College football joined their prep brethren for the first time this season in gridiron action last week, and this week the NFL kicks off as well..
Despite too many folks being involved with fantasy football decisions this week, there are still some interesting high school match-ups coming up Friday night.
Here are seven games in the “Southern Six” to watch this week:
- George County at Ocean Springs (Game of the week) — After opening the season with a pair of wins on the road, the Greyhounds make their home debut this week against the win-less Rebels. Defensive end Trace Carter recorded a game-high 12 tackles, including five stops for a loss, last week in a 35-6 win over Hattiesburg. The Rebels, meanwhile, fell to arch-rival Greene County 22-15 watching as Wildcat quarterback Coby King threw for almost 200 yards and two scores in the win.
- Moss Point at Vancleave — The unbeaten Bulldogs host the win-less tigers in the only match-up of Jackson County schools this week. Vancleave stormed back for a 20-19 comeback win over home-standing Hancock High last week, thanks in part to 260 yards rushing and three touchdowns from John Peterson. Meanwhile, Moss Point was getting hammered at home by East Central 31-6 as Hornet tailback Eli Smith rambled for 164 yards and a touchdown and running mate Ben Myrick added just over 100 yards and a score as well.
- Gulfport at Picayune — A pair of unbeaten teams square off in Pearl River County as the defending Class 5A state champion Maroon Tide hosts the Admirals. Gulfport beat visiting Escambia County 26-15 at historic Milner Stadium Friday, as the Admirals scored a pair of touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game to pull out the come from behind win and stay unbeaten at 2-0. Picayune, meanwhile, went on the road and beat three time defending Class 3A state champ Jefferson Davis County 28-7. This week marks the home opener for the Maroon Tide.
- Hancock at Greene County — Two teams off to an even 1-1 start after two weeks’ meet in Leakesville at Johnny Ainsworth Stadium. This is a pretty rare match-up between these two schools, just the third ever in history on the gridiron. after the Hawks posted a 37-0 shutout over GCHS last season. The only other meeting came in the 1997 Shrimp Bowl, a 34-13 for the Wildcats over then Hancock North Central. Greene County also got over 100 yards rushing and one score from running back Keenan Franks in the win over George County last week
- Bay High at Long Beach — Bay High running back Jaylen Antoine tallied five touchdowns for the Tigers in a 38-7 win over Sumrall last week, running for a pair of scores, catching two more and returning a kickoff for a touchdown as well. The Bearcats have lost 21 straight regular season games, counting some Covid forefits, including 54-21 to the Bay last season and 42-20 to St. Stanislaus last week as Rock-A-Chaw running back Chandler Chapman ran for 240 yards with and four touchdowns.
- Stringer at Resurrection — The homestanding Eagles look to begin a season at 3-0 for the fourth consecutive season this week, hosting the Red Devils. Resurrection is off to an unbeaten start under new head coach Eric Denmark, after posting impressive wins over St. Patrick (35-0) and North Forrest (31-6). Stringer stands 1-1 on the season after a 47-6 loss to Clarkdale last week.
- West Marion at St. Martin — The Yellow Jackets look to bounce back from a 38-18 loss to Pace (Fla.) in the Sunshine State last week, despite a big game from new quarterback D.K. Jenkins who accounted for over 220 yards and threw for three scores including a pair to Noreel White. Jaylon Dampeer also ran for 144 yards in the loss for SMHS. West Marion, a Class 3A team, is also 1-1 on the year after a 24-20 loss to Tylertown last week.
