[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19177]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO THE HAZARD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2011

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the 2011 Hazard High School Football Team, who captured the Kentucky 
High School Athletic Association Class 1-A State Championship Title for 
the first time in history. This group of student-athletes should be 
proud of this remarkable achievement and I am honored to recognize them 
as champions.
  The State Championship title has been a highly coveted achievement 
for the Hazard Bulldogs. After their third appearance in a Class 1-A 
title game in four years, the Bulldogs tenaciously took the field with 
experience, heart and determination, earning every yard to lead them to 
a well-deserved victory and their first-ever State Championship.
  The Hazard Bulldogs defeated a tough team from Mayfield, winning 24-
6. More than five thousand fans filled the Houchens Smith Stadium in 
Bowling Green, Kentucky to witness these focused young men put their 
athletic ability and knowledge of the game to the highest test. 
Redeeming themselves from last year's 47-6 loss to Mayfield, the 
Bulldogs dominated the majority of the game and put an end to 
Mayfield's state-best 29-game winning streak. Holding the Cardinals to 
just 237 yards offensively, the Hazard Bulldogs forced five Mayfield 
turnovers and sealed their victory with an interception returned for a 
touchdown in the last two minutes of the game.
  This season, Coach Mark Dixon led the Bulldogs to a near perfect 12-2 
season. Despite defeat in last year's title game, the Bulldogs 
persevered and came back this season with unwavering determination to 
bring the state title home to the mountains of eastern Kentucky. These 
experiences and life lessons learned on the field will be carried on 
after the game and continue to shape these football players into men of 
promise and outstanding character.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Coach Dixon 
and the Hazard High School 2011 Football Team as the KHSAA Class 1-A 
State Champions. This team has successfully carried on a sports 
tradition of pride in the mountains and I wish them all the best in the 
years to come.

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