By Robert Wilson
Tommy Kelly was five years old the last time Lanier beat Provine in football.
But on Thursday night, Kelly – in his first season as Lanier’s head football coach – broke a 37-year losing streak to its Jackson Public School rival.
The former Provine High, Hinds Community College, Mississippi State and NFL alumnus led Lanier to a 16-6 victory over his high school alma mater at Hughes Field in West Jackson.
Not since Coach Walter Griffin led Lanier to an 8-6 win in 1986, had Lanier defeated Provine. The two rivals had played every year since then except for two seasons (1998 and 1999) so Lanier broke a 35-game losing streak Friday.
Lanier improved to 2-0 this season. The Bulldogs defeated Newton 54-6 in their opener.
Lanier won only three games last season and two each in 2022 and 2021. Its winning season was in 2019.
Lanier had scored only one TD in its last four games with Provine. Provine won 40-0 last season, 35-7 in 2022, 19-0 in 2021, the teams didn’t play in 2020 due to covid, and 21-0 in 2019. The last time Lanier scored two TDs against Provine was a 51-20 loss in 2011.
“The kids deserve all the credit,” said Kelly, who was a defensive line coach for seven seasons and defensive coordinator for five of those seasons at Provine and the defensive line coach at Copiah-Lincoln CC last season. “They have been working hard in the weight room and on the practice field. So it’s good to see all that hard work pay off. They really wanted to end the losing streak. I told them if we stop the run and limit big plays, we’re going to get a shutout. They didn’t believe me. I told them trust the big coach (Kelly is 6-foot-6, 310 pounds). I believe they do now.”
Lanier won despite its starting running back, Jeremiah Wilson out with a rib injury. Wilson had 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
“(Junior) Jamison Kelly (Kelly’s son) and (freshman) Knoyln Bailey combined for close to 200 rushing yards,” Kelly said. “Kelly is one of the best athletes in the state. He goes both ways for us. Bailey is definitely one of the top running backs in the ninth-grade class. The offensive line was challenged all week to dominate the trenches. I am very proud of them because I am very hard on the offensive line.”
Kelly led Lanier with 20 carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns, a 30-yard run in the third quarter and a 31-yard run in the fourth quarter. Bailey scored both two-point conversations.
The 5-11, 190-pound Kelly started last year and had 78 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries at Madison Central last season as a sophomore. He played at Provine with his father two years ago as a freshman and transferred to Madison Central when his dad coached at Co-Lin last season.
“The game plan was really just to eliminate any big plays and just play sound defense,” said Kelly, who also had two tackles at defensive back against Provine. “It’s been going great for us. We’re getting better each week and trying to build off every week. It’s great playing for my dad. He keeps me motivated. Plus, I know he expect a lot out of me. We did know about the losing streak going into the game, and we were very motivated to make history. I think our potential can be high if we continue to build off every game and keep getting better.”
Lanier’s defense, led by senior linebacker Langston Clark, played great Friday night. The Bulldogs held Provine out of the end zone in the second half.
“Our defense stepped up big all night,” Kelly said. “We had a couple of punts blocked and it gave Provine great field position. But we kept them out of the end zone. The defensive line played well. Langston played great and had a couple of big hits. We caused three turnovers on defense.”
Tommy Kelly was a basketball star and helped Provine to a state championship as a junior in 1998. He only played football his senior year. He signed football with Ole Miss but played one year of football at Hinds CC before playing at MSU.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Kelly was a problem for opposing offensive lineman whenever he was in the game in the NFL. He was so good the Oakland Raiders signed Kelly to the largest contract ever given to a defensive tackle at that time in 2008, a seven-year, $50.5 million contract. He ranks ninth all-time in Raiders history with 34 sacks in his nine seasons in Oakland.
After being released by the Raiders in 2013, Kelly played with the New England Patriots in 2013 and the Arizona Cardinals in 2014 before retiring before the 2015 season.
Kelly’s oldest son, Tommy Kelly Jr., is a sophomore linebacker at Hinds CC. He played at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC last season. Kelly was one of the best linebackers in Mississippi as a junior and senior at Provine. Kelly was a two-time Metro Jackson selection.
Lanier goes for its third straight win Friday against Hazlehurst at South Jackson Field. Lanier lost last year’s game 22-8 at Hazlehurst. The Bulldogs’ first MHSAA Class 4A, Region 6 game is Sept. 29 against Richland at home. The last time Lanier was 3-0 was 2018.
