Mississippi produces some of the best high school football players in the nation year in and year out. Some of that outstanding talent will be on the gridiron Saturday when the Mississippi Coast hosts the annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star game at Gulfport High School’s historic Milner Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m.
The Coast will be well represented on the South squad, led by Gulfport High head football coach Blake Pennock. He will be assisted by Zach Green, who is on his Admiral staff and is one of six South assistant coaches.
Rosters for the Mississippi Association of Coaches sponsored game were chosen in early October.
Among the 16 local players selected, the Admirals have three on the South roster with wide receiver Cam Joseph, and defensive backs Prince Cottonham and Damon Felder II.
Hancock head football coach Neil Lollar and Picayune head football coach Cody Stogner are also on the South staff as assistant coaches.
“It’s been a fun experience throughout the season meeting the coaches and scouting the players,” said Stogner, who guided his Maroon Tide to a third straight South State championship game this season. “Mississippi has a ton of talent and I think have some really dynamic players.”
Defensive back Niquis Ratcliff and defensive lineman JB McWilliams will be two of his Tidesmen participating in Saturday’s game. The pair were key in Picayune claiming two of the last three state championships.
Hancock, Ocean Springs, and Pass Christian also have two players each on the South roster.
The South leads the series 35-30-4, including last year’s 14-10 win over the North, also played at Milner Stadium.
Tickets for the 75th annual game can be purchased at the gate for $10.
The game will be broadcast on the MAC Network website, maccoaches.com/macnetwork/livestream, or Friday Night Under the Lights at fnutl.com. The game can also be live-streamed on Apple TV, ROKU, and Firestick.
The players from the 10 local schools expected to play in the game include:
East Central: Gabe Miller, DL
Gautier: Angel McGee, DL
Gulfport: Prince Cottonham, DB; Damon Felder, DB; Cam Joseph, WR
Hancock: Jeffrey Hopgood, LB; Dylan Moran, QB
Ocean Springs: Trace Carter, LB; Eric Moore LB
Pascagoula: Tristen Fortenberry, OL
Pass Christian: Jayden Acker, DL; Terry Patton, DL
Picayune: JB McWilliams, DL; Niquis Ratcliff, DB
Poplarville: Aden Dedeaux, DL
St. Stanislaus: Jacob Bradford, DL
Here are the rosters for both teams:
North Roster
1 Que Tillman-Evans, TE/HB, West Point
2 Jeremiah Harwell, QB, Tupelo
3 Jack Harper, TE/HB, Oxford
4 Raheem Vance, QB, Olive Branch
5 Dequadrion Welch, WR, Noxubee County
6 Chase Richardson, ATH, Winona
7 Tre Gunn, DB, Biggersville
8 Jalen Washington, RB, Houston
9 Keon Hutchins, WR, Union
10 Mykel Allen, RB, South Panola
11 Michael Johnson Jr., WR, South Panola
12 Kaleb Shumpert, WR, New Albany
14 Tyler Pickens, WR, North Pontotoc
15 Jay Stevenson, RB, Starkvile
18 Tyler Henderson, WR, Vicksburg
20 Kaleb Bland, LB, South Panola
21 Elijah Spratt, DB, Amory
22 Brandon Brooks Jr., DB, Horn Lake
23 Jaquavous Pace, DB, Kosciusko
30 Jekerious Williams, DB, Grenada
31 Damari Burton, DB, Tupelo
33 Johnathan Faulkner, LB, Senatobia
40 Shep Donald, LB, Caledonia
41 DiJaylen Miller, DL, Louisville
42 Ryan McCall, LB, Madison Central
43 Nathaniel Walker, LB, Amory
45 Tyler Carter, DL, Vicksburg
48 LeBron Edmond, DL, Murrah
50 Zay Lowery, DL, West Point
51 Demarcus Johnson, DL, Vicksburg
52 Montra Sanford, DL, Charleston
60 Beau Davis, OL, Warren Central
62 Christopher Rodgers, OL, Holmes Co. Central
64 Elton Thomas, OL, Starkville
65 Demorrison Brown, OL, Canton
71 Malik Bell, DL, Oxford
72 John Randle Jr., OL, Horn Lake
73 Hunter Howard, OL, Lake Cormorant
74 Wade Estess, OL, Germantown
75 Nate Kelley, OL, Mantachie
78 Rodderias Bland, OL, Lake Cormorant
82 William Wilkinson, P, Oxford
83 Freddy Lopez, K, Ripley
88 Will Embry, LS, Water Valley
90 TJ Spann, DL, Clinton
Coaches
HC: Randal Montgomery, North Panola
Asst. Coaches: Alex Williams, Aberdeen; Michael Kelly, Caldeonia; Calvin Bolton, Canton; LaDon Taylor, Charleston; Baylor Dempeer, Houston; Teddy Young, Noxubee County
South Roster
1 Damion Miller, WR, Port Gibson
2 Xavier Gayten, ATH, Brookhaven
3 Dylan Lewis, RB, NW Rankin
4 Cam Joseph, WR, Gulfport
5 Landon Varnes, QB, Brandon
6 Anthony Rogers III, DB, Laurel
7 Jeremiah Foxworth, ATH, Columbia
8 Tajii Burkett, ATH, Oak Grove
9 Terry Patton Jr., WR, Pass Christian
10 Prince Cottonham, DB, Gulfport
11 Dee Darby, DB, Jefferson Davis Co.
12 Dylan Moran, QB, Hancock
14 Trace Carter, LB, Ocean Springs
15 Jamarion Keyes, ATH, West Jones
18 Eric Moore Jr., LB, Ocean Springs
20 Taveres Wade, RB, Hattiesburg
21 Chase Pinkston, DB, Oak Grove
22 Damon Felder II, DB, Gulfport
23 Ahmad Hardy, RB, Lawrence Co.
30 Niquis Ratcliff, DB, Picayune
31 Jeffrey Hopgood, LB, Hancock
33 Owen Carter, LB, Richton
40 Xzavion Quick, RB, Florence
41 Demario Harrell, LB, Tylertown
42 Brandon Mitchell, TE, Hattiesburg
43 Jeremiah Harris, LB/LS, Quitman
45 Aden Dedeaux, DL, Poplarville
48 Jay Owens, DL, Raleigh
50 Preston Ward, OL, Mize
51 Paris Evans, DL, Wayne County
52 JB McWilliams, DL, Picayune
60 Cade Shivers, OL, Brandon
61 Jeremiah Keyhea, OL, Laurel
62 Braylon McKinion, OL, NW Rankin
63 Dylan Harper, OL, Magee
65 Tristen Fortenberry, OL, Pascagoula
70 Gabriel Miller, DL, East Central
72 Jayden Acker, DL, Pass Christian
73 Taccofah Lewis, OL, Pearl
75 Angel McGee, DL, Gautier
81 Isaiah Lindsey, DL, West Jones
82 Chartavian Bethany, WR, Simmons
83 Lamarquavious Kennedy, WR, Velma Jackson
86 Luke Stewart, K/P, Oak Grove
88 Cayden Burger, WR, Petal
Coaches
HC: Blake Pennock, Gulfport
Asst. Coaches: Zach Green, Gulfport; James Courtney, Nanih Waiya; Devin Cooper, NW Rankin; Justin Hunter, Pearl; Cody Stogner, Picayune; Rashad Gandy, Quitman; Neil Lollar, Hancock
