THOMASVILLE – During halftime of Thomasville’s region matchup with Worth County, the Bulldogs honored the 1974 national championship team and unveiled a new banner, naming the field inside Veterans Memorial Stadium Jim Hughes field.

Hughes was the coach of that famed 1974 Bulldogs team that not only won a state championship but was named the 1974 national champions. Thomasville went 12-1 in ’74, with their only loss coming by way of Dougherty.

The Bulldogs were truly a force to be reckoned with. They outscored their opponents 423-153, allowing an average of just 11.77 points per game on their way to a state championship over Lakeview out of Atlanta, who was a top 20 team in the nation. They secure four shutouts that season over Tift County, Westover, Valdosta, and Lowndes. 

Perhaps more impressive and important than what took place on the field, the 1974 Thomasville football team was one of the first integrated football teams. Led by head coach Jim Hughes, this team full of white and black athletes alike showed a skeptical world what human beings are capable of when they come together. 

“We’re one of the few schools that’s won a national championship. When you think about that in high school, that’s a tough task,” said current Thomasville head coach Jonathan DeLay. “It was great to see those guys honored the other night at halftime and Coach Hughes getting the field named after him. I mean, He won back-to-back state championships, he won a national championship here with this school and he’s still around and he’s a great one to talk to. It’s fun for the kids to see these are some of the people that built the tradition that you’re trying to carry on.”