[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1771-1772]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO THE BAKERSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL DRILLER FOOTBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 16, 2014

  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Bakersfield High School Drillers football team, who took home their 
seventh state football title after a triumphant win at the California 
Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division I State Football Championship 
Bowl Game this past December.
  Drillers football has long been synonymous with winning in California 
state high school football history, with 36 section championships since 
its first unofficial game 120 years ago. In a magical 12-year span, the 
Drillers won six state championships, with the sixth title win coming 
in 1927. That same year, the state playoff system was disbanded, 
resurrected 79 years later in 2006 with the establishment of the state 
bowl championship. With the 56-26 win against Del Oro High on December 
20, 2013, a new and modern era of Driller state champions was born.
  Winning this championship was a team effort on both the offensive and 
defensive side of the football. This historic victory, however, was 
also the product of months of hard work and skill, refined by grueling 
summer practices and an unequivocal determination from every player, 
coach, and support staff to not only reach the state championship bowl, 
but to take home the trophy. This team overcame early obstacles, but 
with their eyes on the prize, charged through the season to cap off an 
amazing 13-2 record and secured wins by an average margin of victory of 
several touchdowns.
  I commend Drillers Head Coach Paul Golla and his coaching staff for 
their leadership and ability to mold their students into champions and 
uphold the Drillers' century-old legacy as California's winningest high 
school football

[[Page 1772]]

team. Serving the Drillers for nine years, Coach Golla brought all the 
players together so each one not only knew his individual 
responsibilities to cohesively form elaborate offensive and defensive 
units that scored at will and stifled their opponent's offense. The 
same can be said for the team's senior class leaders who, through their 
unique ability to lead their teammates, made game-winning adjustments 
and executed each play to the highest level.
  As a Driller myself, I join our community in congratulating the 
coaches and players for their achievement. The 2013 Division I State 
Championship Driller coaching staff includes: Head Coach Paul Golla, 
Darren Carr, Terry Chapman, DeMarcus Clear, Jay Durant, Adam Levinson, 
Johnny Maran, Lance McCullah, Eduardo Romero, Craig Buckey, Paxton 
Garner, Rick Mosher, Bill Solan, Devon Pitts, Kirk Erickson, and Chris 
Figueroa. The 2013 CIF Division I State Championship Driller football 
team includes: Derrick Vickers, Lameshio Hill, Asauni Rufus, Johnathon 
Malone, Darias Dallas, Nate Stancil, Amone Gragg, Jeremiah Reddick, 
Coleman Olivas, Joseph Conley, Joshua Maran, Kevin Hayes, Ryder Dilley, 
Noah Holley, Desmond Stancil, Kira Burton, Keayr Gragg, Eddie Sanchez, 
Marcus Watkins, Deion Nobles, Anthony Mackey, Desmon McGhee, Bryson 
Briggs, Alex Fulmer, Ben Sanchez, Darrious Eaton, Nick Marchetti, Nigel 
Flores, Brian Douglas, Marcus Bruce, Patrick Liles, Jake Vasquez, Chris 
Sierra, Chris Agtang, Ethan Carter, Patrick Crowley, David Bonilla, 
Dimas Ramos, Greyson Burt, Dillon Littles, Nigel Brooks, Paulie 
Salazar, Brenden Hacker, Albert Salas, Joshua Nunez, Benjamin O'Bannon, 
Seth Valdes, Jordan Beltran, Julian Sanders, Anastacio Barrientos, 
Fletcher Dilley, Dyllan Guillermo, Cassidy Johnson, McKenzie McCoy, 
Robert Trujillo, Sergio Barriga, Daniel Schoene, Ulunder Martin, and 
Tyler Alvarez. You all have made our community so proud. Once a 
Driller, Always a Driller.

                          ____________________