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The weight of 90 years of grid teams
The hopes and dreams of 90 teams took the field with the 2007 Bulldogs and the ghosts of past rueful memories may have helped hoist them on their shoulders and help carry them to victory. That is quite a burden for any team to carry…being the first in 49 years to have the chance at finishing the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record. In 1958 the CCHS Bulldogs ran through their schedule to a 9-0 record before tying Jackson in the last game of the season, leaving their record at 9-0-1. Two years prior to that they also went 9-0-1, but the tie came in the middle of the season. Between 1917 and 2007 that was as close as any team ever got to a perfect regular season. There have been past teams that had better talent or bigger playmakers, but all of those teams…those great teams…were layed to the side at Clarke County beat Thomasville 13-2 last Friday night. In my opinion, the game was played before the largest crowd to ever see a game in Clarke County. The people came out of the woodwork to watch this game…to cheer these young men on, both from Grove Hill and Thomasville. Coach Allan Floyd referred to the CCHS fans as the "12thMan." That is about as good a way to describe what the fans meant to the Bulldogs in the game. There was never any doubt for them as to who and how many were behind them. I think it almost makes the game easier to play when you have stands full of fans. And the bulk of the Bulldog fans were in their seats at least an hour before kickoff. Seems as though a rumor had started circulating through Grove Hill Friday afternoon that Thomasville officials were going to stop selling tickets at 5,000. That rumor was far from being true. This year's Bulldogs were fully aware that they could go 10-0 as they took the field Friday night, but I seriously doubt many of them knew that if they accomplished the feat that they would be the first ever. Usually the CCHS-THS presents itself as a venue for one player to write their name in the annals of lore with their play. This year, instead, an entire team gets to ink their name as the win meant more than a county championship or bragging rights for a year. Nope. This game solidified the first ever perfect regular season. Hat's off to the Bulldogs, staff and fans on a job well done. Big football all around It would be easy to say that I had an overdose of good football last week. It all started with the Millry-Washington County game on Thursday night. That game means as much to folks in Washington County as the CCHSTHS game means over here. In fact there may even be a bit more ferocity behind that game. It certainly appeared that way after the game was over, during the celebration. It just goes to prove that everyone has their own true rivalry. Congrats to Teddy Taylor and the Wildcats on their first perfect 10-0 season as well. Amazing what kids say Saturday morning Taryn heard me discussing the previous nights games. All she said was simply, "It is a Bulldog blue sky with a Gator orange sun, Daddy." Yes it was and still is. The saddest thing from last week is the fact that there may have been some folks who did not get out to watch one of the great games or any game for that matter. Truly sad. Lastly....I guess my friend Mike Herndon will be forever banned from Thomasville as the curse is still in effect.
That's all folks.......
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