Prep football scores: Ocean Springs stays undefeated with a 48-0 win over St. Martin
Third-ranked Ocean Springs took over sole possession of first place in Region 4-6A, remaining undefeated with a dominant 48-0 victory over St. Martin Friday night at Hugh Pepper Field.
The Greyhounds (8-0 overall, 5-0 region), No. 3 in the Associated Press Overall rankings and second in Class 6A, got another sterling performance from junior quarterback Bray Hubbard.
Hubbard completed 13 of 20 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 13 times for 130 yards and another touchdown.
David Humphries added a pair of rushing touchdowns, and the Ocean Springs defense came up with its best effort of the season. The Greyhounds limited the Yellow Jackets to a net of just 43 yards of offense, forced two fumbles, one for a touchdown, and blocked two punts.
Humphries got the scoring started in the first quarter with a 1-yard run. Hubbard scored the first of three touchdowns for the Greyhounds in the second quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run, then found J.P. Coulter for touchdown passes of 51 and 43 yards for 27-0 halftime lead.
Humphries and Christian White added rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, Trace Carter closed the scoring with a scoop-and-score fumble recovery and the fourth quarter was played with a running clock.
Coulter finished with 155 yards on seven receptions for Ocean Springs. Keyshawn Thomas led the Greyhounds with eight tackles and Carter had six tackles, three for loss, including two sacks.
Ocean Springs can clinch the region title next week at Gulfport. St. Martin (2-6, 1-4) will play next week at Pascagoula.
D’Iberville 41, Gulfport 28
Drey Lenoir ran for 211 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns to power the Warriors and hand the Admirals their first defeat in Region 4-6A at Warrior Stadium.
D’Iberville (8-1 overall, 4-1 region) closed in on a home playoff game in Class 6A with the victory; Gulfport (6-3, 4-1) has secured a playoff berth, but has work to do to get a home game in the first round, which go to the top two seeds in the region.
Kole Davis got the Warriors going with a 7-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, then Gage Peterson scored on 1-yard quarterback sneak to give D’Iberville a 14-0 halftime lead.
That lead grew on the first possession of the second half when Caleb Williams took an interception 55 yards for a Warrior touchdown, and Lenior made it 28-0 with an 85-yard touchdown run, also in the third quarter.
Tyler Reed got Gulfport on the comeback trail midway through the third quarter with a 1-yard scoring run an Jacob Palazzo brought the Admirals closer with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tavaris Henshaw.
Colton Deshazo made it 34-14 with an 8-yard run for D’Iberville, but Palazzo came back with an 18-yard scoring pass to Gavin Brown.
However, Lenoir put the game out of reach with a 4-yard touchdown and Palazzo hooked up with Reed for a 16-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the game.
Both teams will be at home next week in key battles for playoff position, D’Iberville against Harrison Central and Gulfport vs. Ocean Springs.
Picayune 59, George County 33
Dante Dowdell ran 26 times for 248 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the 10th-ranked Maroon Tide past the Rebels in a showdown of undefeated teams in Region 4-5A play at Lucedale.
Picayune (8-1 overall, 5-0 region) broke open a close game in the second half on the strength of its running game. Dowdell had touchdown runs of 65 and 51 yards in the first half, and Noah Carter added a 25-yard scoring run to give the Tide a 28-14 lead.
George County (4-4, 4-1) used a 39-yard pass from Duece Knight to Marquez Dortch to narrow the margin before Picayune closed the first half with a field goal and a 31-20 lead.
The Maroon Tide took the opening kickoff of the second half to a 1-yard touchdown run from Dowdell, but the Rebels came right back, scoring on a 1-yard run by Trent Howell.
George County had momentum after getting a defensive stop, but Picayune returned the favor, recovering a fumble, which led to Dowdell’s 2-yard touchdown. Corie Stinson added a 41-yard touchdown run for the Maroon Tide.
Knight finished 9 of 15 for 142 yards and a touchdown pass, and Howell ran for 75 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns for the Rebels.
Picayune can wrap up the region title at home next week against Long Beach, while George County will host East Central in a battle that will likely decide second place.
East Central 27, Gautier 21
The Hornets shut out the Gators in the second half to win a big contest between two playoff-bound teams in Region 4-5A at Hurley.
Eli Smith’s 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference for East Central (6-2 overall, 4-1 region). Quarterback Kaden Irving threw three touchdown passes in the first half for Gautier (6-2, 3-2).
Irving’s first scoring pass, of 15 yards to Aaron Phillips, put the Gators ahead 7-0, but the Hornets tied it up late in the first quarter on a 39-yard run by Smith. Deuce Hugger put East Central ahead 14-7 with a 70-yard run midway through the second quarter.
The first half finished with a flurry of scoring, as Irving hit Ayden Morgan for an 11-yard touchdown pass for a tying score, but Hugger responded with a 9-yard touchdown run. Irving tied it again with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Morgan in the final minute of the second half.
After Smith put East Central ahead, Gautier had the ball three times, but were stopped on an interception and two fourth downs.
