House Concurrent Resolution 49

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE RANGERS FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACH BENJY PARKER FOR WINNING CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES IN THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES CONFERENCE.

WHEREAS, a high-flying first quarter resulted in 21 quick points from No. 4 ranked Northwest, as the Rangers soared past the Eagles, 56-21, in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference Championship bout at Bobby Franklin Field; and

WHEREAS, earning its second consecutive MACCC title with the victory, and repeating as conference champions for the first time since 1991-92, this decided accomplishment marks Northwest's 11th conference title for the Rangers and the third since 2015; and

WHEREAS, after the Rangers' defense stifled the Eagles' first possession, Northwest needed only one play to reach the end zone, as quarterback Michael Hiers connected with D.T. Sheffield on a 72-yard touchdown reception, and forcing the Eagles to punt once again on the ensuing possession, the Rangers drove 81 yards on three plays to tack on a 14-0 advantage, thanks to an 11-yard touchdown run from Jamarien Bracey; and

WHEREAS, even in their most diligent efforts Hinds failed to mount a defense formidable enough to impede Northwest's offensive line, as the Rangers capitalized on a short possession downfield, finishing a four-play, 66-yard drive with a 46-yard connection from Hiers to Sheffield, followed by Eli Hamlin's third successful point-after attempt, further widening the gap to 21-0; and WHEREAS, remaining consistent with every previous offensive possession, the Rangers marched downfield to the Hinds' 15-yard line, facing fourth and short and appearing to be content with a field goal attempt, only for Tanner Gillis to complete a first down pass to Kevin Diaz on the fake, which set up a short touchdown from Bracey to give the Rangers a 35-14 advantage; and

WHEREAS, the second half commenced with the Rangers in possession of the pigskin, but the Eagles' defense materialized to earn a stop on Jaylen Knight's interception of Hiers in the end zone after the Rangers had advanced to the Eagles' 15-yard line, cutting the deficit to 35-21; and

WHEREAS, sensing a momentum change in Hinds' efforts to stage a comeback, the Rangers' Jarvis Townsend clipped the Eagles' wings by intercepting McCray's pass attempt for a 36-yard pick-six and the first score of the second half, doubling the lead to 42-21; and

WHEREAS, Northwest concluded a six-play, 54-yard drive with Bracey's third touchdown of the day with 12:09 left in the contest, and the Rangers' following possession resulted in all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, Jaquerrious Williams, punching one in from 15 yards out for his last score on the home field, and to commence the championship celebration; and

WHEREAS, Northwest delivered a season-high 651 yards of total offense, the most recorded in any game during the Benjy Parker-Stan Hill era and the most since the 2015 NJCAA Championship game, where the Rangers totaled 680 yards; and

WHEREAS, Hiers finished 14 of 22 and collected his sixth career 300-yard passing game, finishing with 343, 22 yards shy of his career-best 365-yard effort at Coahoma earlier this season, concluding his season ranked as fifth in all-time passing yards with 4,122, surpassing Bobby Robison's total of 4,096 set from 2001-02; and

WHEREAS, despite only reaching the end zone once, Williams quietly put together his best performance of the season, finishing with 203 yards on 23 carries, following his previous career 200-plus yard performance in 2019 in a 250-yard effort on 15 carries in a blowout win against Coahoma, a career total that ranks him as second in career rushing yards, with 2,345 yards; and

WHEREAS, Fred Harris, Jr., led all Northwest defenders with nine total tackles, while Pearson earned eight tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble, Sam

Brumfield was limited to just four tackles, but two were sacks totaling a loss of 12 yards for Hinds; and

WHEREAS, the members of the 2021 Rangers' MACCC State Championship Football Team are: Jackson Allen, Tevin Bell, Harper Blake, Jamarien Bracey, Deshaun Brooks, Sam Brumfield, Rayyan Buell, Ethan Bumgarner, Cason Burress, Michael Campbell, Davion Carter, Martez Clark, Braden Crawford, Roderick Daniels, Jamarr Davis, Kevin Diaz, David Duvall, Khamron Ford, Keyon Fordham, Kejuan Garner, Tanner Gillis, Kam Grays, Stephen Hall, Eli Hamlin, Fred Harris Jr., Jykeveous Hibbler, Michael Heirs, Jaycob Horn, TreShun Johnson, Jacoby Jones, Tyson Keys, Kaleb Long, Corteze Love, Quanterius Lusk, E. Jai Mason, Leo McIntyre, Jakobe McLaurin, Jay Mickle, James Mitchell III, Jackson Mize, Noshua Montague, Jalen Nettles, Bryon Pearson, Rontavious Person, Omar Pew, Jaylen Powell, Tavion Prather, Thurman Rayborn, Kylan Robinson, Jamie Shaw, D.T. Sheffield, Drea Shumaker, James Spratt, William Stewart, De'Meric Strong, Charles Thomas, Jarvis Townsend, Vance Van Every, Quinzavious Warren, Fred Watson Jr., Trace White, Jaquerrious Williams, Kiyon Williams, Matt Williams and Austin Wilson; and

WHEREAS, the members of the 2021 MACCC State Championship Football Coaching Staff, who have refined the Rangers' skills in execution and continue to build upon a legacy of superior athleticism and sportsmanship, are: Head Coach Benjy Parker, Offensive Coordinator Stan Hill, Wide Receivers Coach Scott Oakley, Offensive Line Coach Jim Jones, Defensive Coordinator Paige Anders, Defensive Line Coach Rashad Pittman, and Defensive Backs Coach Charles Jones; and

WHEREAS, just a few months removed from guiding Northwest to its second consecutive MACCC championship, Head Coach Benjy Parker, who led the Rangers to a 9-3 overall record after recovering from a 3-2 start to the season to successfully defend their MACCC championship, has been named as the Region 23 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, culminating in an impressive program record for Northwest which now has claimed 11 conference titles, three since 2015, and becoming one of four teams to participate in the inaugural NJCAA Division I Football Playoffs this season; and

WHEREAS, since assuming the head coaching reins ahead of the 2016 season, Parker has led Northwest to both a winning record and a playoff appearance every year, including the 2020 National Community College Football Championship, and an overall record of 48-14, with a 30-6 mark against division opponents; and

WHEREAS, the holders of the 2017, 2019 and 2020 MACCC North Division titles under Parker, Northwest has become a mainstay in the NJCAA national rankings, and Parker's current overall winning percentage of .774 ranks first all-time; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to acknowledge and commend the success of student athletes for the significant strides made to bestow honor and pride upon their educational institutions, their families and the entire citizenry of the Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Northwest Mississippi Community College Football Team and Coach Benjy Parker for winning the 2021 Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference State Championship, and extend to the athletes and coaches best wishes for continued success in all their future academic, athletic and career endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Benjy Parker, Northwest Mississippi Community College President Michael J. Heindl, the Board of Trustees of Northwest Mississippi Community College, the Mississippi Community College Board, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.