Senate Concurrent Resolution 520

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE BASSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL "YELLOWJACKETS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH LANCE MANCUSO FOR WINNING THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE MHSAA CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the chant started along the Bassfield sideline before slowly gaining volume in the Yellowjackets' cheering section of Davis Wade Stadium on Friday, December 5, 2014, as the seconds ticked off the clock in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A Football State Championship Game "Three-peat! Three-peat! Three-peat!" Moments later, the chant turned to roars as Bassfield players swarmed together for a midfield celebration of the Yellowjackets' 60-35 victory over Calhoun City; and

WHEREAS, Bassfield (14-2) never lost a State Title Game under Coach Lance Mancuso, winning crowns four of the past six years. "It's a tradition," said senior Jamal Peters, one of six Yellowjackets to score a touchdown in the Title Game and Bassfield leaned on its traditional strengths in the win; and

WHEREAS, led by senior running back Trodrick Daniels's 219 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, the Yellowjackets piled up 472 yards and scored nine touchdowns on the ground. "Our motto was 'Pound the rock,' and that eventually it would break," Coach Mancuso said. Four of the Yellowjackets' final five touchdowns covered at least 40 yards, including 57- and 54-yard runs by Daniels, a 52-yard run by Peters and a 40-yard run by Sanchez Berry; and

WHEREAS, the Yellowjackets, who were unbeaten in 2012 and lost one game in 2013, dropped two this fall and had been in tighter-scoring games, including a four-overtime squeaker to get past East Marion in the South 2A South State Title Game. But at the State Championship, the 2014 version of Bassfield staked its own claim; and

WHEREAS, the 2014 Bassfield Yellowjackets Roster is: Josh Applewhite, Jamal Peters, Gerald Reese, Xavier Harper, Timothy Arnold, Brarayn Toney, Malik Shorts, Tyrique Smith, Cason Sims, Joe Applewhite, Kenterio Smith, Patrick Thompson, Sanchez Berry, Rashaud Green, Drudon Knight, Christopher Thompson, Tracy Easterling, Ron Thompson, Trodrick Daniels, Keenan McLaurin, Kevin McNair, Rhoderick Williams, Malcolm Myers, Kenneth Island, Hunter Hathorn, Corneilus Booth, Quandarris Wilson, Tavarrus Reese, Darrell Sims, Cameron Peters, Ricardo Boothe, Justin Hathorne, Racheem Boothe, Antonio Thompson, Jaylon Hathorne, Donavan Reggans, Benjamin Bates, Caspian Daley, Cameron Broome, Scott Harvey, Josh Hubbard, LaDarren Ball, Jerome Johnson, Marcus Herring, Justin Duckworth, Dewayne Magee, Levator Adams, Keshawn Holloway, Larenzo Baker and Jamal Peters; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this team 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 Bassfield High School "Yellowjackets" Football Team and Head Coach Lance Mancuso for winning their third consecutive MHSAA Class 2A State Championship, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Bassfield Head Coach Lance Mancuso and Principal Will Russell for the team, forwarded to the Covington County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.