MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Dearing, Fillingane, Jolly, Stone, Barnett, Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL "COMMODORES" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH MICHAEL FAIR FOR WINNING THE 2016 MHSAA CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, Lafayette High School players, and Head Coach Michael Fair, held aloft the trophy following the win over Poplarville in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship Game at Davis-Wade Stadium in Starkville on December 3, 2016. The Commodores won 27-12; and
WHEREAS, Lafayette defeated crosstown rival Oxford 23-3 in week 3 and never looked back, winning 12 straight games since the underwhelming start to the season. The offense started to click then, with quarterback Will Ard playing well and the emergence of running back JaMarcus Quarles. "It is hard to explain," Lafayette Head Coach Michael Fair said. "We knew we were going to have a good team. We did not know how good. I thought we could scratch out some wins, especially after that second half of the Grenada game. I keep going back to that because I think that is when we clicked"; and
WHEREAS, the 2016 season was a culmination of all the pieces the Commodores needed coming together at the right time. Quarterback Will Ard transferred in from Pontotoc with a goal of a State Championship before he ended his high school career. The senior defeated his former team in the North Half Title Game and played well enough to earn the honor of MVP of the 4A State Championship Game with his 108 yards and one touchdown pass. The biggest piece for the Commodores' offense was Jamarcus Quarles. The junior ran for more than 2,000 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 15 games. Defensively, Lafayette greatly improved, holding teams to less than 13 points a game. The secondary picked off opposing quarterbacks 20 times, five better than last season's total. Senior Xavier Martin had a team-best seven interceptions while rising star and sophomore Brandon Turnage had six. The Commodores, who last won a title in 2011, allowed only 11.7 points per game. Six players made at least 10 tackles for a loss, five had racked up more than 100 total tackles and five made at least two interceptions; and
WHEREAS, the 2016 Lafayette High School "Commodores" Football Team Roster is: Tyler Williams, DB, WR; Dillon Woods, OLB, WR; Tay Tay Owens, RB, DB; Jamie Shaw, RB, LB; Quincy Twilley, OLB; Xavier Martin, DB,WR; Brandon Turnage, WR, DB; Jason Sawyer, RB, LB; Andrew Moorhead, QB; David Bennett, QB; Foster Westbrook, QB; Will Ard, QB; Tavion Prather, TE, DE; Justin Blake, WR, DB; Garrett Chance, DB, WR; Samuel Woodall, OLB; Jamarcus Quarles, RB; Ross Ingram, QB, H; Quinshun Twilley, WR, DB; Drew Dabney, QB, WR, P; Randy Anderson, DB, WR, QB; Brandon Curry, OLB; DD Miller, DB, RB; Cameron Adams, WR, DB; Tobias Brown, WR, DB; Ladarius Brown, DB, WR; Deontae Jones, OLB; Zarian Cross, WR, DB; Jacob Rudd, DB, WR; Jay Crowder, DE; Kyler Campbell, LB; Tyran Costephens, LB; Amani Johnson, DE; Xzavier Jones, DE; Sam Simmons, DE, TE; Nick Onsby, TE, DL; Zach Meagrow, H, DE; Tay Reed, LB; Doug Tanner, DB; Cory Williams, DE; MacKinley Graham, DB; James Ramsey, WR, DB; Nate Tanner, DL; Jerry Looney, OLB, H; Martavious Bell, LB; Joseph Mangrum, DE; Kade Campbell, DE, OL; Hunter Chance, DL, OL; Keuntae Booker, OL; Matt Toles, OL, DL; Drew Tapp, OL, DL; Keegan Starks, OL, DL; William Woodall, DL; Andrew Norwood, OL; Marcus Daniels, OL, DL; Burl Boykin, OL; Rashod Sharp, DL, OL; Levi Lott, OL, DL; Kam Crockette, OL; Dylan Christman, OL; Dallas Boggs, LB; Trae Wells, OL; Corie Ales, OL, DL; Austin Wilson, OL, DL; Tyler Allen, OL; Jaylen Buford, OL; Luke Gossett, OL, LS; Josh Alba, OL; Zack Pritchard, WR; Michael Mathis, WR, DB; Robbie Langley, K, P; Luke Phillips, WR, K; Olton Kent,WR; and Taylor Tutor, WR; Head Coach Michael Fair; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a 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 Lafayette High School "Commodores" Football Team and Head Coach Michael Fair for winning the 2016 MHSAA Class 4A State Championship, and we extend our best wishes for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Head Coach Michael Fair for the team, forwarded to Lafayette High School Principal Dr. Glenn Kitchens and the Lafayette County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.