Rock's Locks: Prognosticating prime prep pigskin proceedings

Gulfport quarterback Nicholas Williams rolls out for a first down against Gautier. (Photo by Tim Isbell/228Sports)

Finally.

As of Friday night, every prep football team in the “Southern Six” will be entrenched in region play, meaning the tale of the tape as far as the state playoffs are concerned will begin to take shape over the next five to six weeks.

And that will be the case for Rock’s Locks as well as we set our sights on yet another trip to the state championship games the first weekend of December.

Rock’s Locks stumbled a bit once again last week, as we went a paltry 7-6 overall to drop to 57-21 after six weeks of action.

“Shine on, you crazy diamond…”

Poplarville at Pass Christian — A mid-season battle for the top spot in Region 8-4 takes place at McDonald Stadium Thursday night in the Pass as the Pirates host the Hornets in a key contest. This is a rematch from the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs last season, when the home-standing Hornets thumped PCHS 40-12. Poplarville was in Region 7-4A last year, but now with the teams in the same league this could be the game that decides the region winner this year. Poparville 34, Pass Christian 28.
Picayune at Pascagoula — Another big league game takes place at War Memorial Stadium in Pascagoula Friday night as the Panthers host the Maroon Tide in Region 4-6A play. The last time Picayune came calling in Pascagoula was a few days after Hurricane Zeta’s arrival in Jackson County a little less than two years ago, and the Panthers recorded a 42-35 upset of then-unbeaten Picayune in a Saturday afternoon matinee. This marks the 18th meeting in the 21st century between these long-time rivals, but the first since that post storm contest. Picayune has a slight 6-4 advantage in the last 10 meetings, a span that covers the past 11 seasons. Picayune 23, Pascgoula 21.
Biloxi at Gulfport — For the first time in 42 years, perennial arch-rivals Gulfport and Biloxi will not close out the regular season against one another. Instead, the Indians and Admirals will face off FRIDAY night to open the first-ever Region 4-7A schedule for each team. This is the 101st overall meeting between the two teams in the longest-standing rivalry in the “Southern Six” on the gridiron. The Admirals have dominated this rivalry for most of the past two decades, winning 10 out of the past 11 games and 15 out of the last 17 contests. We’ll stick with the recent odds….Gulfport 20, Biloxi 17.

Vancleave quarterback Hunter Parker and his Bulldogs head to Gautier Friday night. (Photo By Kerry Bass/228Sports)
D’Iberville at Ocean Springs — The Greyhounds and Warriors face off to begin their first-ever play in Region 4-7A Friday night on U.S. Highway 90 with a Sock Hop happening just down the road. The Greyhounds have won two straight in this annual series, but that first win of the two in 2021 snapped a five-game Warriors win streak in the rivalry. The last decade has been fairly even, with DHS holding a slight 6-4 advantage in the series. We think the Greyhounds make it three straight wins. Ocean Springs 37, D’Iberville 31.
Hancock at West Harrison — The only unbeaten squad in the “Southern Six” heads to Gulfport Friday night, as the Hurricanes host the 6-0 Hawks. This marks just the seventh all-time meeting between the two teams on the football field, and Hancock has a 5-1 advantage. This Region 4-6A opener for both teams could be a very interesting game, because not only are the Haws off to a 6-0 for the first time in 23 years but WHHS stands at 4-1 for the second straight season for the first time in school history. Hancock 30, West Harrison 28.
Vancleave at Gautier — A pair of teams in need of a win converge in this U.S. Highway 57 rivalry as the struggling Bulldogs at 1-4 head to Vaughn-Wallace Stadium to face the home-standing Gators who sit 2-3 in the Region 4-5A opener for both squads. Gautier holds a commanding 18-4 advantage in this series, including 10 straight wins by the Gators over the Bulldogs in the past 12 years as well as a 55-28 victory last year. We’ll stick with the home team keeping that streak alive. Gautier 27, Vancleave 21.
Bay High at Moss Point— A pair of Tiger teams coming off of two completely different performances last week meet on Dantzler Street Friday night in Region 8-4A play. The Jackson County kind dropped its league opening game to Poplarville last week, while this game serves as the region opener for the Hancock County bunch. Moss Point 14, Bay High 13.