MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Boyd, Jackson (11th), Parker, Blackwell, McLendon, Whaley, Suber, Barnett, Butler (38th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACH BENJY PARKER FOR WINNING CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES IN THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES CONFERENCE.
WHEREAS, a high-flying first quarter resulted in 21 quick points from No. 4 Northwest Mississippi Community College Football Team, as the Rangers soared past the Eagles, 56-21, in Saturday's MACCC Championship bout at Bobby Franklin Field; and
WHEREAS, Northwest earned its second consecutive MACCC title with the victory, repeating as Conference Champions for the first time since 1991-1992. This is now the 11th Conference Title for the Rangers and the third since 2015; and
WHEREAS, after the Rangers' defense stifled the first Hinds possession, Northwest needed only one play to reach the end zone, as Quarterback Michael Hiers connected with D.T. Sheffield on a 72-yard touchdown reception. With the Eagles forced to punt once again on the ensuing possession, the Rangers drove 81 yards on three plays to tack on a 14-0 advantage, thanks to an 11-yard touchdown run from Jamarien Bracey; and
WHEREAS, nothing Hinds did seemed to slow the Northwest offense in the first half, as the Rangers once again took a short possession downfield, finishing a four-play, 66-yard drive with a 46-yard connection from Hiers to Sheffield. Eli Hamlin followed with his third successful point after attempt, further widening the gap to 21-0. Hinds finally made its way on the scoreboard with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter, capping off a 12-play, 81-yard drive with a five-yard score from Jamarian Samuels. The score did little to dampen the Rangers' offense; however, as Hiers led Northwest on an 87-yard drive that carried over into the second quarter and ended on a short quarterback keeper, pushing the lead to 28-7; and
WHEREAS, like they had done on every offensive possession before, the Rangers once again marched downfield to the Hinds' 15-yard line with eight minutes left in the first half. Facing fourth and short, Northwest appeared to be content with a field goal attempt, only for Tanner Gillis to complete a first-down pass to Kevin Diaz on the fake, later setting up a short touchdown from Bracey to give the Rangers a 35-14 advantage. Northwest would attempt to score one more time before the end of the first half, marching deep into Eagles' territory with six seconds left on the clock. However, Hamlin's field goal attempt would result in a rare miss, keeping the half-time score at 35-14; and
WHEREAS, starting the second half with the ball, it appeared that the Rangers would score once again after advancing to the Hinds' 15-yard line. However, the Eagles' defense finally earned a stop on Jaylen Knight's interception of Hiers in the end zone. Seven plays later, Hinds got on the scoreboard with another short touchdown from Pittman, cutting the deficit to 35-21. Hinds would buckle down on defense yet again, forcing Northwest into its first punt of the game and sparking some momentum on the opposing sideline. After McCray's third pass attempt of the drive was picked off by Byron "Tank" Pearson, the Rangers coughed the ball right back up on a fumble from Diaz, allowing the Eagles to take over once again; and
WHEREAS, with the Hinds fans sensing a momentum change, reigning MACCC Defensive Player of the Week Jarvis Townsend shut down any notion of a comeback, intercepting McCray's three plays later for a 36-yard pick-six and the Rangers' first score of the second half, stretching the lead back to three touchdowns, 42-21. Hinds took over with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter but failed to get anything going, as the Eagles were forced to punt. Despite a 57-yard booming kick from Houston Smith, Sheffield returned the punt 24 yards to set the Rangers up at midfield to open the fourth quarter; and
WHEREAS, Northwest concluded a six-play, 54-yard drive with Bracey's third touchdown of the day, this one from 18 yards out with 12:09 left in the contest. On the next possession, the Rangers' all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, Jaquerrious Williams, would punch one in from 15 yards out for his last score on the home field, beginning the championship celebration; and
WHEREAS, Northwest delivered a season-high 651 yards of total offense, the most recorded in any game during the Benjy Parker - Stan Hill Era and the most since the 2015 NJCAA Championship Game, where the Rangers totaled 680 yards. Hinds would finish with 335 total yards, mostly coming in the form of 249 passing yards; and
