past title game losses, and he 
told the Times-News, ``We did it. I didn't know it would ever happen. 
I've got to get it through my mind, we did it.'' Curtis certainly did 
it by scoring four touchdowns, two through the air and two on the 
ground. In all, Curtis caught seven passes for 153 yards and rushed for 
another 96 yards.
  Coach Hal Capps will be the first to tell you that finally winning 
that elusive state championship took a total team effort. Members of 
his coaching squad included Terry Covington, Drew Hambright, Chris 
Jackson, Frank Lassiter, Kenny Lockner, Brad Melton, Mike Mitchener, 
Chris Myers, and Jeff Snuffer. They were ably assisted by team managers 
Kaitlyn Lockner, Rachel McKinney, Amanda Summers, and Amanda Thomas.
  But it was the players who finally led the Warriors to the promised 
land. Members of the 3-A champs include Ethan Willis, Jonathon 
Corriher, A.J. Smith, Donald Britt, Ryan Blair, Jared Orton, Houston 
Spake, Nathan Jasper, Brandon Hill, Kenneth Lindsey, Chris Sparks, Wes 
Satterfield, Tucker Street, Chris Bradsher, Matt Maness, Connor Meehan, 
Scottie Thomas, Justin Torrence, Rod Shaw, Michael Wade, Doug Bernard, 
Olanders Sellars, Johnny Mitchell, P.J. Wright, Brad Brenner, Macon 
Rippy, Billy Williamson, Gary Strader, Kyle Norris, Levon Curtis, 
Nathan Bell, Kevin Lewis, Kyle Haizlip, Josh Baulding, Casey Roberts, 
Todd Ludwig, Joe Ahlgren, Christian Saconn, Robert Fields, Mac 
Mitchener, Blake Bledsole, Chris Sizemore, Jered Welborn, Josh Warren, 
Donald Schietzelt, Jay Johnson, Matt Apple, Shawn Huffines, Richard 
Miller, Laramie Stallings, Nick King, Corey Brothers, Bradley Dickey, 
Jamal Dark, Zack Palm, Allen Black, Tony Bejos, Jeremy Gooding, Tyler 
Clayton, Martin Dailey, Dace Crawford, Ashton Tinin, Wayne Stanfield, 
Joe Reinheimer, Ronnie Mimms, Jordan Gaines, Bill Blanchard, Jeremy 
Ray, Avery Booker, Josh Medlin, Alex Mitchell, George Wentz, Ben Smith, 
Brent Oliver, and Orvin Guiffaro.
  All of these players assisted Western Alamance in a record-setting 
performance. Six State records were broken during the title game, 
including most combined points scored (98) in a championship contest. 
The only number that the Warriors will remember is four. Because on the 
fourth try, Western Alamance finally brought home the trophy.
  Even amid all of the jubilation, there was some sadness associated 
with the team. Two days before the championship, the brother of 
offensive coordinator Jeff Snuffner died of cancer. Quarterback Donald 
Britt told the Times-News, ``When we heard Coach Snuffner's brother 
died, something went off in us. We just wanted to do it for him. We 
wanted to go out there 110 percent, every play.'' Coach Capps told the 
Burlington newspaper that just before the game, he and his offensive 
coordinator hugged and told the other how much they loved each other. 
``I'm sitting there five minutes before the game,'' told the Times-
News, ``crying like a baby. That's what life is all about. It's about 
loving and caring about people and having relationships. When something 
doesn't go right, you pick each other up and go on.''
  The Warriors did more than go on. They went all the way to be named 
as North Carolina 3-A high school football champions. On behalf of the 
citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate 
Western Alamance Principal Terri Spears, Athletic Director Carter 
Gerlach, Head Coach Hal Capps, and all of the players, coaches, staff, 
family, and fans, as well as the outstanding Warriors marching band. 
The team is a true inspiration to all of us who work hard to accomplish 
our goals. The Warriors proved that sometimes old adages are true 
because they never gave up.

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