HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 156 Offered January 11, 2006 Prefiled January 11, 2006 Commending the Oakton High School football team. ---------- Patrons—Caputo, Albo, Amundson, Armstrong, BaCote, Barlow, Bulova, Dance, Eisenberg, Englin, Howell, A.T., Hugo, Johnson, Lewis, Marsden, Miller, Moran, Plum, Rust, Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sickles, Tyler, Valentine, Ward, Ware, O., and Watts   ----------

WHEREAS, the Oakton High School Cougars (12-2) captured the Virginia High School League Group AAA, Division 6 state championship by defeating the Landstown Eagles (13-1), the defending state champions, at Darling Stadium in Hampton on December 10, 2005; and

WHEREAS, the Oakton High School football team started the 2005 season with an impressive 5-0 record, but lost to Westfield, 31-13, and James Robinson, 37-21, falling to 5-2 in the tough Northern Region leaving the Cougars’ playoff chances in serious doubt; and

WHEREAS, determined to get to the championship game, the Cougars won their next five games as well as the top seed in the Northern Region because of their competitive schedule and a victory over Stone Bridge, a tough Division 5 finalist; and

WHEREAS, the Cougars all but shut down Landstown's infamous passing game, while accumulating 401 total rushing yards against the Eagle's defense, which had not given up 100 yards to a single running back since a 40-0 win over Ocean Lakes in the sixth game of the season; and

WHEREAS, fiercely determined to clinch the state title for the Cougars, Sean Purcell recovered a fumble on Landstown's opening drive and made an interception in the fourth quarter; defensive back Mark Davis intercepted a pass to give Oakton a 7-0 shutout at the half; senior fullback Taylor Naleppa gained 87 yards on 11 carries; quarterback Kevin Houghton rushed for 51 yards on nine carries; and Keith Payne, the University of Virginia-bound, 6-foot 3-inch, 222-pound running back grabbed his second title-clinching 200-yard, multiple touchdown game; and

WHEREAS, Oakton High School's 28-7 state title victory is the first in the school's history, and the win broke Landstown's 27-game winning streak; and

WHEREAS, the extraordinary success of the 2005 Cougars is a tribute to the talent, dedication, teamwork, and good sportsmanship of the players, the leadership of Head Coach  Joe Thompson and the coaching staff, and the support of the students, faculty, and parents of Oakton High School; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Oakton High School football team on its Group AAA, Division 6 state championship and its memorable 2005 season and championship game; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Head Coach Joe Thompson on behalf of all of the players of the Oakton High School football team as an expression of the General Assembly’s congratulations on their outstanding performance.