WHEREAS, Hiers finished 14-of-22 and collected his sixth career 300-yard passing game, finishing with 343, 18 yards shy of his career-best 365-yard effort at Coahoma earlier this season. Most of his targets were to Sheffield, who logged a career-best 171 yards and two touchdowns on four total receptions. Hiers now ranks fifth all-time in passing yards with 4,122, surpassing Bobby Robison's total of 4,096 set from 2001-2002; and
WHEREAS, despite only reaching the end zone once, Williams quietly put together his best performance of the season, finishing with 203 yards on 23 carries. His only other career 200-yard performance came in 2019 with a 250-yard effort on 15 carries in a blowout win against Coahoma. The Tupelo native now ranks second in career rushing yards (2,345); and
WHEREAS, Fred Harris led all Northwest defenders with nine total tackles, while Pearson earned eight tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Sam Brumfield was limited to just four tackles, but two were sacks totaling in a loss of 12 yards for Hinds; and
WHEREAS, the members of the 2021 MACCC State Championship Football Team are: Jackson Allen, Tevin Bell, Harper Blake, Jamarien Bracey, Deshaun Brooks, Sam Brumfield, Rayyan Buell, Ethan Bumgarner, Cason Burress, Michael Campbell, Davion Carter, Martez Clark, Braden Crawford, Roderick Daniels, Jamarr Davis, Kevin Diaz, David Duvall, Khamron Ford, Keyon Fordham, Kejuan Garner, Tanner Gillis, Kam Grays, Stephen Hall, Eli Hamlin, Fred Harris Jr., Jykeveous Hibbler, Michael Heirs, Jaycob Horn, TreShun Johnson, Jacoby Jones, Tyson Keys, Kaleb Long, Corteze Love, Quanterius Lusk, E. Jai Mason, Leo McIntyre, Jakobe McLaurin, Jay Mickle, James Mitchell III, Jackson Mize, Moshua Montague, Jalen Nettles, Bryon Pearson, Rontavious Person, Omar Pew, Jaylen Powell, Tavion Prather, Thurman Rayborn, Kylan Robinson, Jamie Shaw, D.T. Sheffield, Drea Shumaker, James Spratt, William Stewart, De'Meric Strong, Charles Thomas, Jarvis Townsend, Vance Van Every, Quinzavious Warren, Fred Watson Jr., Trace White, Jaquerrious Williams, Kiyon Williams, Matt Williams and Austin Wilson; and
WHEREAS, the members of the 2021 MACCC State Championship Football Coaching Staff are: Benjy Parker Head Coach, Stan Hill Offensive Coordinator, Scott Oakley Wide Receivers, Jim Jones Offensive Line, Paige Anders Defensive Coordinator, Rashad Pittman Defensive Line and Charles Jones Defensive Backs; and
WHEREAS, just a few months removed from guiding Northwest to its second consecutive MACCC Championship, Head Football Coach Benjy Parker has been named as the Region 23 Coach of the Year for the second straight season; and
WHEREAS, Parker led Northwest to a 9-3 overall record, as the Rangers bounced back from a 3-2 start to the season to successfully defend their MACCC Championship. Northwest has now won 11 Conference Titles in program history and three since 2015, and were one of four teams to participate in the Inaugural NJCAA Division I Football Playoffs this season; and
WHEREAS, since taking over the head coaching reins ahead of the 2016 season, Parker has led Northwest to both a winning record and a playoff appearance every year, including the 2020 National Community College Football Championship. Under Parker's leadership, the Rangers hold an overall record of 48-14 and a 30-6 mark against division opponents; and
WHEREAS, Northwest has also won three MACCC North Division Titles under Parker (2017, 2019, 2020) and has been a mainstay in the NJCAA national rankings. Though he still ranks second all-time in career victories behind Bobby Franklin's total of 201 (1981-2004), Parker's current overall winning percentage of .774 ranks first all-time; and
WHEREAS, we join the students, faculty and sponsors in recognizing this special group of collegiate athletes who earned top recognition in Mississippi Community College Football and have brought honor to their college, their community and to the State of Mississippi, and extend to the athletes and coaches our best wishes for continued success:
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 Northwest Mississippi Community College Football Team and Coach Benjy Parker for winning consecutive State Championship Titles in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Benjy Parker and Northwest Mississippi Community College President Michael J. Heindl for the team, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of Northwest Mississippi Community College, the Mississippi Community College Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.