Weekend Rewind: 7 things we noticed in the “Southern 6” Friday night

While a majority of the squads in the “Southern Six” were off last week, Region 8-4A a Region 8-1A kicked off league action.

But this week is a monstrous one on in South Mississippi, as all 24 teams in our coverage area are in region action. But before we look ahead, let’s take one last look at how things went Friday night.

Here are 7 things we noticed in the “Southern Six” Friday night:

1. Powerful Poplarville – Poplarville grounded out 402 yards on the ground, and scored early and often to dominate Moss Point 54-12 at the Hornet’s Nest in the Region 8-4A opener for both teams.. The Hornets shrugged off a 42-0 loss to West Jones the week before, to move to 4-2 overall and capture win No. 100 in less than 10 seasons for veteran head coach Jay Beech as head coach of the Hornets..
2. Powerful Pirates — Pass Christian moved to 5-1 under new head coach Jeff Stockstill with a comfortable 28-6 win over homestanding Greene County in Leakesville. It was also the Region 8-4A opener for both teams. Pirate versatile standout Anthony James, Jr., scored three touchdowns to lead PCHS to the win, and move the Pirates to 5-1 for the first time in 22 years, since 2001.
3. Powerful Powell — Sam Powell booted a 22-yard field goal on the final play of the game as Hancock remained unbeaten with a 22-20 Homecoming win over Florence Friday night. The win pushed the Hawks to a perfect 6-0 on the season with Region 4-6A action looming this week. Hancock is the only remaining unbeaten team in the “Southern Six” so far this season, as the Hawks sit 6-0 in a season for the first time since the 2000 campaign.

   

4. Powerful Pickens — Resurrection standout running back Daniel Pickens scored four touchdowns as the Eagles opened Region 8-1A play with a big 56-26 win over Salem on the road Friday night. Pickens ran for almost 160 yards and tallied three touchdowns on the ground and scored on a 26-yard touchdown toss from Luke Schnoor. Schnoor also hit Jaylen Harper on a 40-yard scoring strike and fullback Bryce Brown also added a touchdown run.
5. Homefield Advantage — Ok, so we we were just out of things to play off “Powerful” about. But Long Beach, who snapped a 29-game losing streak with a win two weeks ago, captured their first home win in over four years Friday night nipping visiting South Jones 35-34 at Lumpkin-Magee Stadium. Bearcat running back Ronnie Brown, Jr. ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bearcats in the win as LBHS moves to 2-4 overall on the season.
6. Rolling Rocks — St. Stanislaus is off to its first 4-1 start since 2016 with a 23-14 Homecoming win over visiting Stone High on Friday night. The Rock-A-Chaws trailed 14-7 mid-way through the third frame, but rallied to tally the last 16 points of the contest to pull out the win.
7. First loss — Harrison Central and Meridian faced off for the first time ever on Friday night, and it proved to be bad timing for the previously unbeaten Red Rebels. The Wildcats rallied from a 23-9 third quarter deficit to pull out an exciting 30-29 win at Earl Phillips Stadium in Lyman. The loss overshadowed an impressive performance from HCHS quarterback Tri Gaughf, who threw for 207 yards and four touchdown passes in the loss. Meridian versatile standout Daniel Hill carried the load offensively for the Wildcats totaling 256 yards on offense, as 210 of his yards came on the ground, and four total touchdowns, three of which were rushing touchdowns.