Once again this week, several teams in our coverage area are enjoying off weeks in action Friday night. Also, several others are coming off that said open date last week and looking to get back in action with successful outings moving forward.
Here are seven games to watch in the “Southern Six” this week:
- Gautier at Moss Point (Game of the week) — The Gators were open last Friday after dismantling arch-rival Pascagoula 47-6 the previous week. The Tigers, meanwhile, could have used an open date but instead, they lost their third straight game against a Jackson County foe to open the year dropping a 35-26 decision to unbeaten Vancleave. They face a fourth straight county rival this week.
- D’Iberville at Picayune — The defending Class 5A state champion Maroon Tide lost only one game last season in the midst of a 14-1 campaign, and that came at the hands of these Warriors, 27-13 in Harrison County. Since then, Picayune has won 14 straight games coming into this week. D’Iberville has lost its last two games by a combined total of two points, including a 35-34 overtime loss to Jefferson David County last week. The Warriors got standout performances on defense from free safety Marquise Washington (15 tackles and one forced fumble) and linebacker Malcolm Gowdy (eight tackles, an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery), and on offense from quarterback Gage Peterson (10 of 19 passing for 253 yards and two touchdowns).
- St. Martin at Greene County — Two squads coming off entirely different outcomes in home games face off in Leakesville, as the Yellow Jackets beat up on East Marion 48-20 and the Wildcats lost to visiting Hancock 44-22. St. Martin quarterback D.K. Jenkins threw for 110 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for just over 100 yards including a 73-yard rushing touchdown, while Noreel White ran 78 yards for a score and also hauled in a pair of Jenkins’ scoring strikes. Greene County wide receiver K.J. Miller had six catches for right at 100 yards and two touchdowns and he also had a rushing touchdown in the win over the Hawks.
- St. Stanislaus at Pass Christian — The Pirates host the Rock-A-Chaws in this long-standing Gulf Coast rivalry. Pass Christian is 2-1 and coming off a 21-14 win over Purvis as running back Jacquez Alexander ran for just over 200 yards and three touchdowns. St. Stanislaus stands 1-2 on the year after losing on the road to Pensacola Catholic 49-27 last week.
- Jackson Lanier at Hancock — The Hawks are looking to snap a two-game losing streak hosting the win-less Bulldogs. This is just the second meeting ever between the teams after Hancock picked up a 42-8 win at Brett Favre Field last season. The Hawks are looking for a win heading into Region 4-6A play, which begins the following Friday against powerful Ocean Springs.
- Germantown at Gulfport — Both teams won their first two games of the season but each is coming off their first loss of the season, as Picayune beat the Admirals 21-7 and Warren Central beat the Mavericks 28-13. Germantown is coached by former Picayune and Oak Grove assistant coach Russell Mitchell, who won a state championship as the offensive coordinator during his stints with both the Maroon Tide and Warriors.
- Wayne County at Pascagoula – The Panthers stand 1-1 on the season and are coming off a bye after the aforementioned loss to Gautier. Wayne County is 2-1 on the year and coming off a 42-13 thumping of Wayne County. This contest will serve as Homecoming 2022 for Pascagoula as it welcomes the War Eagles into War Memorial Stadium Friday night. Wayne county has won seven straight games in this series in actual games played on the field.
