Sports

Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Let the race for Jackson begin

The sugar rush from Halloween is over, and we’re ready to find out at the movies if the Mayans are correct about the world ending in 2012.

Doug’s Picks isn’t going to fret about 2012. As the Good Book says, we have enough to be anxious about today. We’ll just settle back with the butter popcorn and Cherry Coke.

Now we have reached the end of the regular season, with playoffs beckoning and taking place, and it’s hard to believe the season has flown by that fast. The goal for everyone is Jackson on the first week of December.

Doug’s Picks went 12-3 last week, pushing the season record to 106-40 for a winning percentage of .719.

Lots of playoff implications, rivalries and two state playoff games will challenge our crystal ball.

Let’s get started.

n Gulfport at Biloxi: The Indians haven’t lost to Gulfport in their new stadium. There’s a lot of hoopla for the game with the Y’all vs. Us TV scene. It’s hard to feel comfortable picking the Indians, who have had problems holding the lead in the second half. We expect a close one but think the Admirals will get a winning season. Gulfport 24, Biloxi 21.

n Ocean Springs at George County: If this game were in Ocean Springs, we’d lean to the Greyhounds. There are championship implications in Region 4-6A, but the homefield and a field goal will be the difference. George County 27, Ocean Springs 24.

n Hancock at Harrison Central: The Red Rebels can lock up homefield for the playoffs, and go 10-1 to boot. Keagon Gillihan and the Hawks present a tough challenge but we like the Red Rebel defense. Harrison Central 21, Hancock 8.

n Moss Point at Gautier: The Moss Point defense has been stingy the whole season, and the offense has been held to two touchdowns on only two occasions. The Gators are explosive, so we expect a high-scoring game. Moss Point 31, Gautier 24.

n D’Iberville at St. Martin: Doug’s Picks has gone back-and-forth on this. The game is bigger for St. Martin, since a win makes the Yellow Jackets the No. 3 seed from Region 4-5A. A loss, and they have the potential to not make the playoffs.

Traditionally, D’Iberville wins this game. Very hesitantly, we’ll go with tradition. D’Iberville 17, St. Martin 15.

n East Central at Vancleave: East Central has won two in a row, and Vancleave has won two of its last three games. We like the Bulldogs at home in a nail-biter. Vancleave 15, East Central 14.

n West Harrison at Long Beach: Long Beach needs to win to stay in the Region 4-5A playoff picture. The youthful but winless Hurricanes have found the end zone only three times this season. Long Beach 35, West Harrison 6.

n Wayne County at Picayune: The Maroon Tide came-oh-so close to upsetting West Jones last week. Tide would like to make statement heading to playoffs. Wayne County 13, Picayune 9.

n Stone at McComb: The Tomcats are the best team not making the state playoffs. But they can still secure a winning season. Stone High 21, McComb 12.

n Pearl River Centeral at West Jones: PRC, facing powerful West Jones, is in a danger of its first winless season since 1965 if our records are correct. West Jones 38, PRC 0.

n Quitman at St. Stanislaus: After a spectacular season, things really get serious for high-powered and region champion St. Stanislaus. This is the first week in a five-week sprint toward Jackson. But homefield is what you play for, and the Rockachaws are playing at home. St. Stanislaus 35, Quitman 21.

n St. Patrick at Philadelphia: The Fighting Irish, seeded No. 4 from Region 8-3A, draw the tough task of facing a No. 1 seed in 10-1 Philadelphia. Philadelphia 24, St. Patrick 14.