Share on PinterestShare on FacebookShare on Twitter
Just like in the opening week, there are some intriguing prep football games on tap this week in South Mississippi. This week’s local slate features a pair of match-ups between Jackson County rivals.
With the opening week in the books, some teams are coming off big wins to start the season off last week while yet others are still searching for that first win of the new campaign.
Here are seven games in the “Southern Six” to watch this week:
- Laurel at D’Iberville: Both the Warriors and Golden Tornadoes are coming off big wins to open the season, as D’Iberville dispatched St. Stanislaus 41-14 while Laurel beat up on Meridian 47-27. Laurel’s defense forced six turnovers and took advantage of almost every one, rolling up over 400 yards in total offense in the win. Caden Arrington ran for 209 yards and four touchdowns for the Golden Tornadoes. Both Zach Abraham and Kaleb Booker ran for a pair of scores each in the Warriors’ win over SSC in Josh Ladner’s debut as head coach of his alma mater.
- Pascagoula at Gautier: The Gators provided one of the most disappointing outings of the opening week locally, as the high-powered Gautier offense was held to a single score in a 12-6 loss on the road at Jackson Provine. Quarterback Kaden Irving will try and get the Gautier offense back on track hosting the Panthers in the annual “Singing River Classic”. It’ll mark the second straight rivalry week for PHS, which held off Moss Point 23-14 in the “Battle of the Cats” last week.
- East Central at Moss Point: And coming off the loss against ‘Goula, the Tigers will be looking for their first win as the Hornets come calling on Dantzler Street. It’ll be the second straight road game for new ECHS head coach Sam Huff and his Hornets to begin his era at his alma mater, and they look for another road win after nipping Biloxi in the Shrimp Bowl Classic last week behind a pair of scoring runs from Eli Smith.
- Ocean Springs at Hattiesburg: The Greyhounds have won 20 out of their 22 regular season games and 11 straight since Blake Pennock took over in 2020. They’ll remain on the road this week and look to build on a big 31-13 season-opening win over Clinton last week, as quarterback Bray Hubbard accounted for almost 300 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. Hattiesburg is coming off a 21-18 loss to Petal Saturday night.
- Picayune at Jeff Davis County: One of the biggest games in the state of Mississippi this week pits defending Class 5A state champion Picayune against three-time defending Class 3A state champion Jefferson Davis County in the second-ever meeting between the perennial powers. Both are coming off notable wins in the opening week, as the Maroon Tide toppled Class 4A power Poplarville 21-7 and JDC smacked Collins 40-0.
- Vancleave at Hancock: Both teams are coming off highly successful season-opening outings as the Bulldogs beat down Greene County 49-20 and the Hawks pummelled Pearl River Central 35-0. Each squad got a key performance from new starters in the offensive backfield, as Vancleave tailback John Peterson rushed 30 times for 365 yards and six touchdowns while Hancock quarterback Dylan Moran threw a pair of scoring strikes against the Blue Devils. Vancleave is looking for it’s first 2-0 start in four seasons.
- Greene County at George County: The Wildcats, coming off that aforementioned loss to VHS, head to Lucedale for the annual “Battle for the Bell” against neighboring rival George County. Both teams, in fact, are coming off losses as the Rebels fell in a struggle to home-standing Gulfport last week 19-14 in the Port City Classic.
