(Photo by Ricky Boone)

Every week we’re spotlighting a program from around Pike County for our Team of the Week, presented by Casey Carter, Farm Bureau Insurance.

Every school hopes to have that one team that lives forever in the memories of the people who saw them play.

In Summit, they’re welcoming back one of those groups tonight, as the 2010 North Pike High School football team will be honored at halftime of the game between the Jaguars and Laurel High at Southwest Mississippi Community College.

Coach Chris Smith led that unforgettable team to a 14-2 record and the MHSAA 4A State Championship game.

A year prior in 2009, North Pike made the playoffs for the first time as a 4A program after making the move up in classifications.

That 2009 squad, with many of the same players on its roster, finished 8-5, beating Florence in the first round of the postseason before losing by three at Forrest County AHS in the second round.

The 2010 season kicked off with a road win, 50-15, at Richland. The next game was a loss at home, 14-7, to Bay High.

North Pike wouldn’t lose again that year until facing Lafayette High at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson for the state championship.

The Jags won Region 7-4A in dominating fashion, outscoring their division foes by an average score of 46-12.

The postseason was a chance to show just how good this bunch was at winning close games.

North Pike beat Greene County 26-22 at home in the first round of the 4A playoffs. They then kept their season alive with a 38-30 home victory over Laurel.

The quarterfinals was the first time for NPHS to hit the road in the postseason, a game where they traveled to Brooklyn and returned with a measure of revenge for the previous season by defeating Forrest County AHS 13-10.

The ticket to the championship game was then punched by the Jags with a 20-0 shutout at home of Mendenhall High.

The roster is dotted with names of big times players, as eight from the team would go on to sign with college programs.

Senior quarterback Revis Butler was dynamic with the ball in his hands, passing for 2,527 yards and 20 touchdowns along with picking up 1,467 yards and 17 touchdowns via the ground

Running back Jalen Adams, wide receiver Tonnie Collins, and wide receiver Jemerick Jordan were part of a deep skill position group for NP.

Adams rushed for over 1,000 yards while Collins caught 11 touchdown passes and Jordan added six touchdowns. Collins had 936 yards receiving and Jordan hauled in 32 passes for 750 yards.

Future Southern Miss offensive lineman Jacob Fleming was a sophomore starter on the offensive line, coach by Jamie Everett.

The defensive line was a group that everyone in the Magnolia State knew about. Future Mississippi State defensive end AJ Jefferson was a punisher of high school quarterbacks while playing for North Pike.

Jefferson accounted for 30 tackles for a loss during the 2010 season.

Future NFL defensive lineman Vernon Butler, who played college ball at Louisiana Tech, was also part of that fearsome defense.

Jefferson and Butler were juniors on the 2010 team, which was led in tackles by senior linebacker Tariq Johnson with 170 stops. Senior linebacker AJ Johnson was another top tackler on the team.

Seniors on the 2010 team included Butler, Collins, Adams, Johnson, Jemerick Jordan, Jake Martin, Michael Robinson, Aaron Barnes, Denzell Montgomery, Joseph Jackson, Matthew Hamilton, Jonathan Freeman, Blaine Weeks, Cody Timmons, Blake Brock, and Demetric Jackson.