Ocean Springs is on its way to a resurgence behind its new coach and two young stars
A year after turning the Pass Christian football program around in the matter of one season, Blake Pennock has the Ocean Springs Greyhounds off to their first 2-0 start in six years thanks to a solid defense and a talented tandem in the offensive backfield.
Pennock led Pass Christian to the school’s first playoff win in 2019 after installing an offense that produced one of the state’s top passers in Dustin Allison, who threw for 3,123 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior.
After being lured away by the Greyhounds, Pennock has built an offense around the players he has available. He found no lack in young talent at Ocean Springs, but it’s a different brand of ball the Greyhounds are playing two games into the 2020 campaign.
Instead of tossing the ball downfield, Ocean Springs is riding a speedy sophomore at quarterback in Brayson Hubbard and a playmaking running back in junior David Humphries.
In a 33-14 victory over George County on Friday night, Hubbard ran 21 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Humphries had 279 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns — one a 1-yard rush and the other a 94-yard kickoff return that put the Greyhounds in charge at 26-14 with 6:32 remaining.
Humphries ran 12 times for 86 yards, caught two passes for 63 yards and had two kickoff returns for 130 yards.
Hubbard, who is a Southern Miss baseball commit, and Humphries combined for 479 all-purpose yards.
“They’re some really talented guys,” Pennock said. “Luckily for us, we’re going to have them for a little while.
“Early in the preseason you’re kind of trying to figure out who you have as a team. You think you have something but you just don’t know yet because I hadn’t seen them in pads. They’re about what I expected them to be, and I think they’re going to do a good job.”
It was quickly apparent to Pennock that he had a star-quality athlete in Hubbard, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, but the sophomore had to earn the starting QB job over senior Jak King.
Two games into the 2020 season, the 6-foot-1 1/2, 175-pound Hubbard has 41 carries for 310 yards.
Hubbard, who also recently earned a football scholarship offer from USM, showed Friday night that he can be a nightmare for opposing defenses with elusiveness on runs up the middle and enough speed to beat defenders to the edge.
“He’s still coming along as a passer,” Pennock said of Hubbard, who completed 4-of-12 passes for 33 yards. “He really hasn’t been a quarterback for very long. I think he started toward the end of his eighth-grade year. He’s still learning the finer points of the passing game. We’ll get him there.
“He’s being patient, taking what the defense is giving him. As you can see, he’s really hard to tackle.”
Humphries looks the part at running back, moving the pile and showing the ability to break away from defenders.
On his 94-yard kickoff return, he found space in the middle of the field, fought through attempted tackles and sped his way into the end zone.
“I was just trying to follow my blockers. I just saw blue. I knew my team had my back so I just went through,” Humphries said. “We practiced it all summer. I’m just glad it paid off.”
At 5-9, 181 pounds, Humphries has the look of a running back who should have eventually have college offers coming his way.
“When I first did my research about the job, I knew Brayson was an athlete coming up,” Pennock said. “And then when I got here and I put my eyes on (Humphries), I’ve seen good running backs and I know what they look like and what they can do. He can do it.”
Senior Jahiel McCrary, who had eight carries for 74 yards Friday, gives the Greyhounds an additional option at running back who also can hit big gainers.
Ocean Springs hasn’t had much game-breaking speed since former USM stars DeAndre Brown and Kelvin Bolden were lining up at receiver.
With players like Hubbard and Humphries coming on line for a dynamic playcaller like Pennock, it seems the Greyhounds are back to the point where they are athletic enough to compete in Region 4-6A along with squads like Gulfport and D’Iberville.
Along with his innovative playcalling, Pennock has brought a new zeal to the Ocean Springs program.
“He has a real hype energy,” Humphries said. “Coach Pennock, he don’t stop for nothing. He keeps going. He’s a go-getter.”
While two games are not always a great indication of what’s to come, Ocean Springs is off to a promising start.
“We’re just getting started,” Hubbard said. “It’s just my first two varsity starts as a quarterback. I’m feeling good so far. I’ve still got more room to improve, no doubt. As Coach Pennock said, we’re not even to our best yet. I have a feeling we’re going to make it a good ways this year.”
Along with an offense that’s picking up steam, Pennock is encouraged by the play he’s gotten out of his defense after giving up some big plays early in a 26-15 win at Moss Point in the season opener.
“They do a really good job of playing assignment football,” Pennock said. “They’re very smart. They’re in the right place, and they do a good job of playing in the strategy of the defense. (Defensive coordinator) Zach Green and his staff do a tremendous job of putting players in position to be successful.”
Ocean Springs next hosts Pascagoula before traveling to Hancock to begin Region 4-6A play on Sept. 25.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 1:12 AM.
