The Council of the District of Columbia on Dec. 21 passed a resolution honoring Archbishop Carroll High School’s football team on its win earlier this month against Theodore Roosevelt High School to capture the D.C. State Athletic Association Class AA Division championship.
The co-ed Catholic high school in Northeast Washington, D.C. is sponsored by The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
The resolution, signed by nine members of the council, honors the football team for its “championship, record-breaking season, and many academic accomplishments.”
On Dec. 4, the Carroll Lions staged an overtime come-from-behind victory – including a second-half scoring streak of 20 unanswered points to overcome a 21-7 halftime deficit – to defeat Roosevelt 35-27 and take the DCSAA Class AA Division title.
The Lions – who ended their championship football season with a 13-1 overall record, the most wins in the school’s history – were led by coach Robert Harris, himself a 1991 graduate of the school. He was named Metro Division Coach of the Year by the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC).
In a video statement posted on the school’s Instagram account after the championship win, Harris said, “It feels great for the whole Carroll community. It was a long time coming. It was a hard fight tonight, but the right team won.”
The resolution adopted by the D.C. Council not only praised the Lions for their “consistent efforts and confirmation of their division dominance” and “celebrated running game,” but also honored the team for its commitment to academic excellence.
“The Archbishop Carroll Lions earned a team grade point average of 3.2, had six national honor society inductees, and 35 players to earn DCSAA Honor Roll certificates,” the resolution reads. The resolution also honors the team for completing a combined total of more than 400 hours of community service and for having “21 players earn all-conference honors, two players earn WCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, one player earn Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and one player earn Gatorade Player of the Year.”
In its resolution honoring the team, the City Council also praised Archbishop Carroll High School because it “welcomes young people and empowers them in an academically rigorous, diverse, and supportive learning environment … (and) supports student-athletes on and off the field to be successful in all that they do.”
“The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the accomplishments of the Archbishop Carroll football team and congratulates the Lions on their victory,” the resolution states.
It was signed by Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, chair pro tempore of the council; At-Large Councilmembers Robert C. White, Jr. and Christina Henderson; and Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau (Ward 1), Brooke Pinto (Ward 2), Mary M. Cheh (Ward 3), Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4); Charles Allen (Ward 6), and Trayon White, Sr. (Ward 8).
Here is the complete text of the ceremonial resolution:
A ceremonial resolution in the Council of the District of Columbia
To recognize and honor the Archbishop Carroll High School football team and congratulate the student-athletes on their win at the DC State Athletic Association championship, record-breaking season, and many academic accomplishments.
Whereas, Archbishop Carroll High School is a private college preparatory school in Washington, DC that welcomes young people and empowers them in an academically rigorous, diverse, and supportive learning environment;
Whereas, Archbishop Carroll High School supports student-athletes on and off the field to be successful in all that they do;
Whereas, the Archbishop Carroll High School varsity football team plays in the DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Class AA Division;
Whereas, Coach Robert Harris, a 1991 graduate of Archbishop Carroll, returned to the school 6 years ago to reinvigorate the Lions and led the team all the way to the championship;
Whereas, the Lions regularly appeared in the Washington Post’s Football Top 20 throughout the 2021 season, an outcome of the team’s consistent efforts and confirmation of their division dominance;
Whereas, the Archbishop Carroll Lions entered the championship with a stunning undefeated regular season, a feat the school had not achieved in decades;
Whereas, Archbishop Carroll faced Theodore Roosevelt High School on December 4, 2021 at the DC State Athletic Association AA State Championship, and despite falling behind in the first half of the game, came back to win 35-27 in overtime by capitalizing on their celebrated running game;
Whereas, by the end of the season, with 13 wins, the Archbishop Carroll Lions earned the distinction of the team with most wins in the school’s history;
Whereas, Coach Robert Harris was named Metro Division Coach of the Year by the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC);
Whereas, the Archbishop Carroll Lions earned a team grade point average of 3.2, had six national honor society inductees, and 35 players to earn DCSAA Honor Roll certificates;
Whereas, the Archbishop Carroll Lions completed more than 400 hours of community service; and
Whereas, the Archbishop Carroll Lions had 21 players earn all-conference honors, two players earn WCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, one player earn Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and one player earn Gatorade Player of the Year.
Resolved, by the Council of the District of Columbia, this resolution may be cited as the “Archbishop Carroll High School Football Team Recognition Resolution of 2021”.
The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the accomplishments of the Archbishop Carroll football team and congratulates the Lions on their victory. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
