Rock's Locks: Predicting prime prep pigskin proceedings for the Labor Day weekend

Well, maybe we should have listened to those readers who suggested to us a better use for the weekly picks instead of cluttering up the internet with them.

Rock’s Locks didn’t exactly kick the prep football season off in what could be called “Impressive fashion”. But, this week provides us with yet another chance for disappointment, so why waste it, right?

We did go 8-5 last week to open the season, far below our even low standards. Not having enough confidence in Resurrection or George County was just a couple of those mistakes.

**Curtis Rockwell**
**Sports Director 228Sports**

Prep football gets more company on the gridiron in week two, as the collegiate games kick off on this holiday weekend as well.

But not to be outdone, there are some exciting high school games on tap this week as well and some interesting games to pick from.

“For the Labor Day weekend show….”

Here are seven prime prep games to watch this week:

Vancleave at Gulfport (“Kneed to See” Game of the Week) — The first meeting ever between these two teams on the football field is set for historic Milner Stadium Friday night. Both teams come into the game off-season-opening wins, and each look to move to 2-0 on the young campaign. I think both of these teams will be in the thick of their respective region races and vying for playoff spots as the season progresses. But I think homefield advantage will be the difference in this one for the second straight week for Gulfport. Gulfport 24, Vancleave 20.
Pascagoula at East Central — Two teams that got off to completely different starts meet in Hurley/Wade Friday night, as the Hornets host the Panthers at H.D. Shirley Stadium for the first time in four seasons and the third time in the past 10 years. Pascagoula is flying-high at 1-0 after a 31-0 thumping of Moss Point last week, while East Central is 0-1 after never quite getting on track in a 28-7 loss to George County. Based only on results from last week, we don’t think two road games in eight days will be an issue for the Panthers…Pascagoula 21, East Central 13.
Catholic High (Baton Rouge) at Picayune — Two of the more storied prep football programs in the Gulf South region square off for the first time ever in any sport as the Bears invade Lee-Triplett Stadium in the “yune” Friday night. The defending two-time Class 5Astate champion Maroon Tide has a state-wide best 27-game win streak entering the game. These two teams have combined for nine total state titles, as Picayune has won five overall state crowns in 1986, 2011, 2013, 2021 and 2022 and finished as runner-up in 2019 and Catholic won state titles in 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 and lost in the title tilt in 1990, 2018, 2019. We’ll stick with the home team until they prove us wrong. Picayune 28, Catholic 17.

(Photo by Kirstie Brown Goodman/228Sports)
St. Stanislaus at Bay High — The annual “Battle for the Crab Trap” takes place between these two neighborhood rivals in McCulloch Stadium in the Bay Friday night. These two teams are also coming off of far different outcomes in week one, as the Rocks throttled visiting Forrest County AHS 31-6 while the Tigers hit the road and fell to Class 1A Resurrection 29-26. This is the 55th meeting between the two long-time rivals, and this is the longest-running opponent of all-time for SSC. Again, based on results from the prior week, we like the Rocks. SSC 30, Bay High 21.
Hancock at Moss Point — A rare meeting between these two “east coast” vs. “west coast” “Southern Six” foes as the squads have met only two previously on the gridiron with the last time coming in 2006. Again, yet another contest pitting a pair of squads coming off completely opposite starts to the season, as the Hawks went on the road to Natchez and came home with a 42-20 win over the Bulldogs while the Tigers took it on the chin against arch-rival Pascagoula. Moss Point is looking to avoid an 0-2 start to the season for the third straight season and also for the third time in the past four seasons. Meanwhile, Hancock is looking to start a season 2-0 for the second time in three seasons. Hancock 23, Moss Point 12.
D’Iberville at Gautier — A pair of teams still looking for their first wins of the season after each got pretty much manhandled in week one meet at Wallace-Martin Stadium on the campus of Gautier High Friday night. . Class 4A Columbia trounced the Class 7A and home-standing Warriors 40-17 while visiting Gautier got grounded in Gulfport 42-0. It will be the first meeting in nine years, since 2014, for the Warriors and the Gators and it will mark the Warrior’s first trip to Gautier in a decade since the 2013 season. D’Iberville hasn’t started a season at 0-2 in 14 years, since 2009, while Gautier hasn’t done so since 2016. D’Iberville 8, Gautier 6.
Scotlandville (La) at Ocean Springs — The Greyhounds are looking to avoid their first 0-2 start in a season since 2019, in Ryan Ross’ last year. They also started 0-2 in 2018. Scotlandville is the second team coming from the Baton Rouge area to invade the “Southern Six” this week, along with Catholic High heading to Picayune. This is the first-ever meeting on the football field for these two teams. In new head coach Jake Bramlett’s debut at Hugh Pepper Field in his new capacity, the Greyhounds look to avoid their first three-game losing streak since the end of the 2019 season. Ocean Springs 17, Scotlandville 14.