Weekend Rewind: 7 things we noticed in the “Southern 6” Friday night

The playoff picture became a bit more clear in some cases last week for some “Southern Six” squads.

But for some others, it became even a bit more muddled.

With regular season play either winding down or done in some circles, let’s take a quick look back.

Here are 7 things in the “Southern 8” we noticed Friday night:

1. We are the Tigers — Moss Point honored its first-ever state championship team of 1983 Friday night on Dantzler Street but just as importantly the Tigers picked up their first Region 8-4A win of the season as well with a 46-13 thumping of Greegen County. Tailback Taborious Charles ran roughshod over the Wildcats with 239 yards on the ground and he tallied five touchdowns as MPHS in all likelihood secured a state playoff berth for the second consecutive season with the same 2-7 regular season mark. The Tigers have completed their regular season slate but need only a win by Region 8-4A champ Poplarville over Greene County this week to secure the fourth seed in the region race. A Wildcat win leaves MPHS on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

   

   

   

2. Clash of the Titans (Part 1) — Both Ocean Springs and Gulfport remained unbeaten in Region 4-7A play last week with easy wins, as the Greyhounds dispatched visiting Biloxi 4-21 and the Admirals thwarted home-standing St. Martin 42-0. That sets up the big meeting this week at historic Milner Stadium between the two teams knotted atop the region race each with 3-0 marks.
3. Clash of the Titans (Part 2) — The same scenario exists in region 4-6A after both Picayune and George County both stayed unbeaten with commanding wins last week as the Maroon Tide beat home-standing Long Beach 42-7 and the Rebels trounced visiting West Harrison 54-19. George County hosts two-time and back-to-back defending Class 5A state champion Picayune Friday night at Gill-Martin Stadium in a battle for the top spot in the region race.
4. Clash of the Titans (Part 3) — In Region 8-3A again the same scenario exists as St. Stanislaus and West Marion square off this week for the top spot in the league race after each moved to 3-0 in the loop with wins last week. The Rocks socked home-standing Perry Central 42-7, thanks in part to almost 300 yards passing from first-year quarterback Ian Gael Gonzalez Rioz in the win as he accounted for four total touchdowns as well. That pushed the Rocks to an impressive 7-1 overall under new head coach Tim Lala.
5. Eagle watch — Resurrection went on the road to Hattiesburg and captured a big win in the battle for supremacy in Region 8-1A as the Eagles clipped Sacred Heart 34-24. The win leaves RCS alone at the top of the region race at this point, as Daniel Pickens ran for four touchdowns in the win. The win set up yet another key league contest for the Eagles this week as Lumberton comes calling to close out the regular season.

   

   

   

6. Boom goes Baggett — Gautier remained perfect in Region 4-5A play at 3-0 with a big 34-7 win over Jackson County rival East Central at home in Vaughan-Wallace Stadium Friday night. The Gators got 237 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground from sophomore running back Soloman Baggett in the key win that also secured Gautier a berth in the upcoming Class 5A South State playoffs.
7. Panther Party — The Pascagoula Panthers overcame a 14-0 first-quarter deficit and used four interceptions, two of which they returned for touchdowns, to pull out a hard-fought 32-21 victory over the Hancock Hawks before a homecoming crowd Friday night at War Memorial Stadium. The victory pushes the Panther’s overall record to 6-2 overall, but more importantly keeps their playoff hopes alive in Region 4-6A with a 2-1 mark.