Moss Point football seeks run to Oxford behind big offensive line

With its fourth head coach in the six seasons, Moss Point football hopes to find its way back to prominence under new leadership.

Eugene Harmon was promoted to head coach this summer following the departure of Willie Brown, who is now the defensive coordinator at Hazlehurst after spending the last three seasons in Moss Point.

Harmon is confident the transition has been a smooth one for all involved.

“The coaching staff hasn’t changed much from last year,” Harmon said. “The only thing that changed is Coach Brown left and I’ve moved up to head coach.”

Maurice Gowdy is now the Moss Point offensive coordinator after serving as the defensive backs coach, and Derrick Caples has moved from offensive coordinator to defensive coordinator.

Moss Point will no longer run the Wing-T offense that Brown installed. Instead, the Tigers will operate a run-based spread that will run out of several formations.

While the Tigers are replacing their starting quarterback, Romello Leggins, and top rusher, Omni Wells, they do return the majority of starters on an offensive line that was one of the best on the Coast last season.

Six-foot-2, 325-pound senior TeVaun Weatherspoon and 6-foot-1, 330-pound senior Antwoine Bailey will move inside to the guard spots after playing last year at the tackles. The rest of the offensive line will be comprised of 5-10, 235-pound junior Jaylen Rudolph, 6-3, 320-pound Kelvis Causey and 5-10, 185-pound Tevin Fairley.

Harmon believes his team’s fate will be tied to the play of his line on both sides of the ball.

“If they play like we expect them to, we’re looking to have a very successful season,” he said.

Moss Point will be breaking in a freshman quarterback this season in Ruben Lee, who stands 5-10, 170.

He hasn’t played a down of high school football, but Harmon believes Lee will be a good fit at quarterback.

“He’s been playing quarterback probably since he came out of the womb,” Harmon said. “He has a great arm, accuracy. He’s the most accurate quarterback on the roster right now. He’s football intelligent. He studies, knows how to break down coverage.”

He’ll have a handful of gifted players to hand the ball off to, including junior Tytus Miles and senior Devin Simpson, a 6-foot, 215-pound athlete who will also feature prominently on defense as a linebacker/safety. Miles ran 111 times for 601 yards and two scores last year.

“(Miles) and Devin compete in the weight room and they compete while doing conditioning tests,” Harmon said. “We look for big things out of both of them.”

Junior Deovion Robinson, senior Kobie Ruffin, junior Isaac Gowdy and junior tight end Keandre Booker will be among the targets for Lee in the passing game.

Harmon said the goal is to pass for 1,500 yards and rush for 2,000 yards as an offense this season.

On defense, Moss Point will likely operate out of a 3-3 front or a 4-2-5 formation.

Expect Simpson to be all over the field.

“He’s been starting at our dog safety position,” Harmon said. “He’s a football player. He has football speed.”

Booker and senior Terrance Gains will work at the two defensive ends while senior Matthew Sellers (5-10, 265) and junior Dewayne Sipp are expected to start at defensive tackle.

Simpson, junior Keiyonta Webb and senior Javon Williams will all see time at linebacker.

Gowdy, Robinson, junior Carlos Mathews and senior Anthony Kirkland will lead the secondary.

Kirkland should see time on the offensive side as well.

“He can line up at quarterback, running back, receiver,” Harmon said. “We’ll try to get him the ball. He’s so explosive. We’ll look to get him 10-15 touches.”

Moss Point will face another difficult non-region schedule starting with a home game against rival Pascagoula on Aug. 18. The Tigers will then travel to Gautier and Hattiesburg.

Moss Point will hit the road for a Sept. 8 game when it travels to take on Byrd, Louisiana, at the Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

The Tigers were a late fill-in for the game when a team dropped out.

“It just pretty much fell into our lap,” Harmon said. “It’s a game to get our kids some great exposure.

“It’s a trip they haven’t had a chance to go on. A lot of our kids have never had a chance to travel on charter buses. It will be something new for them. Hopefully, it will prepare us before we make that trip to Oxford (for the Class 4A state title game).”

This story was originally published July 31, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Moss Point football seeks run to Oxford behind big offensive line."