Region 4-6A might be one of the most competitive football regions on the Coast and in the state.
Picayune and George County are expected to be two of the top teams in Class 6A this season.
The Maroon Tide is coming off another playoff season. Playing for another state championship is always the expectation, Picayune coach Cody Stogner said.
“Our expectations are always going to be the same,” said Stogner. “We want to win the last game of the year.”
Picayune went 10-3 in 2023 and didn’t win the last game of the year, falling to West Jones in the 6A South State championship game. That loss has galvanized the Maroon Tide going into this season.
“Our strength is our unity,” said Stogner. “These guys have been close with each other and are playing with a chip on their shoulder.”
Stogner said his team needs to create more depth.
“I think that our weakness is depth, but this is high school football,” said Stogner. “We have to play with the hand we are dealt and I think we got a pretty good hand.”
Region 4-6A is expected to be one of the toughest in the state once again, Stogner said.
“Loads of talent amongst every team,” said Stogner. “It’s going to be a dogfight every week. I just hope we can make it to district play clicking on all cylinders.”
The Maroon Tide will open the season at home on Aug. 30 against Brandon.
Pascagoula, George County and Hancock are expected to battle Picayune for the 4-6A crown.
The Panthers and coach Lewis Sims are poised to have a good season with a team that evokes unity and upperclassmen.
“They love the game,” Sims told the 228 Sports podcast. “You walk in meetings, the leaders are attentive, they ask good questions and they push each other to be better.”
Pascagoula returns some key players from last year’s team that reached the second round of the playoffs.
Southern Miss commit Silas Corder returns for his senior season at quarterback, needing just a little more than 100 yards to surpass Panthers great Shane Mathews for the all-time school passing yardage mark.
The Panthers open their season on Aug. 30, hosting rival Moss Point.
George County is once again one of the most talented teams in the region and state.
The Rebels, who reached the playoffs in 2023, are looking to make a long postseason run.
George County is led by superstar quarterback Deuce Knight, who is widely considered one of the top signal callers in the nation in the Class of 2025.
The Notre Dame commit will be the key to George County’s success.
Coach James Ray is excited about the talent on this year’s squad. The Rebels started 14 sophomores two years ago and the benefits began to pay off last season.
“We have a majority of them coming back,” Ray said.
George County opens the season on Aug. 30 at East Central.
Hancock, West Harrison and improving Long Beach are expected to battle for that fourth playoff berth in the region.
The Hawks are coming off an 8-4 playoff-berth season. Hancock is looking to build on a 2023 campaign that saw the Hawks fall to eventual state champion West Jones in the first round of the playoffs.
Hancock reeled off eight straight wins to start the 2023 season before dropping four consecutive games to end the year.
Hancock will have to replace quarterback Dylan Moran and running back Jeffrey Hopgood.
The Hawks open the season on Aug. 30 at home against Natchez.
West Harrison is coming off a 5-5 campaign.
Senior running back Samuel Harris is one of the key returnees.
The Hurricanes open the season on Aug. 30 at Greene County.
This will be the second year of the Jacob Massey era at Long Beach.
Massey and the Bearcats are coming off a 2-9 season and looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Long Beach is guided by a veteran backfield with Will Brady at quarterback and Ronnie “Junior” Brown, who ran for more than 1,400 yards and scored 20 touchdown last season.
The Bearcats open the season at home against Pass High on Aug. 30.
Here are the results of a coaches poll predicting the order of finish in Region 4-6A:
Picayune
George County
Pascagoula
Hancock
West Harrison
Long Beach
