By Robert Wilson

MHSAA Class 4A Lanier made school history when it defeated MHSAA Class 7A Harrison Central 28-12 Friday night at Hughes Field in West Jackson.

It was the first time since 1984 that Lanier had defeated a non-JPS team that is in the highest classification in football. Not since Ira Wade made a 48-yard field goal to give Lanier a 10-7 upset over then No. 6 Warren Central had Lanier pulled off such a rare feat.

And Lanier can thank sophomore running back Knolyn-Bryce Archie Bailey for playing a huge part in the historic win.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Bailey gained 246 yards on 33 carries and scored two touchdowns.

For his outstanding performance, Bailey has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.

Second-year Lanier coach Tommy Kelly – a former Lanier, Mississippi and 11-year NFL defensive lineman – has high praise for Bailey and believes his future is very bright.

“Knolyn has so much potential to be one of the best players to even come through Lanier,” said Kelly, who was named the Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Coach of the Year last season after leading Lanier to a huge turnaround season in his first year as head coach and won the first playoff game for the school in 37 years. “I expect him to be one of the top players in the state by the time he leaves. What Knolyn did vs. Harrison Central is what I expect from him. He had a good spring and it carried over into fall camp. Knolyn is a smart, hard-working kid. He had a very good year last year as a ninth grader. He had over 600 yards last year with a couple of touchdowns. We had Jeremiah Wilson, who made first team All-State in Class 4A, so Knolyn had a great guy to sit behind and learn from.”

Bailey is dual-enrolled at Tougaloo Early College and Lanier. He also plays track and baseball at Lanier. Knolyn plays the snare drums and the keyboard, and is a junior cadet with JROTC.

Bailey is son of Kimberly Archie and Anthony Alexander. Kimberly is a Canton native played in the band, volleyball, flag football, and sang in the choir. She is an Alcorn State University and Jackson State University graduate and will complete her doctorate at the University of Southern Mississippi in May, 2026. With 23 years in education, she has taught every grade, kindergarten to 12th grade English, and currently serves as a graduation coach. Anthony Alexander, a native of Jackson, is a junior Presidential Scholar at Jackson State University in social work. He serves as a community outreach coordinator for disabled veterans. Knolyn’s sister, Xy’Ona Hale, is a graduate of Lanier, where she excelled in honors courses, softball, powerlifting, cheerleading, and the band. She is currently pursuing a degree in Ag Business at Alcorn State University and serves in the U.S. Army National Guard.

Bailey’s passion for football began while running in the gardens of his late great-grandmother, Bertha Archie, leaping over cornstalks, running through okra, and tackling his sister.

Lanier plays at MHSAA Class 4A Moss Point, 0-1, Friday on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Moss Point lost to rival Pascagoula 47-0 last week in its season opener.

Mississippi Scoreboard selects a player from a school from Hinds, Madison or Rankin Counties each week during the season. Coaches can nominate a player by texting Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.