Fourteen weeks ago, the high school football season opened, and every team had the ultimate goal of winning a state championship. For some teams, that goal was realistic and for others, it was only a pipe dream.
Four teams in the Southern Six still have their title hopes alive and they will need to win their South State games on Friday night for a chance to play for a state championship at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg.
Those teams remaining from the Southern Six are Picayune, Ocean Springs, Gautier and Poplarville. State titles are nothing new to Picayune while the others are seeking their first.
Wick’s Picks enters Week 14 of the season with an 87-31 record for 73.7 percent after last week’s 4-2 showing.
The picking will be tough this week in the South State finals. WP needs a perfect 4-0 showing to get back above 74 percent, which is far above the goal set before the season started. It’s been fun prognosticating, and The Picker hopes readers have enjoyed the forays into the unknown.
Now here are the selections for Friday night.
Hattiesburg at Picayune (6A): Picayune (11-2) is playing in its fourth straight South State final and is seeking its third state title in four years, having won championships in 2021 and 2022. Undefeated Hattiesburg comes in sporting a 12-0 record and reached Friday’s game by dispatching Pascagoula 33-17. The Tide trailed George County at halftime 21-7 last week, but the second half was a different story as they punched across the goal line seven times to win going away 63-40. The game marked the second time the Tide have scored more than 60 points this season. The fewest they have scored is 21 in a shocking loss to Gulfport, dropping the Tide’s record to 2-2. Since then, the Maroons have rattled off nine straight victories, using their vaunted running game led by Darrell Smith and Triston Cooper. Some coaches have said that Smith may the best of the great stable of running backs Picayune has produced through the years. He’s scored 22 touchdowns and only lost two fumbles while rushing for 2,251 yards on 244 carries. Cooper has 15 TDs and 781 yards on 104 attempts. Hattiesburg has numerous highly recruited players, and one writer said the Tigers are the most athletic high school team he’s ever seen. The Picker went against Hattiesburg last week in its win over Pascagoula. Not this time. Hattiesburg 49-45.
Brandon at Ocean Springs (7A): Brandon’s only loss was 65-62 to Clinton the third week of the season. The Bulldogs defeated Gulfport 42-0 and Oak Grove 31-27, teams OS beat 20-3 and 27-14, respectively. The Greyhounds have won seven straight after a sluggish 1-4 start and are in their second South State title game in three years…and guess who they lost to in 2022…Brandon. The battle of the dogs will go to the Bulldogs. Brandon 49-27.
Brookhaven at Gautier (5A): The Gators (11-1) needed to stop a two-point conversion attempt late in last week’s playoff game and convert a third-and-long to preserve a 28-27 victory over Wayne County. Brookhaven reached the South State title game by blanking Stone County 26-0. The Panthers are also 11-1 and the lone blemish on their record is a 35-30 loss to powerhouse Northwest Rankin. The Panthers are led by quarterback Jaden Allen, who has completed 69-of-149 passes for 983 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Leading the ground game is Caiden Quarles with 201 carries for 1,223 yards, 15 touchdowns and a long gain of 72 yards. Allen is also dangerous with his legs, rushing 122 times for 749 yards and eight scores. Gautier quarterback Trey Irving has had an impressive season throwing the ball, completing 207-of-305 passes for 2,504 yards and 18 touchdowns. On the receiving end of many of those passes have been Devon Garrett (51 catches for 484 yards and four TDs) and Sebastian Gonzalez (43 receptions for 520 yards and four scores). Irving also leads the team in rushing with 968 yards on 145 attempts and a remarkable 22 TDs. Both teams have played three common opponents (Natchez, Vancleave and Stone) and defeated them all by similar scores. Statistically, this game looks like it will come down to the wire with overtime a strong possibility. The experience of making the key plays to win the nail-bitter last week will keep the Gators alive as they seek their first state title. Gautier 34-28.
(Photo by Carlos Hurtado / 228 Sports)
Poplarville at Forest (4A): The Bearcats of Forest opened the season with three straight shutout victories and averaged 39.3 points while doing it. Since then, Forest (12-1) added another shutout before losing its only game, which was to Quitman 28-6. Last week, Forest got revenge by defeating Quitman 17-12 to advance to this game. The Poplarville Hornets (11-2) have had three one-point victories and one three-point win. Winning close games can give players the knowledge they are up to the challenge when the stakes are high. Forest 34-28.
