Senate Concurrent Resolution 518

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE STARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL "YELLOWJACKETS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH CHRIS JONES FOR WINNING THE MHSAA CLASS 6A STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, on December 3, 2022, the Starkville High School "Yellowjackets" football team lead by Quarterback Trey Petty defeated Brandon 48-32 in Hattiesburg to win the MHSAA Class 6A State Championship. This game secured for Starkville its first State Title since 2015; and

WHEREAS, there was little the Brandon Bulldogs could do to slow down the Yellowjackets Quarterback Trey Petty, a superstar junior. It didn't help Brandon (12-2) that Petty's top receiver Braylon Burnside, a four-star Class of 2023 prospect, played one of his best games; and

WHEREAS, the Yellowjackets victory started midway through the first quarter when Petty led a nine-play, 47-yard drive to give Starkville (12-3) a 7-0 lead. The drive was capped by Petty's 1-yard rush. Midway through the second quarter, the Yellowjackets went 82 yards on 12 plays with a 22-yard touchdown connection from Petty to Burnside providing the final blow; and

WHEREAS, down 14-0, Brandon elected to take an aggressive approach. Bulldogs Coach Sam Williams decided to go for a fourth-and-12 near midfield. The play failed, and Starkville took advantage of a short field for a crucial touchdown, another one-yard rush from Petty, to go up 21-0 with 19 seconds left in the half. Petty and Burnside wasted little time after halftime to extend the lead. Starkville scored off a turnover on a touchdown pass to Jaylon York to make the score 35-10 late in the third quarter and put the game away; and

WHEREAS, the game was dedicated to Phillip Laster, Jr., a 17-year-old Brandon player who collapsed at practice on August 1, and the Brandon helmets featured the initials "PL" representing something more important than games won or lost; and

WHEREAS, the 2022 Starkville High School "Yellowjackets" Championship Roster is: Jaylon York, Jaiden Turnipseed, Toralyn Knox, JaQuavin Jenkins, Tony Lucious, Braylon Burnside, Kaesen McQuiller, Anthony Hogan, Curtis Willis, Ny'jadus Roberts-Holloway, Jejuan Davis, Zakyrius Key, Jermar McCarter, Trey Petty, Will Wells, Brandon Short, Eric Thomas, Jr., Isaiah Witherspoon, Jaheim Deanes, Jaylon Ruffin, Elijah Halbert, Justin Jenkins, Nigel McCarter, Jontavious Rogers, Shiloh Johnson, Parker Simpson, Ashton Bogard, Davarrius Hairston, Jaiden Williams, Bryson Rodgers, Jeremiah (Jay) Johnson, Isaiah Dickerson, Zach Hill, Chris Hall, Dorian Gunn, Azavion Gill, Brian Tutton, Rylan Outlaw, Hunter Bragg, Courtland Cooper, Donnelvin Jordan, Kerrion Lamb, Jaiven Guess, Donovan Avant, Calvin Patterson, Erion Lanier, Grady Stewart, J.D. Methvin, Justin Young, Patrick Lawrence, Si Thomas, Keyon Bell, Terry Clayborn, Dontavian Wright, Terrelle Ward, Christopher Hayes, Johnathan Morris, Ashton Mays, Joseph Coleman, Jakavious Goss, Darryl Smith, Laquincy Harris, Jamiyia Holmes, Tayshaun Peterson, Zion Veasley, Benjamin Townes Fulford, Jordan Young, Gavin Lewis, Robert Barnes, Cedrick Tate, La'Joshua Brown, A'Ravion Moore-Gladney, Skyler Watt, Jahcure Clayton, Elijah Stovall, Silas Suell, Brayden Carpenter, Jack Fountain, Mason House, Willie Harkins, Ethan Pulliam, Zyhan Bradley and Braden Green; Head Coach Chris Jones, and Assistant Coaches Dalton Hudspeth, Terrance Pope, Adam Shumaker and Charley Williams; 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 Starkville High School "Yellowjackets" football team and Head Coach Chris Jones for winning the MHSAA Class 6A State Football 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 Head Coach Chris Jones for the team and Starkville High School Principal Dr. Darein Spann, forwarded to the Starkville School District and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.