Patrick’s Picks: Can Ocean Springs take down a loaded Moss Point squad?
It’s finally here, folks.
The high school football season starts Friday night across Mississippi with 14 games being played that feature teams from the state’s southernmost six counties.
No Friday game in South Mississippi may be more entertaining than Moss Point playing host to Ocean Springs.
The Greyhounds roll in with a new coach, Blake Pennock, and a new spread offense.
Moss Point has one of its most talented teams since the Tigers were competing for state championships a decade ago.
While the Tigers have one of the Coast’s best quarterbacks in senior Ruben Lee, Pennock told the Sun Herald this week that he will have a game time decision on who will be behind center — either sophomore Brayson Hubbard or senior Jak King.
“We’ll probably play both,” Pennock said.
Hubbard is a speedy Southern Miss baseball commit who also recently picked up a football scholarship offer from the Golden Eagles.
“I’ve been really impressed with Bray and the way he has thrown the ball,” Pennock said. “The leaps he’s taken from the start of summer until now have been pretty big.”
King, who played receiver mostly last season, is also a strong athlete.
“Jak does a really good job of showing athleticism and he throws a good ball. He’s also got good leadership skills,” Pennock said.
Moss Point coach Eugene Harmon said he and his staff have been watching film of Pennock’s offense at Pass Christian last year and defensive film from last year’s Theodore High School squad in Alabama, where new OSHS defensive coordinator Zach Green was on the staff.
Moss Point, which is Class 4A, typically plays a difficult non-region schedule and Class 6A Ocean Springs should give the Tigers a good early test.
Pennock knows his team can take nothing for granted.
“They’re just incredibly athletic,” Pennock said of Moss Point. “They’ve got a lot of kids that can really run and a quarterback that can spin it and score from anywhere on the field. They have two big time receivers and a nice collection of other guys. We know we’ve got to follow them everywhere they go.”
Lee will be looking for junior receiver Larry Simmons, who holds several SEC offers, and senior Chanton Millender. Both players cleared 1,000 yards receiving last season.
My pick: Moss Point 28, Ocean Springs 27.
Here’s how I see the rest of Friday night’s game shaking out:
Vancleave 27, East Central 24: It’s year No. 2 for Kevin Fant as the Vancleave football coach and I expect progress out of the Bulldogs following a 5-6 season. Vancleave will have one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks on the Coast this season in senior Christian Kell. There’s little doubt Eric Collins will keep the ball rolling in his first season as the East Central coach with a potent rushing attack, but he has a lot of key personnel to replace.
St. Martin 31, St. Stanislaus 21: With nearly 500 yards rushing and 547 yards at receiver, Makia Hebert did it all for St. Martin a year ago. This season, the senior makes the switch to quarterback, and he should be a handful. Third-year SSC coach Nathan Encrapera should have the Rockachaws back in the Region 8-4A hunt following a 6-5 season.
Wayne County 28, D’Iberville 24: The trip to Waynesboro is always one of the toughest to make in the state, and that’s what D’Iberville is doing Friday night. Recent Minnesota commit Justin Walley, a senior cornerback, will always be one of the best players on the field for the Warriors this season.
Harrison Central 31, South Pike 28: The pieces appear to be in place for Harrison Central to score enough points to work their way into the postseason. Senior receiver Jacobi Moore and senior running back Jaidon McClain are two nice players to build around.
George County 27, Pascagoula 20: Former George County star defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson has moved on to Texas A&M, but that hasn’t stopped top recruiters from keeping up with the talent in Lucedale. Senior quarterback/defensive back M.J. Daniels holds offers from Ole Miss, Georgia, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Arkansas. Junior receiver/defensive back Marquez Dortch recently picked up offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Southern Miss and South Alabama. With sophomore quarterback Keilon Parnell leading the Pascagoula offense, there will be plenty of speed on the field at War Memorial Stadium.
Hancock 24, Gautier 17: Sema’J Robertson is in his senior year as the quarterback at Hancock and there’s good reason to believe the Hawks can improve on last year’s 4-7 mark.
Picayune 38, Meridian 20: The Cody Stogner era begins for Picayune on the road Friday night. Sophomore running back/defensive end Dante Dowdell will be one to watch for the Maroon Tide this season and there’s a chance he will carry the load for the rushing attack.
Oak Grove 28, Gulfport 27: The Admirals have plenty to replace following the graduation of quarterback Cade Crosby and several other skill players, but the Admirals have shown they can reload with each season. Traveling to Hattiesburg to open the 2020 campaign will tell us a lot about Gulfport. Oak Grove handled Gulfport twice last season at Milner Stadium, 37-13 and 42-24.
Jefferson Davis County 28, Poplarville 21: Poplarville was originally supposed to travel to Biloxi Friday, but that was nixed after a COVID-19 outbreak at the high school forced the Indians to sit out the opening week. The opener doesn’t get any easier against Jefferson Davis County, which won the Class 3A state title a year ago.
Pearl River Central 28, Sumrall 14: In year three under head coach Jacob Beech, it appears the right time for the Blue Devils to make a leap on the field. PRC is 7-15 under Beech up to this point.
Resurrection 21, Bogue Chitto 14: It’s year No. 2 for Lavon Capers as the RCS head coach and last year’s 9-3 season has me believing that the Eagles aren’t going to be taking a step back anytime soon in Class 1A.
Long Beach 24, West Harrison 21: This game at West Harrison will mark the debut of Ryan Ross as the Long Beach head coach. He built a consistently competitive program at Ocean Springs and he seems like a good fit to turn around a team that has struggled on defense in recent years.
Clarkdale 27, St. Patrick 10: The Fighting Irish traveled to Clarkdale and fell 32-0 a year ago for their first loss of the season.
