Local Talent Well-Represented for Championship Sunday Teams
There is little secret about how Galveston County has long been a hotbed for National Football League talent. Of the 9,339 schools that have produced NFL players, Galveston Ball ranks a strong 17th with 25 players, including current Buccaneers star receiver Mike Evans. No school in the state of Texas has generated more Sunday stars, although La Marque (11) and Texas City (9) have done their part.
Sunday’s Conference Championship games won’t have any local talent. However, there are plenty of former players on each of the four teams that will be rooting hard for their former franchises.
Cincinnati at Kansas City (KHOU 11, 2:00pm) will see La Marque’s James Francis and Galveston Ball’s Charles Alexander representing the Bengals. Francis was a member of the 1990 NFL All-Rookie team while Alexander appeared in the franchise’s first Super Bowl when the Bengals fell to the 49ers in Super Bowl XVI. Clear Creek’s Brandon Burton appeared in four games with Cincy in 2013. Ball’s Kimble Anders spent all 10 years of his career (1991-2000) with the Chiefs; fellow Tors Todd Scott, Whitney Paul and Robert Williams each spent portions of their NFL careers with Kansas City. Clear Brook’s Thomas Gafford appeared in 105 games with the Chiefs from 2008 to 2014.
San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams (KRIV 26, 5:30pm) has its share of local alums, with La Marque’s Brian Allen the most recent area player to play for the 49ers. Clear Creek’s Ben Emanuel (2005) played his only season with the 49ers. A number of Galveston Ball alum have donned a Niners uniform, with George McCullough and Mike Holmes each representing San Fran, while Texas City’s Charley Quilter played two seasons (1949-50) with the Niners. La Marque’s Claude Terrell played three seasons (2005-07) with the Rams, with Texas City’s Diron Talbert suiting up with Los Angeles in the late 1960s.
Brandon Williams is the Editor of The Post Newspaper.
