House Concurrent Resolution 44

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE FRENCH CAMP ACADEMY PANTHERS FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACH NATHAN WRIGHT FOR THEIR FIRST-EVER MHSAA CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the French Camp Academy Panthers Football Team defeated Smithville High School on Friday, December 6, 2013, to capture their first Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A State Championship; and

WHEREAS, for the second straight year and the second time in history, the Panthers were in the MHSAA Class 1A State Title Game, and were looking for redemption after last year's 20-17 heartbreaking loss to Stringer High School; and

WHEREAS, Coach Nathan Wright is 60-58 in his ninth season at French Camp, and he and his team made the most of their opportunity in the State Title Game; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Hosket had 187 passing yards, Hagan Box returned a punt for a touchdown and the Panthers held Smithville to 107 total yards in a 27-6 victory in the MHSAA Class 1A Championship game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium; and

WHEREAS, the win completed French Camp Academy's improbable run to Jackson, especially after the team lost its first four games and did not clinch the third seed in Region 3-1A until the final day of the regular season, but in the championship game the defense made it look easy for the Panthers, who scored all their points in the second half on a pair of Sam Gould kicks, including a 42-yarder, and Daniel Hughes finished with 12 tackles and a pair of sacks, holding Smithville to only 19 rushing yards; and

WHEREAS, French Camp Academy, French Camp, Mississippi, is a coeducational private school serving 243 students in Grades 9-12 in a 900-acre community within a community, where approximately 300 young people and adults live and work; and

WHEREAS, the 2013 French Camp Academy Panthers Football Team Roster was: Hagan Box; Noah Davenport; Luke McKnight; Hunter McKnight; Brooks Warren; Zac Couture; Daniel Hughes; Jesse Hosket; Aaron Witt; Corrie Witt; Cole Henson; Sam Gould; Nyang Wek; Braden McDaniel; Andrew Miller; Jeremy Lowery; Michael Erving; Zach Avent; Sam Howard; Christopher Dean; Ben Howse; Zach Orender; Austin McDaniel; Jevante McAdory; Cortez Johnson; David Pendleton; Douglas Hughes; Matthew Castle; Tommy Bell; Cody Roberts; Jacob Ansley; Tyler Peters; and Emmanuel Nawi; Coach Nathan Wright; and Assistant Coaches Bruce Hosket and Kevin Sorensen; 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the French Camp Academy Panthers Football Team and Coach Nathan Wright for winning their first-ever MHSAA Class 1A State Championship and extend best wishes to the team and coaches, for continued success in all of their future athletic and academic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Nathan Wright, French Camp Academy and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.