MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Lee (35th), Powell, Butler (38th), Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Montgomery
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MOUNT OLIVE HIGH SCHOOL "PIRATES" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH PERRY MURPHY FOR WINNING THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SCHOOLS CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, the Mount Olive High School "Pirates" won their second straight Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class A Football Championship with a 20-14 victory over Durant High Academy on December 12, 2010, at Mississippi Veterans' Memorial Stadium in Jackson; and
WHEREAS, Mount Olive finished with an 11-4 record. It was Mount Olive's third state football title in school history; and
WHEREAS, for the second straight year, the Pirates put on a near flawless show in the Class A Championship Game. Led by senior quarterback Rueben Duckworth, Mount Olive scored on its second and last possessions of the first half. Duckworth rushed for one touchdown and threw for one touchdown for a 14-14 half-time tie. Duckworth rushed for 240 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns (23-yard touchdown pass to Rayshad Duckworth). Kensey Drake caught two passes for 28 yards. Rayshad Duckworth caught three passes for 38 yards and caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Rueben Duckworth. Rueben Duckworth scored on a 23-yard run on the Pirates first possession of the second half for the winning touchdown. Rueben Duckworth had 15 tackles, Tim Feazell had 14 tackles, Cooley Davis had 12 tackles, Darion Griffith had 11 tackles and Rayshad Duckworth had 9 tackles. Joseph Owens, Kensey Drake, Tim Feazell and Reuben Duckworth all had an interception to help the Pirates hold the Tigers to 14 points (the Tigers were averaging 48 points per game). Rueben Duckworth finished the year with 2,965 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns; and
WHEREAS, Coach Murphy received his Gatorade bath with one minute left in the game. When time ran out, the Pirates nation celebrated their back-to-back Championship. In July of 2009, Coach Murphy was named the Head Varsity Football Coach at Mount Olive High School. In his first season, the Pirates compiled a 10-5 record and won the South 1A and State 1A Championships. Murphy was awarded the 2009 1A Coach of the Year and WDAM Coach of the Year. He currently serves as Teacher, Coach and Athletic Director at Mount Olive High School; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 Mount Olive "Pirates" Football Team roster is as follows: William Autman, John Baggett, Jonathan Bain, Keiterrian Buckhalter, Devin Burch, Josh Carr, Zaneil Chatman, Cooley Davis, Kensey Drake, Rayshad Duckworth, Reuben Duckworth, Antawn Easterling, Paris Edwards, Kenneth Feazell, Timothy Feazell, Nirobian Gray, Tazmaun Gray, Thomas Gray, Darion Griffith, Larue Hayes, Jonathan Hinton, Kendal Hooker, O'ryan Hooker, Zarrick Jenkins, Desmon Langston, Preston Lockhart, Jamario Magee, Robert McInnis, Jordon Odom, Mark O'neal, Joseph Owens, Jeremy Rivere, Jacob Runnels, Billy Smith, Willie Stewart, Donaldvan Tatum, Cameron Tillman and Girek Wheeler; Coach and Athletic Director Perry Murphy; Assistant Coaches Kermit Milloy, Norman Johnston, Fred McNair, Jarrod Jordan; Manager Marquavious Sims; and Athletic Trainer Erica Barham; 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 Mount Olive High School "Pirates" Football Team and Head Coach Perry Murphy for winning their second consecutive Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class A 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 Murphy, Principal Clay Anglin and Superintendent Ike Sanford for the team, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.