Once again, it was the Kaden Irving show for Gautier Friday night.
October 21, 2022: Gautier Kaden Irving (12) rolls out to pass during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Andrew Marble (2) pitches back to his running back during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Noah Goff (12) carries the ball during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Grey Bradley (5) is taken off his feet by Gautier Dominic Smith (27) during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Grey Bradley (5) goes in for a touchdown during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 Sports
The stellar senior stand-out signal-caller accounted for eight touchdowns for the second straight week in a key Region 4-5A contest, as he and his home-standing Gators knocked off visiting East Central 56-35 at Vaughan-Wallace Stadium on the campus of Gautier High School.
The win sets up what will be the battle for the region title in two weeks when Gautier meets unbeaten and reigning Class 5A state champion Picayune to close out the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 3rd.
October 21, 2022: East Central Tyler Tanner (6) breaks up a pass intended for Gautier Dillon M Alfred (84) during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Kaden Irving (12) handles punting duty during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Dillon M Alfred (84) is tackled by East Central Tyler Tanner (6) during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Aaron Phillips (10) runs the ball during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Aaron Phillips (10) punches across the goal line for a touchdown during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Kaden Irving (12) talks to the coaches upstairs over a headset during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Emmitt High (5) fights for yardage during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Kaden Irving (12) on the quarterback keep during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier head coach Marcus High looks on from the sideline during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Grey Bradley (5) is upended by Gautier Dominic Smith (27) during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Dillon M Alfred (84) on his way to the end zone for a touchdown during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 Sports
Irving threw for six scores and ran for two more in the big win for the Gators, as they won their seventh straight game and moved to 5-0 in Region 4-5A and 7-1 overall. East Central dropped to 6-2 overall and 4-2 and will finish third in the league standings.
Last week in a similar big region win over Vancleave, Irving also threw for six touchdowns and ran for yet another two in a key win.
October 21, 2022: Gautier Dillon M Alfred (84) during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central head coach Sam Huff during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Preston Robinson (30) kicks an extra point during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Ben Myrick (1) scores a late game touchdown during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Kaden Irving (12) looks to get around East Central River Felts (29) during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: East Central Ben Myrick (1) breaks a long run during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsOctober 21, 2022: Gautier Dillon Richburg (2) pursues the play down the line during the East Central versus Gautier game at Vaughn-Wallace Stadium in Gautier, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 Sports
Picayune beat visiting George County 56-7 to move to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in league play. In other Region 4-5A play, West Harrison beat Long Beach 54-0 and Vancleave beat Pearl River Central 44-15 to set up a key meeting between the Hurricanes and Bulldogs with playoff implications next week.
In Region 4-6A, both Ocean Springs and Gulfport stayed on course for a big showdown for the league title at Greyhound Stadium next week as OSHS remained unbeaten at 8-0 and 5-0 in league play with a 49-24 win over St. Martin and Gulfport knocked off visiting D’Iberville 40-21.
Also, Biloxi beat Pascagoula 15-14 and Hancock stopped Harrison Central 14-10.
In Region 8-4A, Moss Point clinched a playoff berth with a 54-13 thumping of Bay High on the road and Stone won the region title with a 38-0 shutout over Pass Christian also on the road.
Poplarville nipped Columbia 20-18 in Region 7-4A play.
In Class 3A, St. Stanislaus beat Perry Central 34-14 to earn a state playoff berth and set up a battle for the league crown with perennial state power Jefferson Davis County next week.
And in Class 1A, Resurrection’s postseason hopes took severe blow with a 28-15 loss to home-standing Mt. Olive.
Catch all of the Friday night details on “Friday Rewind” on 228 Sports presented by ourmshome.com Saturday afternoon.
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Curtis Rockwell has almost three decades of experience at four different daily newspapers across South Mississippi, specializing in Sports and live music.