The Hornets will travel to George County next week, while Gautier is at Pearl River Central.
Columbia 27, Poplarville 3
The top-ranked team in Class 4A traveled to Poplarville and came away with a big win in a showdown in Region 7-4A.
The Wildcats (8-1 overall, 4-0 region) spotted the Hornets a 3-0 lead on a 19-yard field goal by Zach Carpenter before riding its defense and running game the rest of the way.
Columbia made it 6-3 on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Joshua Brown to Carter Smith. Poplarville (7-2, 3-1) was driving until losing a fumble, with D.J. Cloyd recovering for the Wildcats.
That set up Omar Johnson’s 5-yard touchdown run, with Smith passing to Cloyd for the two-point conversion and a 14-3 halftime lead.
The opening possession of the second half ended disastrously for the Hornets as Cloyd picked up a fumble and dashed 70 yards for a Columbia touchdown. Kentrell Johnson had another scoop-and-score, from 30 yards, in the fourth quarter.
Poplarville was able to get on four Wildcat fumbles in the second half, but were unable to do anything with the turnovers.
Both teams will complete the regular season next week before moving on to the Class 4A playoffs, which begin November 5. Columbia hosts Lawrence County and Poplarville is at Sumrall, both Thursday night.
Harrison Central 34, Hancock 22
Christian Turner passed for 365 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Red Rebels past the Hawks in Region 4-6A at Lyman.
Harrison Central (7-1 overall, 4-1 region) secured a playoff spot while handing Hancock its fifth straight defeat after a 3-0 start in non-region play.
Turner completed 21 of 29 passes for the Red Rebels. Devin Culberson caught five passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, and Isaiah Atkins had 123 yards on eight receptions and he also had a touchdown.
Raymond Collins on gained 14 yards on six carries for Harrison Central, but three of his runs went for touchdowns.
The Red Rebels will try to slip into the No. 2 spot in the region next week at D’Iberville, while Hancock hosts Biloxi.
Pascagoula 20, Biloxi 17
The Panthers finally broke through for a victory in Region 4-6A, defeating the Indians at Biloxi.
Pascagoula (2-7 overall, 1-4 region) scored the winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to overcome a 17-13 deficit.
Dee Jay Bailey had a 1-yard touchdown run and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Duran Parish in the second quarter and extended a 14-13 halftime lead late in the third quarter with a field goal.
The Panthers will return home to face St. Martin next week, while Biloxi travels to Hancock.
Vancleave 49, Pearl River Central 29
Dayan Bilbo scored five touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs past the Blue Devils in Region 4-5A play at Vancleave.
Vancleave (3-6 overall, 2-3 region) will play at West Harrison next week; Pearl River Central (1-8, 1-4) will host Gautier.
Moss Point 42, Bay High 0
The Tigers secured the championship in Region 8-4A and will head into the Class 4A playoffs as the No. 1 seed from the region after a shutout win over Bay High at Moss Point.
Moss Point (6-3 overall, 4-0 region) will have a week off to prepare for the first round of the Class 4A playoffs, while Bay hosts Stone in a Thursday contest.
Pass Christian 31, Stone 24
The Pirates pushed their way into a four-way tie for second place in Region 8-4A with the win over the Tomcats at Perkinston.
Pass (4-4 overall, 1-2 region) will host Greene County (also 1-2 in region) in the regular-season finale next week, while Stone (2-5, 1-2) goes to Bay High.
West Harrison 42, Long Beach 12
The Hurricanes got into the win column in Region 4-5A by defeating the winless Bearcats at Long Beach.
West Harrison (2-6 overall, 1-4 region) will be home next week to face Vancleave, while Long Beach (0-7, 0-5) travels to Picayune.
St. Stanislaus 33, Perry Central 6
The Rockachaws secured a spot in the Class 3A playoffs with a big win over the Bulldogs in Region 8-3A at Bay St. Louis.
St. Stanislaus (4-4 overall, 3-1 region) completes the regular season next week against Jefferson Davis County at Bassfield. Perry Central (3-6, 1-3) travels to Seminary.
Seminary 35, St. Patrick 0
The Bulldogs shut out the Fighting Irish at Biloxi to remain alive in the Region 8-3A playoff hunt.
Seminary (3-6, 1-3) hosts Perry Central next week with the No. 4 seed in the region going to the winner. St. Patrick (1-8, 0-4) hosts West Marion to complete the season.
Mount Olive 40, Resurrection 22
The Pirates seriously damaged the Eagles’ playoff hopes in Region 4-1A with the victory at Pascagoula.
Mount Olive (5-3 overall, 2-3 region) host Richton next week, while Resurrection (4-4, 1-4) is at Enterprise-Lincoln in a must-win game.
Christian Collegiate 43, Prentiss Christian 33
The Bulldogs will be moving on to the MAIS Class 2A playoffs after defeating the Saints in District 3-2A at Gulfport.
Christian Collegiate (5-4 overall, 3-1 district) will play at North Sunflower as the No. 11 seed in next week in the opening round of the 2A playoffs.