The quest for a state championship begins Friday for several Southern Six teams as the playoffs get underway in Classes 5A, 6A and 7A.
CLASS 7A
Region 4-7A champion Ocean Springs starts its playoff journey in search for a state title when the Greyhounds (6-4) host Northwest Rankin (5-5) in a rematch of a Week 3 regular-season game.
In that matchup, the Cougars pulled out a 29-28 overtime thriller at Greyhound Stadium.
Northwest Rankin is in the midst of a three-game losing skid heading into the playoffs while Ocean Springs has won five straight—all of them region games.
The Cougars and Greyhounds last met in the postseason in 2022 with Ocean Springs rolling to a 49-21 first-round victory.
In other 7A first-round playoff games involving Coast teams, 4-7A runner-up Gulfport (7-3) will entertain Petal (7-4), Biloxi (5-5) visits Oak Grove (7-3) and D’Iberville (5-5) travels to Brandon to face the Region 3-7A champion Bulldogs (9-1).
CLASS 6A
Region 4-6A champion Picayune will face a familiar foe in the first round of the playoffs, although they haven’t met in three years.
The Maroon Tide (9-2) will welcome county rival Pearl River Central (2-7) to Lee-Triplett Stadium.
The two teams, separated by just seven miles, have not met on the gridiron since 2021 with the Maroon Tide rolling to a 42-0 regular-season win.
The Blue Devils are in the postseason for the first time in nine years under first-year coach John Feaster.
Picayune is aiming to win its third state title in the last four years and first since posting a perfect season in 2022. But coach Cody Stogner isn’t looking that far ahead.
“It’s the playoffs,” said Stogner. “Monday is not promised. We have to play a clean game in all three aspects and have more want-to than the other team because it’s win or go home.
“It’s going to be a great environment and one that our communities are going to show up and show out for.”
In other 6A first-round playoff games involving area teams, 4-7A runner-up Pascagoula (8-2) will play host to Terry (7-3), George County (6-5) travels to Soso to face West Jones (8-2) and Hancock (2-7) heads to Hattiesburg to take on the unbeaten and Region 3-6A champion Tigers (10-0).
CLASS 5A
Since losing to D’Ibervile in Week 2, Gautier has reeled off eight consecutive victories heading into the playoffs. The Region 4-5A champion Gators (9-1) will host Natchez (6-5) in the opening round of the postseason.
The two teams met in the first round of the playoffs a year ago with Gators pounding the Bulldogs 50-18.
In other 5A games in the opening round, 4-5A runner-up Stone (5-5) will host Florence (6-4), Wayne County (4-7) plays at South Jones (8-3) in Ellisville and Vancleave (5-5) heads to Brookhaven to face the 3-5A champion Panthers (9-1).
CLASS 4A
Poplarville had to rally from behind to pull out a 27-26 win last week over Mendenhall to advance out of the first round of the playoffs for the 11th straight season.
The Hornets (9-2) now turn their attention to Columbia, which blew out Richland 55-3 last week to move on to the second round. The Wildcats (8-3) have won five straight.
The game in Columbia is a rematch of last year’s South State championship in which the Wildcats pulled out a 28-21 win over the Hornets.
