Rock’s Locks: Wrapping up some regular seasons while also heading into the playoffs

If our math is correct, Rock’s Locks wraps up its 32nd year of prognosticating prime prep pigskin proceedings in the “Southern Six” in regular season action this week. But don’t worry, despite all the talk we’re gonna keep on chugging to the state championship the first week of December.

Our math is correct on this, Rock’s Locks went 10-3 last week marking the fourth consecutive week that we were in double digits in the win total. Our recent successful stint moved us to 99-31 on the season for a winning percentage of right at 77 percent overall.

The regular season comes to an end for the three largest classifications tonight while the state playoff kicks off for the four smallest classifications Friday night. As usual, we here at 228Sports will have extensive coverage of all the action over the next two days.

“Gone are the days when the ox fall down, take up the yoke and plow the fields around…”

1. George County at Pascagoula (Thursday night) — The Rebels head to War Memorial Stadium to face off with the home-standing Panther with the second seed in Region 4-6A on the line. Both squads have already clinched playoff berths and the winner of this game gets an opening round home game in the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs next week against either Terry or Jackson Forrest Hill while the loser will head to either West Jones or Hattiesburg to open the postseason. This marks the first meeting between these two teams in three seasons, and the overall rivalry is fairly close as the Rebels hold an 10-8 lead. In the past decade though, PHS has won four out of the six contests including all three at War Memorial. We expect this to be a battle…George County 27, Pascagoula 24.
2. Biloxi at D’Iberville (THURSDAY NIGHT) — A key meeting in Region 7-4A takes place at Warrior Stadium as DHS takes on its neighbor the Indians with many state playoff implications on the line. Both these teams come in off winning important league games. If Gulfport beats Harrison Central and Biloxi beats D’Iberville, then Gulfport is the No. 2 seed, Biloxi the No. 3 seed, and Harrison Central the No. 4 seed. This too, like the PHS-GCHS series, is close overall and Biloxi leads the rivalry 17-15 in a series that didn’t start until 1982. But this is the 15th straight season the teams have faced off in Football since the rivalry of the series in 2009, with DHS winning 8 of the past 14 games. Biloxi 20, D’Iberville 16.
3. Gulfport at Harrison Central (THURSDAY NIGHT) — Ditto on the scenario in yet another Region 4-7A contest as the one above this, except that both of these teams are coming of key region losses. A win by GHS locked up the second seed behind region champ Ocean Springs, but a loss throws the final three playoff spots into numerous possible tie-breaking scenarios. The Admirals have won five of the past six games in the series as well as 11 of the last 13 games. Gulfport looks to bounce back after losing the league title to Ocean Springs last week. Gulfport 34, Harrison Central 13.

   

4. Gautier at Laurel (THURSDAY NIGHT) — Just the second all-time meeting ever between these two teams on the gridiron, and first since a 41-28 Golden Tornadoes win in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs in 2000. This one is for the top spot in Region 4-5A, as the Gators make their first-ever road trip “Between the Bricks” to R. H. Watkins Stadium. The Gators are perfect in league play, and are also the only team in the loop with an overall winning record at 6-3. A win would give Gautier its first region title in 15 seasons, since 2008, but the bricks have come crashing down on many dreams over the years in this venue. Laurel 29, Gautier 28.
5. French Camp Academy at Resurrection (FRIDAY NIGHT) — The Eagles won their first Region 8-1A title in eight years, since 2015, and in the process earned the right to home-field advantage in the opening round of the Class 1A South State playoffs this week. Resurrection stands 7-2 overall, coming off a league loss to Lumberton to wrap up the regular season last week. French Camp sits at 3-7 overall, and earned the fourth and final seed in Region 6-1A with a win over McAdams last week. It marks just the second-ever meeting on the football field between these two teams and RCS won the first contest in the 2017 state playoffs. We like the Eagles in this one as well. Resurrection 28, French Camp 9.

   

6. Crystal Springs at St. Stanislaus (FRIDAY NIGHT) — The Rock-A-Chaws face the Tigers for the first time ever on the football field to open the Class 3A South State playoffs. St. Stanislaus finished the regular season at an impressive 8-1, while CSHS sits at 3-7 entering the postseason. St. Stanislaus captured the Region 8-3A title with an impressive 49-7 road win over West Marion last week. The win completed a 5-0 league mark for SSC in head coach Tim Lala’s first season as well as the Rock’s first league crown in seven seasons, since 2016. The Rocks finished the regular season at an impressive 8-1 overall, the most wins in a regular season since that 2016 season as well. St. Stanislaus 33, Crystal Springs 13.
7. Richland at Pass Christian (FRIDAY NIGHT) — The Pirates wrapped up the second seed in region 8-4A play last week with a win over Bay High to end the regular season, and now PCHS gets to open the Class 4A South State playoffs at home in McDonald Stadium against the Rangers who finished as the third seed in Region 6-4A. Pass enters the postseason with a 7-2 overall mark, while Richland stands 6-4. Often in the first round of the state playoffs, you get match-ups that are first-time-ever meetings between two teams, and that’s exactly the case in this one as well. Pass Christian 17, Richland 14.

A Six Pack to Go:

Picayune 42, Hancock 14

Ocean Springs 60, St. Martin 6

West Harrison 16, Long Beach 14

Stone 21, East Central 12.

Wayne County 30, Vancleave 21.

Poplarville 50, Jackson Lanier 8