It didn’t take new St. Stanialus head coach Tim Lala long to set the schedule for his first season guiding the Rock-a-Chaws.

Lala took the job about a week ago but already has his sights set on the 2023 campaign.

St. Stanislaus will open the season at home against Forrest County AHS on Friday, Aug. 25th, and then the Rocks will hit the road for a pair of games at arch-rival Bay High on Friday, Sept. 1st and at Dantzler Stadium in Moss Point on Friday, Sept. 8th. A home game against Pass Christian follows on Sept., 15th followed by a trip to Escambia Academy, Ala., on Sept. 22nd. The September sessions wrap up with a home game against Stone on Sept. 29th.

October brings Region 8-3A play to the forefront for SSC, as a home game against Tylertown begins league play on Friday, Oct. 6th. A road game at St. Patrick follows on Oct. 13th, then the Rocks return home to face Perry Central on Oct. 20th.

The regular season for SSC wraps up on Oct. 27th with a trip to West Marion.

Peterson will be a Choctaw

Vancleave standout running back John Peterson has decided where he’ll play on the next level, as he recently committed to Mississippi College.

Peterson was spectacular his senior season for the Bulldogs, as he led the state in rushing scampering for 2,616 yards and 34 touchdowns, and guided VHS to its first state playoff win in seven seasons since 2015.

Vancleave went on the road as the fourth and final seed out of Region 4-5A and knocked off home-standing Hattiesburg 41-35 in a big upset in the first round of the Class 5A south state playoffs in the first-ever meeting on the football field between the two schools. Peterson ran roughshod over the Tigers, who were riding a seven-game win streak, as he galloped for over 350 yards and six touchdowns in the win. Both totals were school records for a playoff game. 

Peterson was named First Team Class 5A All-State by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, and he also was named the overall game MVP in a prep all-star game called The Magnolia Bowl as he scored three touchdowns in that contest.

“Blessed to announce I’m 100% committed to Mississippi College !!! Thank you to all the coaches and schools who gave me an opportunity I’m grateful for the recruiting experience and blessed to have found my new home !” Peterson posted on Twitter last week.

October 14, 2022: Vancleave John Peterson (1) scores a touchdown during the Gautier versus Vancleave game at Vancleave, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 Sports

New era ahead

The 2023 prep football season will mark the beginning of a new era in Mississippi with the inception of a seventh classification in place.

The football season will get started with some jamborees on the weekend of Aug. 18th and 19th, before the regular season begins on Thursday, Aug. 24th, and Friday, Aug.. 25th.

Curtis has almost three decades of experience at four different daily newspapers across South Mississippi, specializing in Sports and live Music.

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