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S. R. No. 23 *SS26/R1278* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
26/SS26/R1278
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Suber, McCaughn, Seymour
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 23
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE CALHOUN CITY 1
WILDCATS FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH M.D. JENNINGS FOR WINNING 2
THE 2025 MHSAA CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH IS THEIR THIRD 3
STATE TITLE. 4
WHEREAS, on December 4, 2025, the Calhoun City Wildcats High 5
School Football Team won the 2025 MHSAA Class 1A State 6
Championship, defeating Simmons 14-8 in a rain-soaked game at 7
Starkville, marking their third title and first since 2016; and 8
WHEREAS, the rain and cold were relentless under the bright 9
lights of Davis-Wade Stadium at Mississippi State University, but 10
so was the Calhoun City defense, which proved the difference in 11
the Wildcats earning the Class 1A State Championship. Calhoun 12
City shut down the lauded running game of Simmons and D'andre 13
Gatson for the 14-8 win over the Blue Devils. "We knew it was 14
going to be a tough game so we just kept fighting in the trenches 15
to do all we could. The defense just played sound, played 16
physical and played together all night," Wildcat Defensive Leader 17
Javontae Harvey said; and 18
S. R. No. 23 *SS26/R1278* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, the Wildcats limited the Blue Devils' Simmons to 19
fewer than 100 total yards in the game. "We got off to a bad 20
start, but it's football. We had to deal with the elements and 21
all of that. We knew it would be a tough one, a four-quarter 22
game. I'm just so proud of these kids and the way they dealt with 23
adversity and were able to bring the Gold Ball back to Calhoun 24
City," Wildcat Head Coach M.D. Jennings said. Both teams 25
struggled to do much offensively in the game fighting cold, wet 26
conditions that made the ball hard to hold on to. Xavian Pittman 27
and Joseph Powell made the biggest plays late in the third 28
quarter; and 29
WHEREAS, the first half was a struggle for both teams with 30
numerous bad shotgun snaps, fumbles and slippery footballs. The 31
Wildcats found their traction via the running game with Xavian 32
Pittman and Demarious "Bug" Pittman both making plays. A 28-yard 33
run by Xavian put City in scoring position and Bug capitalized 34
from there with a six-yard touchdown run. He would also power in 35
up the middle for the conversion to level the game at eight 36
apiece. The Wildcats' defense came up big the rest of the game. 37
Three times Simmons was inside the Wildcats 30-yard line, but 38
every time Calhoun City came through with a big stop; and 39
WHEREAS, the Calhoun City High School 2025-2026 Varsity 40
Foodball Team Roster: Jaylon Jackson, Trell Dorrough, Jaquavion 41
Jennings, Shane Farmer, Demarious Pittman, Zay Pittman, Kejuan 42
Armstrong, Carson Lawrence, Harland Pittman, JJ Armstrong, Bryson 43
S. R. No. 23 *SS26/R1278* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Commend Calhoun City Wildcats Football Team
for winning the 2025 Class 1A State
Championship.
West, Dereon Mays, Kayden Holland, Za Gary, Aden Hill, Brennan 44
Lawrence, Jamarius Hill, Jamarion Deloach, Kari Ewing, Makavion 45
Wilson, Makevion Gray, Kemauri Salley, Makalob Wilson, Deshun 46
Jones, S.J. OBriant, Javontae Harvey, Joseph Powell, Carson 47
Brumley, Xzavier Maldonado, Russell Pass, Tykevius Ford, David 48
Draine, Laden Graham, Bryan Buckley and Marshall McFall; Head 49
Coach M.D. Jennings; and Assistant Coaches Sawyer Byars, Cameron 50
Clarke, Travis England, Chakel Gates, Bradley Mitchell and Justin 51
Moore; and 52
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group 53
of student-athletes who have brought honor to their school, their 54
community and to the State of Mississippi: 55
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 56
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 57
Calhoun City Wildcats Football Team and Head Coach M.D. Jennings 58
for winning the 2025 MHSAA Class 1A State Championship, which is 59
their third state title, and extend to the team, coaches, parents 60
and sponsors our best wishes for continued success. 61
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 62
Coach M.D. Jennings and Calhoun City High School Principal Heather 63
Nix for the team, forwarded to the Calhoun County Board of 64
Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 65