MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Burton, Butler (38th), Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE LAFAYETTE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL "COMMODORES" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH ANTHONY HART FOR WINNING ITS FIRST MHSAA CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN SCHOOL HISTORY AND AS THE FIRST MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM TO WIN 16 GAMES IN A SEASON.
WHEREAS, Jeremy Liggins ran for 150 yards and Lafayette County High School Commodores Football Team defeated North Pike 31-6 to win its first football championship December 4, 2010, in the Class 4A State Title Game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium; and
WHEREAS, after falling behind 6-3 in the first quarter, Lafayette (16-0) scored 28 unanswered points to become the first Mississippi High School Activities Association squad to finish a season with 16 victories. Liggins, the team's quarterback, scored touchdowns on runs of 1, 15 and 1 yards to help the Commodores wash away thoughts of last year's state championship loss to St. Stanislaus. Lafayette racked up 294 yards on the ground and dominated the time of possession 30:19 to 16:44; and
WHEREAS, focus, dedication and desire were just three of the many intangibles the Commodores displayed on the field on a consistent basis this year, while an overpowering defense and offense, led by quarterback Jeremy Liggins and running back Demarkus Dennis, seemed to dispatch opponents with little trouble each week. The championship victory epitomized how the Commodores won games all season. Liggins bullied his way through the Jaguars' defense for 3 scores and 150 yards, while Dennis moved the chains with dazzling runs through the middle and outside of Lafayette's formations; and
WHEREAS, Coach Anthony Hart will never forget the day the way his team came together, nor how accountable they were both on and off the field, this season. "One thing I look back on with this football team was we did not have one starter miss a football season that we didn't know exactly where he was. When your players are at practice and doing what they're supposed to do, that makes coaching a little easier and it's easier to prepare for each week. The accountability factor to each other is another reason for Lafayette County High School fans and anyone associated with the school district to feel proud about the team on a day and night that placed the program in the record books"; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 Commodore championship roster is: Head Coach, Anthony Hart; Assistant Coaches: Eric Robertson, Dennis Robbins, Jimmy Murphey, Dusty Finley, Nacoma James, Wayne Davis, Ty Taylor and Keith Brown; Athletic Director, Jeff Nelson; Managers: Creek Robertson, Britt Robertson, Ryan Holland, Mac Quarles, Bruce Nelson, Kewan Vaughn, Cody Barker and Rod Pitts; Jeremy Liggins, QB; Dk Buford; DeAndre Fondren, WR, OLB; Brandon Mack, DB, WR; Demarkus Dennis, RB, OLB; Jamel Dennis, LB; Alex Michael, LB; Elliott Markuson; Kris Miller, MLB; Colby Terrell; Tevin Buford, OLB, WR; Ontario Phillips, WR, CB; Parker Ward; John Mills; Chad Shaw, FS, WR; Kalen Coleman; Antavious Herod; Dylan Gossett; Justin Wilson; Josh Barry; DeBrico Burgess; JD Driver; Larry Nelson; DeShundrick Burt; Jeremiah Jones; Montavus Ivy; Shilo Woodard; Wesly Martin; Anfernee Gooch, WR, DB; Demetri McIntosh, DE; Keeyon Tyson, DE; Tyler Beckham; William Alexander; Colton Bowlin, DE; Tyler Thompson; Cortez Coleman, DE; Jay Carrothers; Wesly Klepzig; Mario Toles; Vic Rather; Cody Hadorn; Trey Pruitt; Gordon Lyles; DeAndre Greer; D.Q. Reynolds, DT; Aaron Mathis; Cole Wells; Trae Williams; Demetrius Owens, DT; Morgan Klepzig; Jordan Wilms; Hunter Land; Austin Dennis; Adam Hyland; Mason Phillips; and Tyler Jackson, KP; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this special accomplishment by a squad of student athletes who have brought honor to their families, their school, their community, their sponsors 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 Lafayette County High School "Commodores" Football Team and Head Coach Anthony Hart for winning its first Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship in school history, and for its outstanding 2010 Regular Season which was the first in Mississippi history in which a high school football team won 16 games in a season, and extend our best wishes to the team and its coaches for future successes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Hart and Principal Rodney Flowers for the team, forwarded to the Lafayette County School Board and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.