After missing the postseason last year, the Harrison Central Red Rebels are looking to qualify for the South State football playoffs for the fourth in the past six seasons as they enter the 2023 prep football campaign.
But, if second-year head coach Tony Myers’ squad is to accomplish that feat, they’ll do so in a completely new classification.
With the expansion to seven classes this year for the first time in the history of the Mississippi High School Activities Association, the Red Rebels will move up to the new Class 7A from Class 6A where they spent the past dozen years. Harrison Central will join the newly named Region 4-7A,
And although the region is new, five familiar foes are joining HCHS to comprise the loop as Ocean Springs, Gulfport, Biloxi, St. Martin and D’Iberville all move up from the same region in 6A as does the Red Rebels to form the new league.
Harrison Central earned Class 6A South State playoff berths in 2018 along with back-to-back trips in 2020 and 2021 before finishing sixth in Region 4-6A last season with a 3-7 overall mark and going 2-5 in league action in Myers’ first year at the helm. The 2020 playoff appearance included a 49-21 thumping of perennial state power Pearl which marked the Red Rebels’ second all-time playoff win.
Myers’ squad kicks off year two under his command on Friday, Aug. 25th, as the Red Rebels head down to Gulfport to host Ridgeland in the opening game of the Port City Classic doubleheader at historic Milner Stadium with a 5:30 start.
Here is the complete list of team schedules for Region 4-7A:
REGION 4-7A
BILOXI
Coach: Katlan French
A. 25 Stone
S. 1 at Meridian
S. 8 George County
S. 15 at Hattiesburg
S. 22 Pascagoula
S. 29 open
O. 5 at Gulfport
O. 13 St. Martin
O. 20 at Ocean Springs
O. 27 Harrison Central
N. 2 at D’Iberville
D’IBERVILLE
Coach: Josh Ladner
A. 25 Columbia
S. 1 at Gautier
S. 8 Picayune
S. 15 Pascagoula
S. 22 open
S. 29 at Wayne County
O. 6 at Ocean Springs
O. 13 Gulfport
O. 20 at Harrison Central
O. 27 at St. Martin
N. 2 Biloxi
GULFPORT
Coach: Blake Pennock
A. 25 Gautier
S. 1 Vancleave
S. 8 Madison Central
S. 15 Picayune
S. 22 at Brandon
S. 29 open
O. 6 Biloxi
O. 13 at D’Iberville
O. 20 at St. Martin
O. 27 Ocean Springs
N. 2 at Harrison Central
HARRISON CENTRAL
Coach: Tony Myers
A. 25 vs. Ridgeland (at Gulfport)
S. 1 open
S. 8 at Quitman
S. 15 at Tylertown
S. 22 Mendenhall
S. 29 Meridian
O. 6 at St. Martin
O. 13 Ocean Springs
O. 20 D’Iberville
O. 27 at Biloxi
N. 2 Gulfport
OCEAN SPRINGS
Coach: Jake Bramlett
A. 25 at Madison Central
S. 1 Scotlandville (La.)
S. 8 at Northwest Rankin
S. 15 Natchez
S. 22 at Picayune
S. 29 open
O. 6 D’Iberville
O. 13 at Harrison Central
O. 20 Biloxi
O. 27 at Gulfport
N. 2 St. Martin
ST. MARTIN
Coach: Ty Smith
A. 25 at Vancleave
S. 1 Petal
S. 8 at Hancock
S. 15 at Stone
S. 22 East Central
S. 29 open
O. 6 Harrison Central
O. 13 at Biloxi
O. 20 Gulfport
O. 27 D’Iberville
N. 2 at Ocean Springs
