MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Flowers, Butler (38th), Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Lee, Massey, Stone, Hill
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE THE OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL "CONQUISTADORS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH SCOTT SAMSEL FOR WINNING THE 2011 MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION CLASS 6A STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, on December 2, 2011, the "Conquistadors" came from behind to defeat Petal High School 35-34 in the Mississippi High School 6A Football Championship; and
WHEREAS, the win was the first State Championship for Olive Branch High School, which has a rich, 85-year football history, and it was also the biggest win of Olive Branch Head Coach Scott Samsel's career as it completed a perfect 15-0 season; and
WHEREAS, the Olive Branch High School Football Team was ranked No. 22 nationally for the 2011 season by MaxPreps, the company that tracks high school varsity football teams. "On behalf of MaxPreps, I would like to congratulate Coach Scott Samsel and the Olive Branch High School Football Team on an incredible season," said President Andy Beal. "MaxPreps is once again honored to partner with the Army National Guard in saluting 50 of the top high school football teams in America. With the Army National Guard's continued support, the Tour of Champions has become one of the most recognizable awards programs in the country"; and
WHEREAS, "We've got an 85-year history and since the playoffs started in 1981, we have had a lot of good teams at Olive Branch. We have had a lot of semifinal appearances and a lot of quarterfinal appearances, and you always need one or two things to go your way to get you in this game right here. Finally, we had the good fortune of a few things going our way," Coach Samsel said. "This is something we can share with anyone who has ever strapped it on at Olive Branch"; and
WHEREAS, Olive Branch quarterback Todd Mays put up numbers that the 6A Class has never seen before. He passed for over 3,100 yards with 39 touchdowns, while rushing for over 1,300 yards with 18 touchdowns. Every week he put on a show. Todd was one of the best playmakers in Mississippi high school with over 4,000 total yards, and he only played past halftime in 50% of his games. Todd was named MVP for the Championship Game and was named First Team All-State; and
WHEREAS, while the Championship Game will be shared by all of Olive Branch Nation, the game itself will be remembered as epic in the lore of Mississippi football history. With just under three minutes to play in the game and a Championship in the balance, the Conquistador offense took the field for one final drive that would begin at their own 20-yard line. With six seconds left in the game, the ball was snapped as whistles blew and the kick was up and good, although no signal was given. Time expired and the Panthers rushed the field, but the whistle was an off-sides call against Olive Branch, which was a dead ball foul, meaning they would have to attempt the kick again, but this time from 37 yards away. The clock was reset, the ball was snapped and the game-winning field goal sailed wide left securing Olive Branch's first-ever football Championship with a 35-34 victory; and
WHEREAS, the 2011 Olive Branch Football Roster is as follows:
Jaylen Miller, RB/DB; Jamil Collins, WR/DE; Jamarcus Williamson, RB; Alfred Dickens, QB/DB; Nick Johnson, LB; Leonard Pegues, TE/LB; D'Arthur Cowan, WR/DE; Rashad Malone, RB/DB; Calvin Scott, QB; Malik Mayweather, WR; Jimmy Gipson, TE/DE; Todd Mays, QB; John Pittman, K; Byron Akins, DE; Quentin Cox, DB; Wynton McManis, QB/LB; Ryan Cordice, WR; Erik Busby, QB; Courtney Drain, RB/LB; Tre Price, DB; Demetri Price, ILB; Nolan Geeslin, WR; Dominic Lucas, DB; Marlon Winston, WR; Gary Wilson, WR/DE; Jabriel Slater, WR; Jarius Barnes, RB/LB; John Johnson, RB/DB; Byrekus "Jap" Payne, RB/DB; Brandon Roberts, DB; Jerod Williamson, LB; James Howell, RB/DB; Marcus Leflore, RB/LB; Thomas Brown, RB/DB; Javonte Hall, DL; Martavious Echols, WR; Michael Harris, RB/LB; Chandler Campbell, WR; Bradley McCurdy, DB; Bren Ransom, TE/LB; Fred Walls, RB/LB; Dantell Liggins, LB; Dontrell Nelson, DB; Isiah Taylor, DL; Tray Smith, RB/LB; Tre Braswell, RB; Matt Coleman, LB; Devantae Davis, RB/LB; Drew Turner, TE/DL; Kyle Wiseman, DL; Kevin Snow, OL/DL; Marquis Echols, OL; Kendall Adair, DL; Jack Talley, LB; Daivon Milan, OL; Kade Coats, DL; Hunter Burlison, OL; Vennie Reed, DL; Sylvester Edwards, OL/DL; Blake Spaulding, LB; Darrion Abston, OL/DL; Justin Stevenson, DL; Aaron Priester, OL/DL; Michael Bergeron, OL; Devin McLaughlin, DL; Jordan Hall, OL/DL; Brandon Cashon, OL; Joseph Buggs, DL; Josh Roberts, DL; Chris Phillips, OL; Terrance Lindsey, OL; Devin Mondie, OL; Brandon Welch, LB; Catron Malone, DL; Gary Walton, DL; Mark West, DL; Chase Johnson, OL; Alex Turnpaugh, DL; Darius Phillips, OL; Jalen Swerengen, WR; Kalid McNeil, WR; Keaton Ross, WR; Zack Shackelton, WR; Dontavis Bruce, RB/DB; Chris Duncanson, WR; Preston Boswell, LB; Valtarius Moffitt, WR; Jacob Markle, LB; Anche Roberts, DL; Matt Woods, K; Ryan Simpson, DB; Dallas Moya, DL; Zack Wier, K; Kyle Strole, WR; Lieutenant Carroll, LB; Taylor Swallers, TE; John Wilson, WR; and Zack Flurry, LB; Scott Samsel, Head Coach/Off. Coord./QBs; Jeremy Toungett, Assistant Head Coach/Off. Line; Jordan Wren, Wide Receivers; Marlo Nolan, Running Backs; Rob Pool, Defense Coord./Def. Backs; Jason Goodwin, Assistant Head Coach/Inside LBs; Bob Alberson, Defensive Line; Xavier Houston, Defensive Line; Mark Prudhome, Defensive Backs; and James Gaspart, Outside Linebackers; and
WHEREAS, the Student Body, cheerleaders and band all took part in the State Championship celebratory pep rally, one that truly made Samsel's sixth season unforgettable. It was an extraordinary thing for the community; 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 Olive Branch High School "Conquistadors" Football Team and Head Coach Scott Samsel for winning the 2011 Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State Football Championship, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches and sponsors for future successes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Samsel and Olive Branch Principal Kyle Brigance for the team, forwarded to the DeSoto County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.