MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Butler (38th), Davis, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), Kirby, Lee (35th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE JACKSON ACADEMY "RAIDERS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH DAVID SYKES FOR WINNING THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, Jackson Academy won its second straight Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA, Division 1 Football Championship with a 45-14 victory over Madison-Ridgeland Academy on Friday, November 12, 2010, at Mississippi College's Robinson-Hale Stadium in Clinton; and
WHEREAS, Jackson Academy finished with a 12-1 record for the second straight year under second-year Coach David Sykes. It was Jackson Academy's eighth state football title in school history and the second time the Raiders had won back-to-back State Championships; and
WHEREAS, for the second straight year, the Raiders put on a near flawless show in the Academy AAA, Division 1, Championship Game. Led by junior quarterback Hull Bolls, Jackson Academy scored on its first 6 possessions and never punted. Bolls tossed 3 touchdown passes to ignite Jackson Academy to a 28-7 half-time lead. Bolls completed 11 of 14 passes for 154 yards and threw 3 touchdowns (36 yards to Michael Mordecai, 16 yards to Michael Martin and 2 yards to Christopher Jew). Michael Mordecai caught 4 passes for 71 yards, caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Ken Stewart, and kicked a 24-yard field goal and 6 extra points. Christopher Jew also scored on a 3-yard run and gained 57 yards on 12 carries. Benton Green had 8 carries for a team-high 75 yards. Turner Maxwell had 9 tackles and Rob Pillow, Will Pickering and Matt Denny had 5 tackles each; and
WHEREAS, Jackson Academy junior linebacker/running back Jacob Berry received the "Clarion-Ledger Metro Male Athlete of the Week Award" for his performance in the State Championship game. Berry was the defensive star with 19 tackles, returned an interception for a 45-yard touchdown, forced and recovered a fumble and blocked a field goal attempt. He also had 46 yards on 5 carries on offense. Berry, a 5'11", 190-pound junior linebacker/running back, registered a school-record 140 tackles this season; and
WHEREAS, Coach Sykes received his Gatorade bath with 3 minutes left in the game. When time ran out, he looked back at the Jackson Academy fans in the crowd of 4,000 and held 2 fingers in the air to symbolize consecutive state championships. Coach Sykes joined the Jackson Academy staff in June 2005 as the head junior high football Coach and Assistant Athletic Director. In 4 seasons, Sykes' teams amassed a record of 31-0 and won 4 consecutive North AAA Championships. In March of 2009, David was named the Head Varsity Football Coach at Jackson Academy. In his first season, the Raiders compiled a 12-1 record and won the North AAA and State AAA Championships. Sykes was awarded the 2009 North AAA Coach of the Year, Clarion-Ledger Metro Coach of the Year and was selected as the Head Coach in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) All-Star Football Game. He currently serves as the Junior High Dean and Assistant Athletic Director at Jackson Academy; and
WHEREAS, the roster of the 2010 Jackson Academy "Raiders" Football Team is as follows: Jack Pickering WR/DB; Craig Edgecomb WR/DB; Fred Johnson WR/DB; Ken Stewart WR/DB; Stephen Brown WR/LB; Brian Scott Rippee WR/DB; Matt Denny QB/LB; Blake Weir WR/DB; Zach Nethery TE/DE; Ross Pickering QB/LB; Davis Rogers WR/DB; Matthew Kennedy WR/DB; A.J. Arnold WR/K; Jay Shell QB/DB; Thomas Westbrook WR/DB; Todd Brown WR/DB; Michael Mordecai WR/DB/K; Hull Bolls QB/D/B; Kevin Anthony QB/DE; Nicholas Guy TB/DB; Garner Bush TE/DB; Michael Luley WR/DB; Benton Green TB/DB; Christopher Jew TB/LB; Turner Maxwell WR/DB; Leighton Corrigan RB/LB; John Hannon TE/DB; Cooper Reid TB/DB; Harper Stone WR/DB; Jamison Barefield RB/LB; Benton Kelley WR/DB; Keith Shumaker TE/DB; Peyton Wood RB/LB; Paul Millette TB/DB; Carter Clarke WR/DB; Michael Martin RB/DL; Jacob Berry TB/LB; Chris Young RB/DB; Mike Fowler RB/LB; Rich Gilbert RB/LB; Rob Pillow RB/LB; Carson Dobbs WR/RB; Boyce Holleman C/DE; Matt Smith OL/DL; Jackson Baumann OL/DE; Wilson Nalty C/LB; Taylor Treece OL/DL; Lamarr Banks C/DL; Elliott Thomas C/DL; Caleb Cartwright OL/DL; Jamaal Clayborne OL/DL; John Manning OL/LB; Madison Coleman OL/DL; Graham Arinder OL/DL; Ryder Heath OL/LB; Jake Barfield OL/DL; Thomas Tardy OL/DE; Wes Matlock OL/DE; Akash Patel OL/DL; Zachary Dallaire OL/DL; Joseph Maxwell OL/DE; Bryan Pittman OL/DL; Austin Fortenberry OL/DL; Adam Pond OL/DL; Jake Williams OL/DL; Austin Ellis WR/LB; J D Maloney TE/DB; Bradley Lewis WR/DB; Forrest Davidson TE/DE; Taylor Thomas TE/DE; Jesse Dongieux WR/DB; and Wil Moore TE/DE. Head Coach: David Sykes; and Assistant Coaches: Brock Angle; Jason Williams; Brian Madden; and John Smith; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Jackson Academy "Raiders" Football Team and Head Coach David Sykes for winning their second consecutive Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA State Championship, and extend our best wishes to the players, coaches, parents and sponsors on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Sykes, President Peter Jernberg and Headmaster Pat Taylor for the team and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.