New coach. New system. New hope. And a new result. After finishing 3-7 last season, the Thomasville Bulldogs reversed those numbers and ended the 2013 regular season 7-3, earning the second seed in the state playoffs. One of the big reasons for their success is running back Mario Cherry, a 5’8”, 185-pounder who finished the season with 1,187 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. “I wanted 1,200 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns,” he said prior to the Bulldogs’ final regular season game against Pelham.
Cherry amassed 150 all-purpose yards, only 80 of which were on the ground. He didn’t get to 1,200 in the regular season but he is perfectly content with the way he finished the first 10 games of his senior year. Cherry is a complete running back who has been an important part of Thomasville’s offense in the three years he has started for the Bulldogs. He can run, he has good vision, and he can block. And he doesn’t mind doing whatever he needs to in order to win ball games. “If I need to run, I’ll run. If I need to block, I’ll block. It’s whatever is best for the team,” he says.
In 2013, what’s been best for the team is getting the ball in Cherry’s hands. He blew through 1,000 yards before the regular season ended. He rushed for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns against the Cook Hornets, his most prolific performance of the season. On that night, Thomasville High School was celebrating its centennial and the place was packed with alumni. “A lot of the old coaches and players were there. I felt like I owed them something. I wanted to show them that I appreciated the foundation they had set for us,” says Cherry. He carried the ball 36 times, a career high, on his way to 213 yards.
Cherry and the entire Thomasville program have flourished under new head coach LeRoy Ryals. Ryals has made the playoffs every year he has been a head coach and he didn’t want that streak to end in Thomasville. After not making the playoffs last year, Cherry wanted to start another playoff streak for the Bulldogs. Mission accomplished. “Coach Ryals is preparing us for the next level. There’s a college-like atmosphere here. He has us working hard and getting ready for what is coming down the road. It’s been a great experience this year,” says Cherry.
Several colleges have expressed interest in Cherry but he doesn’t have any scholarship offers yet. A couple of Division-I programs have contacted him, and he recently visited Middle Tennessee. He is waiting patiently. He knows the scholarship offers will come.
At whatever college he attends, Cherry plans to pursue a degree in graphic design. “I want to do creative artwork – designing signs, logos, things like that. I have an artistic mind but I could be better at drawing,” he laughs.
Favorites:
• Sport to watch on TV: College football
• Team: Georgia Bulldogs
• Player: Todd Gurley
• Subject: Math
• Least favorite: Science
• Best movie in the last year: White House Down
• Person to meet: Adrian Peterson
• What would you do if you won $1 million: Put it in the bank
• Biggest lesson football has taught you: “Never quit. Always keep fighting.”
Mario Cherry is also a member of Thomasville’s track team. He runs the 100 meters and 4×100 relay. His best 100 time is 10.7 seconds. Last year, he finished fifth in region and didn’t advance. His best region finish is third, which he accomplished as a sophomore. Cherry advanced to sectionals but didn’t make it to the state meet. This year, he would like to improve his times enough to get to state.
Player Spotlight/South Georgia/December 2013
Mario Cherry
Thomasville High School
Thomasville, Georgia
Photography by Micki K Photography
Robert Preston Jr.
Super Mario leads Bulldogs into postseason
