By Robert Wilson

There have been many wins in Lanier football history, but Friday night’s come from behind victory over Holmes County Central – one of the top MHSAA Class 5A programs in Mississippi – was one of the biggest in recent memory.

And Lanier’s Knolyn Bryce Archie Bailey was one of the biggest reasons why.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore running back gained 220 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead Lanier to a 38-22 victory over Holmes County Central in a key MHSAA Class 5A, Region Thursday night at Hughes Field in West Jackson.

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

Lanier outscored Holmes County Central 18-0 in the second half, led by Bailey, who scored two fourth quarter TDs, to win the MHSAA Class 5A, Region 2 game. Holmes County Central has lost to two-time defending state champion West Point each of the last three years in the playoffs, last year by a 31-28 score in the quarterfinals. West Point has won a MHSAA record 13 state championships.

Bailey had 1,540 yards and 15 TDs – fourth highest in Mississippi, according to MaxPreps – this season for Lanier. He had a career-high 363 yards and three TDs against Jackson Public Schools rival Provine. Bailey is averaging 192.5 yards per game this season.

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

“Knolyn had a great off-season,” Kelly said. “He got bigger and stronger in the weight room and it has carried over into the season. We just keep feeding him the ball and he wears down the defense in the fourth quarter. We have been a strong second half team and he is the main reason of our success. Knolyn has a great chance to go over 2,000 yards and 20 TDs this season. I’m very proud of him because he has been working hard all season, getting three to four lifts every week after practice to keep his body to hold up all year.

“In the Holmes game, I wanted to slow the temp in the second half and I was definitely leaning on the guys who got us in that position. In big games, you depend on your best players being their best when it’s needed. Knolyn definitely stepped up for his team in the fourth with two touchdown runs. We have a three-headed monster in the backfield with Bailey, Darrell Roberts and Jamison Kelly (Tommy’s son) with 31 TDs between the three guys. Darrell has 727 yards and nine TDs and Jamison has 240 yards and seven TDs. I believe in run game, run defense, solid special teams and controlling the line of scrimmage. I want my guys playing fast and have fun. Less thinking and more reacting.” 

This is the second time Bailey has received this honor this year and the only player to do so. 

Bailey had 246 yards on 33 carries and two TDs in a 28-12 victory over MHSAA Class 7A Harrison Central earlier this season. 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.

“Knolyn has so much potential to be one of the best players to even come through Lanier,” Kelly said. “I expect him to be one of the top players in the state by the time he leaves. 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, 8-0 overall and 2-0 in region play, visits Florence, 3-4 overall and 1-1 in region play, Friday at 7 p.m. in MHSAA Class 5A, Region 2 game at Florence.

Mississippi Scoreboard selects a football player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by texting Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.

PREVIOUS WINNERS:

WEEK ONE: Gage Crapps, East Rankin Academy

WEEK TWO: Knolyn Bryce Archie Bailey, Lanier

WEEK THREE: Caleb Unger, MRA

WEEK FOUR: Samuel Stockett, MRA

WEEK FIVE: Waylan King, Callaway

WEEK SIX: Tripp Smith, Madison Central

WEEK SEVEN: Trevon Willis, Velma Jackson

WEEK EIGHT: King White, Germantown