Only seven teams from the Southern Six remain in the hunt for a state championship.
CLASS 7A
Ocean Springs kept their quest for a state championship alive with a come-from-behind 24-17 win over Northwest Rankin in the first round of the 7A playoffs.
The Greyhounds (7-4) have won six straight games heading into the second round of the playoffs, where they will entertain defending 7A state champion Oak Grove (8-3) on Friday.
The Warriors eliminated Biloxi (5-6) from the postseason with a 34-20 win in Oak Grove.
In other 7A action, Gulfport got bounced from the playoffs with a 20-17 loss to Petal. The Admirals end their season at 7-4.
The Panthers (8-4) will travel to Brandon for a second-round game. The Bulldogs (10-1) knocked off D’Iberville 43-28 to end the season for the Warriors (5-6).
CLASS 6A
Two familiar foes will face off in the second round of the 6A playoffs when Picayune (10-2) hosts George County (7-5) at Lee-Triplett Stadium.
The Region 4-6A foes just met two weeks ago in Picayune with the Maroon Tide taking a 27-20 win over the Rebels.
George County will be trying to get a win over Picayune for the first time in more than two decades—a 20-19 third-round playoff victory in Lucedale on Nov. 22, 2002.
Picayune is coming off a 48-7 win over Pearl River Central (2-8) in the first round.
The Rebels advanced out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007 with a thrilling 26-22 road win over defending 6A state champion West Jones (8-3).
Pascagoula blanked Terry 41-0 in the first round. The Panthers (9-2) will head to Hattiesburg for a second-round game against the unbeaten Tigers (11-0), who eliminated Hancock 48-14 in the first round.
CLASS 5A
Gautier edged Natchez 36-30 in the first round of the 5A playoffs.
Quarterback Trey Irving, named 5A Mr. Football in Mississippi earlier this month, accounted for all five Gautier touchdowns against Natchez. He threw what proved to be the game-winning TD toss to Kasin Thomas with under two minutes to play in the contest.
It was the second straight year Natchez (6-6) was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Gautier.
The Gators (10-1) have won nine straight games and will host Wayne County (5-7) on Friday. The War Eagles upended South Jones 42-14.
Stone edged Florence 17-14 in the first round, holding off a furious rally against the Eagles (6-5). The Tomcats (6-5) will play at Brookaven in the next round.
Ole Brook (10-1) beat Vancleave 42-21 to end the season for the Bulldogs (5-6).
CLASS 4A
Poplarville had to rally to beat Columbia 21-20 in the second round of the 4A playoffs.
The Hornets (10-2) will host McComb (6-4), which beat Northeast Jones 42-9, in the quarterfinals.
