WHEREAS, the Hopewell High School football team won the Virginia High School League Class 3 state championship on December 10, 2017, securing the program's fifth state title; and

WHEREAS, the state championship win capped off an impressive season for the Hopewell High School Blue Devils, who relied on a punishing defense and an excellent running and passing game to finish with an overall record of 11–4; and

WHEREAS, in a title game played at The College of William and Mary, the Hopewell Blue Devils defeated Lynchburg's Heritage Pioneers 20–14 to claim their first championship since 2003; and

WHEREAS, the Hopewell Blue Devils burst out of the gate in the championship game with a rushing touchdown from tailback Ronnie Walker; as the first half ticked away, the team added two more touchdowns in a matter of seconds, including a 51-yard touchdown pass from Greg Cuffey to Sean Allen and a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown from senior Reizon Murphy; and

WHEREAS, the Hopewell Blue Devils ended the first half of the title game with a commanding 20–0 lead, but in the second half they were forced to withstand a rushing onslaught from the Heritage Pioneers, who scored twice to make it 20–14; and

WHEREAS, despite the Heritage Pioneers' rally, the Hopewell Blue Devils clinched the victory in the fourth quarter thanks to stout defensive play from Daryan Blowe, Deandre Thomas, and Kaiveon Cox; Reizon Murphy ended the game with 14 total tackles and two interceptions; and

WHEREAS, Hopewell's head coach, Ricky Irby, was named the Region 3A Coach of the Year, Reizon Murphy was named Region 3A Defensive Player of the Year, and Greg Cuffey was named Region 3A Offensive Player of the Year with more than 2,000 passing yards in the season; the team also had a thousand-yard rusher in Ronnie Walker and a thousand-yard receiver in Sean Woods-Allen; and

WHEREAS, the Hopewell High School football team's championship victory is a testament to the skill and dedication of its student-athletes, the exceptional guidance of its coaches and staff, and the enthusiastic support of family members, friends, and the entire Hopewell High School community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Hopewell High School football team on winning the 2017 Virginia High School League Class 3 state championship; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ricky Irby, head coach of the Hopewell High School football team, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the team's remarkable season and best wishes for future success.