Senate Concurrent Resolution 548

(As Adopted by Senate and 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 27-6 on Friday, December 6, 2013, to capture their first Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 1A State Championship. For the second straight year (and the second time in history), the Panthers were in the 1A State Title Game, and were looking for redemption after last year's 20-17 heartbreaking loss to Stringer; and

WHEREAS, Coach Nathan Wright is 60-58 in his 9th season at French Camp; and

WHEREAS, Coach Wright and French Camp made the most of their opportunity in the Title Game. 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. The win completed French Camp'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. 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. Daniel Hughes finished with 12 tackles and a pair of sacks, and the Panthers held Smithville to 19 rushing yards; and

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

WHEREAS, the 2013 French Camp Panthers Football Team Roster is: 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 SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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 the best wishes of the Legislature to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Wright and Principal Rusty McKnight for the team, forwarded to the French Camp Academy Board of Trustees and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.