Prep roundup: George County rolls over East Central

George County clinched second place in Region 4-5A with a big 47-19 victory over East Central Friday night at Lucedale.

The Rebels (5-4 overall, 5-1 region) overcame a 10-point second-half deficit with 28 unanswered points as Javonte Jackson scored three touchdowns.

East Central (6-3, 4-2) took a 22-19 halftime lead after a back-and-forth first half. After spotting the Rebels a 6-0 lead, Eli Smith put the Hornets ahead 8-6 with a 2-yard touchdown run and conversion.

Devin Williams connected with Brenn Moody for a 60-yard TD pass to put George County back in front 12-8, but Deuce Hugger gave East Central a 15-12 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run.

Jackson scored the first of his touchdowns late in the second quarter with a 5-yard run, but Hugger and Smith beat the clock for a 20-yard scoring pass right before halftime.

Smith gave East Central a 29-19 lead hen Smith capped the opening possession of the second half with a 5-yard touchdown run, but it was all George County after that.

Jackson ran for a 10-yard touchdown run, then Trent Howell put the Rebels ahead for good with a 25-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

Howell added a 5-yard touchdown run with two minutes to play and Jackson iced the game with a 20-yard run in the final minute of play.

George County will finish the regular season next week at Long Beach before hosting in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. East Central is at Vancleave next week, then the Hornets will be on the road to open the playoffs as the region’s No. 3 seed.

D’Iberville 25, Harrison Central 14

D’Iberville closed in on the second seed in Region 4-6A with a gritty home victory over Harrison Central Friday night.

Drey Lenoir ran 24 times for 170 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Warriors (9-1 overall, 5-1 region), putting over 1,200 yards rushing for the season, including 20 touchdowns. Lenoir had touchdown runs of 6, 1 and 24 yards.

Colton DeShazo accounted for 112 total yards, rushing for 50 yards on eight carries, including an 11-yard touchdown run, and 62 yards on three receptions. As a team, D’Iberville rushed for 317 yards. Caleb Williams had seven tackles to lead D’Iberville on defense.

The Warriors can wrap up the No. 2 spot and a home game in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs next week with a win at St. Martin.

Harrison Central (7-2, 4-2) hosts Ocean Springs next week, and the Red Rebels could finish with the third seed in the region with a win and a Gulfport defeat.

Biloxi 33, Hancock 29

The Indians scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the game to grab the Region 4-6A victory over the Hawks Friday night at Kiln.

Chris Norwood’s 1-yard touchdown run with under a minute to play gave Biloxi (3-6 overall, 2-4 region) the victory and kept Hancock (3-6, 0-6) winless in region.

Hancock grabbed a 2-0 lead on a safety in the second quarter, but Deejay Bailey got the Indians on the board with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Norwood and a 7-2 halftime lead.

The two teams traded the lead in the third quarter, with Bailey’s 65-yard TD pass to Deon Hardin and a 6-yard run by Norwood, twice, brought Biloxi from behind.

Hancock took a 29-20 lead in the fourth quarter with a pair of scores, but Bailey and Hardin hooked up for a 60-yard touchdown pass with three minutes to play to close the margin, and after getting the ball back, the Indians drove for Norwood’s game-winning score.

Biloxi closes its season at home next week against Gulfport, while Hancock is at Pascagoula to the season finale.

Gautier 55, Pearl River Central 42

The Gators built a three-touchdown lead and held on to defeat the Blue Devils and clinch a playoff berth in Region 4-5A Friday night at Carriere.

Gautier (7-2 overall, 4-2 region) spotted Pearl River Central (1-9, 1-5) a 7-0 first quarter lead before getting its offense going in the second quarter.

The Gators led 20-14 at halftime, then opened a 35-14 lead midway through the third quarter before PRC rallied.

The Blue Devils closed the margin to 49-42 in the final minute and recovered an onside kick, but Gautier got a pick-6 to nail down the win.

Gautier is locked into the fourth seed in the region and will open the Class 5A playoffs on the road following next week’s regular season finale at home against Picayune. The Blue Devils will close their season next week at home against West Harrison.

Poplarville 42, Sumrall 0

Maurice Thomas ran for 217 yards and scored two touchdowns on 15 carries to power the Hornets past the Bobcats in Region 7-4A action Thursday night at Sumrall.

Avan Jarvis and D.J. Richardbay also ran for two scores as Poplarville (8-2 overall, 4-1 region) ran for 406 yards on 53 runs. James Ford had 16 tackles, including 11 solos, for Sumrall (6-3, 2-3).

The Hornets will open the Class 4A playoffs next week at home as the region’s No. 2 seed, hosting Raymond. The fourth-seeded Bobcats will travel to North Pike for the first round of the playoffs.

Bay High 22, Stone 21

Carmelo Simpson ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns, plus a key two-point conversion, as the Tigers outlasted the Tomcats in Region 8-4A action Thursday night at Bay St. Louis.

Noah Cutter added 80 yards on 12 carries for Bay High (7-3 overall, 2-2 region), and Terron Bedford had three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown, plus a conversion run.

The win put the Tigers into the second spot in the region, and they will host Quitman next week in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs. Despite the loss, Stone (2-5, 1-3) will be the fourth seed, traveling to Mendenhall.

Vancleave 55, West Harrison 28

Dayan Bilbo scored six touchdowns for the Bulldogs as they cruised past the Hurricanes Friday night in Region 4-5A at Gulfport.

Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs and will close the season next week, Vancleave (4-6 overall, 3-3 region) at East Central and West Harrison (2-7, 1-5) at Pearl River Central.

Picayune 56, Long Beach 0

The Maroon Tide wrapped up their third consecutive Region 4-5A championship as Dante Dowdell ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries.

Picayune (9-1, 6-0) will tune up for the Class 5A playoffs next week in its regular-season finale at Gautier. Long Beach (0-8, 0-6) will close the season next week at home against George County.

Pascagoula 50, St, Martin 38

The Panthers scored 20 fourth-quarter points to pull away from the Yellow Jackets in a Region 4-6A victory at home.

Pascagoula (3-7 overall, 2-4 region) will close the season next week at home against Hancock; St. Martin (2-7, 1-5) will also finish at home, against D’Iberville.

Pass Christian 57, Greene County 34

The Pirates clinched a playoff berth with the home victory over the Wildcats Thursday night in Region 8-4A.

Pass Christian (5-4 overall, 2-2 region) will play Newton County in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs next week at Decatur. Greene County finished its season 4-6 and 1-3.

Jeff Davis County 54, St. Stanislaus 20

The Jaguars clinched the Region 8-3A championship with the victory over the Rockachaws Friday night at Bassfield.

JDC (5-4 overall, 5-0 region) hosts Clarkdale next week in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs. St. Stanislaus (4-5, 3-2) opens the playoffs at Morton.

West Marion 45, St. Patrick 24

The Trojans wrapped up the No. 2 seed in Region 8-3A with the win over the Fighting Irish Friday night at Biloxi.

West Marion (6-4 overall, 4-1 region) will be at home next week in the Class 3A playoffs against Union. St. Pat finished its season 1-9 and 0-5.

Resurrection 48, Enterprise-Lincoln 12

The Eagles kept their flickering playoff hopes alive with the win in Region 4-1A Friday night at Brookhaven.

Resurrection (5-4 overall, 2-4 region) finishes the regular season next week at Taylorsville and will need a win and some help to make the Class 1A playoffs.

North Sunflower 62, Christian Collegiate 14

The Bulldogs were ousted from the MAIS Class 2A playoffs with the first-round defeat at Drew. Christian Collegiate finished its season 5-5.