Ocean Springs star QB wants football championship before baseball career at USM

In just two years, Bray Hubbard plans to step on the diamond in Pete Taylor Park garnished in the black and gold of Southern Miss.

Before then, the high school junior and Golden Eagle baseball commit plans to deliver Ocean Springs its first playoff win in seven years as its do-it-all star quarterback.

The two-sport athlete, once proclaimed the next John Rhys Plumlee by his football coach Blake Pennock, has led the Greyhounds to a 10-0 record heading into the playoffs.

Hubbard has blossomed in his second season as the starter at quarterback under the guidance of Pennock, who has led OSHS for just as long on the sideline.

From averaging 102.2 passing yards per game last season while eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on the ground, Hubbard worked hard in the offseason to make his passing game a bigger threat in 2021 and it’s paying dividends.

“It’s what has taken us from a 35-points-per-game offense to a 45-points-per-game offense this year,” Pennock told the Sun Herald this week. “That throwing has been developing. His pass game has been the difference. He did a tremendous job last offseason in developing his arm strength and his accuracy.”

Hubbard is throwing for 179.1 yards per game this year and has tossed 26 touchdowns, compared to the four he threw a year ago.

As a result of his improvement, the Greyhounds finished the regular season with a perfect record for the first time since 1978. The offense has scored 435 points so far, good for second most in school history with at least one game left to play.

“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Pennock said. “Anytime he walks on he’s going to be the best athlete on the field.”

Hubbard is working on becoming the first quarterback in 6A Region 4 to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 more since 2016.

“I feel like I’ve gotten better (as a passer) but I’m not where I want to be yet,” Hubbard said. “I made a big jump from last year to this year, especially in the offseason. I’m definitely not to the point where I want to be, but I’m very pleased with where I am now.”

Ocean Springs baseball coach Brian Rea is eager to get Hubbard back on the diamond, but is enjoying every moment of Hubbard’s breakout season on the gridiron.

“Bray has been a human highlight reel every Friday night,” Rea said. “You don’t have to look far on Twitter after his games on Friday night to see some throw he’s made or some play he’s made with his feet.”

Rea has been impressed by the leadership skills Hubbard has shown this season, as well, adding he has all the characteristics of a great athlete.

“He’s the total package when it comes to what you want in a high school athlete,” Rea said. “Mindset, psyche, toughness, he’s got it. He just does. If you could bottle it up and sell it, we’d make a lot of money.”

Hubbard is still committed to play baseball at USM after verbally announcing his intent in the summer of 2020 following his freshman year.

The decision was made with only 12 varsity games under his belt but Hubbard is confident he made the right call.

“It was probably my best to decision to go,” Hubbard said. “The coaches really showed a lot of love for me. That’s really it, they showed a lot of love toward me and my family. I really fell in love with USM baseball.

“It was the first time I ever talked to them when they gave me an offer. We kept in touch. They really loved me and even upped my scholarship offer if I committed early, which I did.”

Hubbard also played a small part in his teammate McCarty English’s recent commitment to the Golden Eagles.

“Coach (Christian) Ostrander came down and saw him pitch the day we had exams and I was exempt from it so I went out and watched him pitch. He did really well and got that offer. I guess I played a little role in that, especially drawing the coaches’ eyes. I’ve talked about him some. They really love him.”

Hubbard and OSHS are heading into the playoffs with the intention of breaking free from the coastal football complex that has plagued the region in recent years. The schools that have made up 6A region 4 have won just nine playoff games since 2010 and lost a total of 43. The Greyhounds have won just one postseason game in that span.

“It’s going to take a lot of team effort,” Hubbard said. “We have to play as a team and individually, that’s the big thing. We have to listen to our coaches. Our coaches are going to have a good plan no matter what.”

Hubbard and the Greyhounds are set to host Pearl in the first round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. on Friday.

This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 2:23 PM.