Thursday night was a special one at Haughton High School.
A big crowd was on hand in Harold E. Harlan Stadium to honor former Haughton star quarterback Dak Prescott and his family in a dedication ceremony for Prescott Field.
Prescott’s Haughton No. 6 jersey was also retired.
There were fireworks as Prescott, his fiance, Sarah Jane Ramos and older daughter Margaret Jane, entered the field between Haughton cheerleaders and pep squad members wearing with either No. 4 (Cowboys), 6 (Haughton) or 15 (Mississippi State) on their shirts.
Videos of Prescott highlights at Haughton, Mississippi State and the Dallas Cowboys played on the scoreboard bought with money donated by him.
Family members and people important to Prescott throughout the years were seated behind and flanking the podium along with Bossier Parish school board members, current and former coaches at Haughton High and Middle Schools and other dignitaries.
A video tribute led off by Dr. Gevan Spinney, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Haughton, was played.
Gene Couvillion, the Haughton High principal during Prescott’s years, and Rodney Guin, Prescott’s head coach at Haughton, gave speeches.
Haughton Mayor Hunter Timms proclaimed Thursday Dak Prescott Day as Dak stood at the podium with his brother Tad by his side.
“It was amazing, a blessing, something I don’t take for granted being from here,” Prescott said in an interview with local media after the ceremony. “Just being from here, knowing how hard these people love, who these people are.
“That’s what I told them. I am from here. I’m so proud to be a Buccaneer. This was very, very special. Can’t thank everyone here who made this possible enough on video, words spoken by Coach Guin, Mr. Couvillion, all the different names made it very special. Super thankful to have this moment and have it with my family.”
In his speech, Prescott talked about how special the ceremony and community support was.
“This is a special moment,” he said. “Knowing that people have come all over to Haughton, Louisiana, my hometown, to show support and show love, is truly incredible.
“The kind of support here tonight is the exact reason we are here today. This is the kind of support I felt my whole life starting with my mom and growing up the youngest of two boys, Tad and Jace, their support for me motivated into a resilient and steadfast little boys.”
Prescott talked about being a kid and watching his brothers play for Haughton, how they and the other standout Buccaneers made him want to follow in their footsteps.
It took him just a few words to describe what it was like when he got a chance to don the uniform.
“Wow. What a privilege.”
He also thanked Guin for showing him the way to do things.
“The value, the habits, the lessons, everything you taught me are the cornerstones of the man I am today,” he said.
In his speech, Guin said he is often asked whether he thought Prescott would become a great player.
“I never knew for certain how great a football player Dak would be,” Guin said.But I was always certain how great a person he would be.”
Prescott, 32, is a member of the Haughton class of 2011. In 2010, he led the Bucs to the only undefeated regular season in school history.
At Mississippi State, he led the Bulldogs to a No. 1 national ranking.
After being drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, Prescott was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
In 2022, he was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his community work through his Faith Fight Finish Foundation and its focus on suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
But Prescott has faced challenges both personal and professional. His “hardworking, selfless” mother as he described her in his speech died of cancer when he was at Mississippi State.
His brother Jace committed suicide in 2020 at the age of 31.
Now in his 10th year as starting quarterback for the Cowboys, Prescott has missed playing time because of injuries. The Cowboys have struggled in the playoffs.
While he is having a good year, Dallas is 3-5-1 just over halfway through the season.
But Prescott hasn’t wavered in his faith.
“I’m grateful for everything in my life — the good, bad and in between — because I know it’s God’s plan.”
At the end of his speech, Prescott thanked everyone involved in making the night one to remember.