Congratulating the Carthage High School football team on winning a state championship.

89(R) SR 711 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 711

WHEREAS, The Carthage High School football team

continued its tradition of excellence by winning the 2024

University Interscholastic League 4A Division 2 state

championship; and

WHEREAS, Demonstrating tremendous resolve after

dropping the first game of the season, the Bulldogs reeled off

nine consecutive victories en route to claiming the district

crown; the squad then carried its momentum into the playoffs,

besting Longview Spring Hill, Krum, Texarkana Pleasant Grove,

and Van High Schools to reach the state semifinals; there,

Carthage earned an 11th all-time trip to the state title game

with a decisive 45-17 win over Brock High School; and

WHEREAS, With the championship on the line, Carthage

took the field against Waco La Vega High School on December 20

at AT&T Stadium in Arlington; taking command early, the

Bulldogs built a 14-7 lead at halftime; they continued to

excel on both sides of the ball down the stretch, posting two

more touchdowns and securing the outcome on the strength of

their fierce defense, which racked up a total of seven sacks

and 15 tackles for loss; triumphing by the final score of

28-14, the Bulldogs collected their 10th state championship

in program history, ending their storybook year with an

outstanding 15-1 record; and

WHEREAS, Offensive Most Valuable Player Kelwin Edwards

rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and Defensive MVP

Daquives Beck contributed 10 tackles and a sack; Carthage also

received valuable contributions throughout the campaign from

the other members of the roster: Klayton Ingram, Blake Marion,

Tylin Williams, Makkarius Cooper, Jaydon Lewis, Trey Gant,

Junior Henderson, Jett Surratt, Cale Preston, Cade Ross,

Carson Crawford, Colt Lawhorn, Andrew Gwinn, Kason Burchette,

William Jacks, Jacob Dixon, Bryston Price, Kaidon Graves, Leo

Brown, Jaden Jeffress, Benny Smith, Maure Sheppard, Jakelius

Roquemore, Zee Pearley, Ethen Portley, Grayson Bullock, JD

Edwards, Christian Monreal, Brian Brumit, Zach Dunlap, Jax

Thomas, Zay Owens, Lucas McDaniel, Roston Reid, Jace Harris,

Jesus Lopez, Gabrin Hooker, Colben Foster, Kingston Jones,

Braxton Ritter, Andric Kindle, Seth Wedgeworth, Leo Medrano,

Gael Olvera, Kash Courtney, Latravion Roberts, James Morrow,

Jeremiah Earl, Alex Aviles, Braden Dieter, Jaxon Smith,

Carson Carter, Kooper Knighton, James Koch, Jeremiah Jones,

Colt Hodges, Tyler Ortigo, Braylin Allison, Cooper Walters,

Abraham Santana, Brandon Allison, Jackson Biggs, Charles

Lovil, Caleb Smith, Kaden Gordon, Peyton Duran, and Cooper

Colle; and

WHEREAS, The team is ably guided by head coach Scott

Surratt, who has now won 10 state titles at Carthage, a record

for Texas high school football coaches; the Bulldogs also

enjoyed support from his assistant coaching staff of Paul

Bishop, Marcus Bowman, Zeke Dixon, Clinton Endsley, Craig

Fant, James Foster, Nicholas Hanson, Reggie Hill, Kaden

Holcomb, Demond Horsley, Art Horton, Grant Johnson, Michael

Johnson, Daniel Johnston, Dalton Longenbaugh, Rob McFall,

Ryan Marion, Lee Melton, Austin Morgan, Mike Morgan, Yancarlo

Palacios, Darren Preston, Damon Roberts, JT Romero, Micah

Smith, Matthew Terry, and Charlie Tucker; and

WHEREAS, By once again earning the mantle of state

champions, the Carthage High School Bulldogs have burnished

the school's reputation as a gridiron powerhouse, and this

achievement will be fondly remembered for many years to come;

now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th

Legislature, hereby congratulate the Carthage High School

football team on winning the 2024 UIL 4A Division 2 state

championship and extend to the players, coaches, and staff

sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be

prepared for the Bulldogs as an expression of high regard from

the Texas Senate.

Hughes

________________________________

President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the

above Resolution was adopted by

the Senate on June 1, 2025.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate