The air was thick with anticipation on Thursday night in Lucedale as two of Mississippi’s brightest football stars prepared to face off in a Region 4-6A showdown.
Silas Corder, the poised and talented quarterback from Pascagoula, and Deuce Knight, the electrifying signal caller from George County, both entered the game with high expectations. The two are already committed to major college
programs—Corder to Southern Miss and Knight to Auburn—and the stage was set for a duel that promised to be one for the ages.
But when the dust settled and the final whistle blew, it was Corder and his Pascagoula Panthers who emerged victorious in dominant fashion, securing a 49-13 win and clinching the No. 2 seed in the region.
The game, which many had pegged as a close battle between two talented quarterbacks, turned into a lopsided affair as turnovers and missed opportunities piled up for Knight and the Rebels.
The first spark: Corder’s early command
The night began with a bang for Pascagoula as Corder quickly demonstrated why he is one of the top quarterbacks in the state.
Though George County’s defense came up with an early interception to momentarily slow Pascagoula down, the momentum quickly shifted back in favor of the Panthers.
The Rebels defense, though talented, couldn’t keep pace with the rapid fire of Corder’s decisions. It didn’t take long before Pascagoula’s defense stepped in to tilt the game further.
George County’s offense, led by the talented Knight, fumbled a handoff that was quickly recovered by Pascagoula’s Jarrad Loper. The Panthers capitalized immediately, pounding the ball into the end zone with Loper on a 1-yard touchdown run.
From there, Corder’s command of the game was nearly flawless. With a strong arm and laser- like precision, he sliced through George County’s defense.
Pascagoula moved the ball with ease, especially in the second half, when Corder unleashed a 30-yard touchdown pass to D’Lass Nunnery, pushing the lead to 35-7.
As the game unfolded, the Rebels, despite their best efforts, struggled to match Pascagoula’s momentum.
Corder’s ability to manage the pocket and find open receivers only highlighted the difference in playmaking. By the third quarter, the game was all but decided as Pascagoula pushed its lead further, with Amarie Jackson breaking off two touchdown runs, including a 10-yard score in the fourth quarter that left George County with little hope of a comeback.
Knight’s night of frustration
For Knight, the night proved far more challenging. Despite being one of the state’s most exciting players, he never found a rhythm against Pascagoula’s aggressive defense.
It wasn’t for lack of effort. Knight has the talent to make plays from anywhere on the field, but Pascagoula’s defense was relentless.
The Panthers forced Knight into multiple turnovers—two interceptions, one by Tomareo Johnson, and another fumble after a botched pitch to the running back.
Pascagoula’s defense seemed to be everywhere, taking full advantage of George County’s mistakes and giving the Panthers offense short fields to work with.
Despite the adversity, Knight refused to give up. Late in the third quarter, he found a glimmer of hope when he powered through for a 2-yard touchdown run. The play briefly sparked excitement on the George County sideline, but a blocked extra point left the Rebels trailing 35-13 and with the Panthers continuing to roll, the game slipped away from them.
The final whistle: A team effort
The final score—49-13—was a testament not just to Corder’s skill, but to the all-around dominance of the Pascagoula team.
The Panthers had more than just a talented quarterback; they had a defense that created opportunities and a running game that helped seal the deal.
Jahkobian Maye added to the Panthers’ growing lead with a 40-yard touchdown reception, a quick slant pass from Corder that left defenders in his wake.
For George County, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, but they still have a chance to regroup. They drop to the No. 3 seed in the region but will move on to the playoffs, where Knight’s talents will undoubtedly give them a shot at redemption.
With the victory, Pascagoula locked up the No. 2 seed and will host Terry in the first round of the playoffs next week. Corder and the Panthers are firing on all cylinders and look poised to make a deep postseason run, especially with their defense playing at such a high level.
Meanwhile, for George County, the road ahead won’t be easy. They now have to prepare for a tough playoff run on the road, but with Knight at the helm, anything is possible.
The game, which many had billed as a quarterback duel, ended up being a showcase of teamwork and discipline from Pascagoula. Corder and Jackson had standout performances, but it was the Panthers’ all-around performance that earned them the big win.
For Knight and the Rebels, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to bounce back and make their mark in the postseason.
The season is far from over, but for one Thursday night in Mississippi, it was Silas Corder and Pascagoula who stood tall.
