MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Mettetal, Michel, Butler (38th), Davis, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th), Simmons, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE SOUTH PANOLA HIGH SCHOOL "TIGERS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HEAD COACH LANCE POGUE FOR WINNING A RECORD 9TH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR ITS NO. 1 NATIONAL RANKING.
WHEREAS, the South Panola High School "Tigers" Football Team won its 9th Mississippi State Championship on December 3, 2010, and earned the mythical national high school championship when it was named No. 1 in USA Today's final 25 rankings for 2010 and by Web sites MaxPreps and rivals.com. Qyen Griffin ran for 174 yards and scored 3 touchdowns as South Panola wore down previously unbeaten Meridian 28-7 to capture their second consecutive Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State Championship which is a record ninth overall championship; and
WHEREAS, it is the first time a Mississippi team has finished as the nation's best in football. Since 2000, the previous No. 1 teams have come from California, Texas, Florida and New Jersey. Mississippi is not that big of a state, but if you look at the number of players that Mississippi puts in the NFL per capita, Mississippi is usually first or second; and
WHEREAS, the appropriately nicknamed "University of South Panola" atoned for one of its 2 defeats in the past 8 seasons by defeating Meridian. The Tigers finished 15-0 for the sixth time in 8 years and stretched their winning streak to 27. It was a fitting conclusion for a team that had a stranglehold on Mississippi's No. 1 ranking since the preseason; and
WHEREAS, "We never talked about any kind of pressure," said understandably proud fourth-year South Panola Coach Lance Pogue, who is 58-2 with 3 championships since arriving in Batesville in 2007. "South Panola has been on the map for a long time, but I guess you can say we finally got all the way to the top. I'm proud for the community and the school, but I'm really proud for the State of Mississippi." Coach Pogue received a national honor when he was named the Coach on USA Today's All-USA Football Team. "This is a great honor but there is no question this is a team honor"; and
WHEREAS, after a 15-0 campaign, some sportswriters declared this edition of the Batesville dynasty as the greatest prep football team in state history. The numbers were impressive:
· South Panola outscored opponents by an average of 35-10. Prior to the victory over nationally ranked and previously unbeaten Meridian, only one game, a 24-13 win in a playoff rematch with Olive Branch, was decided by less than 30 points. The Tigers traveled nearly 500 miles to smash Colquitt County (which played for Georgia's 5A Championship) by a score of 65-35;
· Dandy Dozen receiver Nickolas Brassell, safety Kendrick Market and running back "Mr. Football" Qyen Griffin had huge senior seasons, putting themselves in the conversation for Mr. Football honors, and defensive linemen Issac Gross and Temario Strong were two of the state's best juniors;
· South Panola is ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today, Rivals.com and MaxPreps. The Tigers added another feather in their cap with the No. 1 ranking in The Clarion-Ledger Super 10;
· The best athlete on the field might have been the Tigers' Antonio Connor, only a 10th grader, who was listed in the game program as simply: "Athlete." Conner made 2 first-half interceptions, and also ran the ball 4 times for 27 yards and a touchdown in the championship; and
WHEREAS, senior running back Qyendairs DeShun (Qyen) Griffin was named Mississippi's Mister Football by The Clarion-Ledger newspaper. His 2,670 rushing yards were the second-most ever by a player in the MHSAA's largest classification, and Griffin's 40 touchdowns this season ranks second among large school players. One thing that set Qyen Griffin apart: unlike some of the other Tiger backs, Griffin had just one year to make a name for himself in the backfield; and
WHEREAS, read down the South Panola roster and you see these familiar family names: Conner, Strong, Rudd, Barksdale, Ware and Flowers. As with many Mississippi communities, the football bloodlines run deep in Batesville, but in Panola County they run deeper than anywhere else, and there seems no end in sight; and
WHEREAS, South Panola Tigers 2010 High School Football Roster: Kendrick Market; Qyendairs Griffin, RB; Al Hentz, DB; Lageofrey Glover, LB; Lee Self, QB; Marcus Henry, WR; Temario Strong; Gregdrecus Leland, DB; Keunte Turner, LB; Tevis Flowers, QB; Nickolas Brassell, WR; Antonio Connor; Timothy Gleaton, DB; Jonathan Bownes, FB; Jaterrian Wren, FB, TE; C.J. Leland, WR; Deddrick Twilley, WR, DB; Sawyer Oakes, KR; Deshun Henderson, WR, DB; Adam Cummins, WR; Hunter Lawrence, FB, TE; Carlos Hooks; Marcus Dixon, RB; Charles Gray, RB; Ladarius Strong, LB, RB; Shaquille Simmons, DB; Dennis Draper, LB, RB; Je'tavious Turner, DB; Deandre Harris, WR, DB; Greg Hayes, DB; Eric Booker, DB, WR; James Grays, LB; Calvin Porter, DB; Justin Wilbourn, DL; Nathan Simmerman, TE, FB; Jonathan Cosby, LB; Carlos Flowers, RB, FB; David Griffin, LB; Tyler Rudd, WR, DB; Kieddrick Flowers, LB, RB; Tyler Beard, LB, FB; Titus Oliver, DB; Quandez Lee, LB, RB; Logan Roberson, K, P; Jerry Ware, FB, LB; Bradley Wilkins, LB; Clayton Sibley; Terry Boyd, OL, DL; Austin Douglas, OL; Victor Ellis, DL; Darius Johnson, DL; Isaiah Broomfield, OL; Neimiah Wyatt, OL; Bill Lightning, OL; Edward Oliver, OL, DL; Thomas Campbell, OL; Jimmy Hardin, OL; Justin Barksdale, OL; Sean Rodgers, OL; Kenyahti McMurry, OL; Deon Mix, OL, DL; Darrell Davis, OL, DL; Carlton Howard, OL; Deshondrick Hines, OL; Taylor Rotenberry, DE, TE; DeIssac House, FB, TE; Donnell Chapman, TE; Ron Taylor, WR; Billy Woods, FB, TE; Nick Johnson, DL; Nick Bland, DL; Rodrigues Hunt, DL; Nico Agate, DL; Jetarius Wright, OL, DL; Kendall Carr, DL; Kalen Orey, DL; and Issac Gross, DL; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the continuing achievements of this talented group of student athletes whose incredible success of 9 State Championship seasons and 132 wins have brought honor to their school, their enthusiastic 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 South Panola High School "Tigers" Football Team and nationally recognized Head Coach Lance Pogue for winning their second consecutive Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State Football Championship, which is a record ninth State Championship, and for their No. 1 National Ranking, and extend to them our best wishes for future academic and athletic success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Principal Jay Foster, Superintendent Dr. Keith Shaffer and Coach Pogue for the team, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.