GULFPORT – Gulfport scored touchdowns on its first four possessions en route to a 42-0 victory over archrival Biloxi on Friday night in Milner Stadium.
The Admirals improved to 3-3 overall and won their inaugural Region 4-7A opener. Biloxi fell to 3-4, 0-1.
Gulfport heads to D’Iberville next week in 4-7A play while Biloxi returns home to face St. Martin. The game was first-year Admiral head coach Blake Pennock’s first foray into the oldest and longest-running annual rivalry in the “Southern Six” as it marked the 101st all-time meeting between the two old rivals.
The Admirals’ defense held Biloxi to three first downs in the game, and Biloxi only entered the red zone once. That drive – in the fourth quarter – ended with a bad snap on an attempted field goal.
Cooper Crosby and Gavin Brown each scored two rushing touchdowns
Brown, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior, capped the first Gulfport drive with a 30-yard TD run, going 66 yards in four plays.
Crosby scored from the 1 to up the lead to 14-0.
Tegeder Grayson kicked six extra points.
Crosby, a 5-11, 195-pound sophomore, added his second score on a 30-yard dash with 2:39 left in the first quarter. Crosby had 90 yards on nine carries in the first half.
Brown pushed the lead to 28-0 in the second quarter with 10:10 left before halftime.
Senior quarterback Nico Williams had a pair of touchdown passes, both to senior wideout Cam Joseph. Joseph caught a 24-yard TD pass from Williams before halftime, and accounted for the only second half score on a 45-yard reception.
The one-sided verdict was reminiscent of a 49-7 Gulfport win in 2014 and a 56-0 romp in 2002 – both also in Milner Stadium.
The Gulfport defense, in addition to the shutout, forced two Indian turnovers.
Biloxi entered the game off an impressive 55-22 win over Mobile-LeFlore but could get nothing going on the road in losing for the ninth time in the last 10 games against Gulfport.
The Admirals were off last week but had been struggling with three straight losses before that after opening the season with two straight wins. Gulfport has played five of its first six games at home in Milner Stadium. Pennock spent the last three seasons in Ocean Springs before moving west down U.S. Highway 90 to take over the Gulfport program after last season ended. The loss was Biloxi’s third in four road games so far this season. Gulfport now plays three of its last four games on the road to finish up the regular season.
