Best of the best: Meet the Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Football Team for 2021 season
Ocean Springs junior quarterback Bray Hubbard is the Sun Herald 2021 football player of the year, and Picayune’s Cody Stogner is the coach of the year, headlining this season’s All-South Mississippi Football Team.
Hubbard had a breakout season as the ultra-athletic Greyhounds signal caller and an electric campaign that caught the attention of coaches around the state.
Ocean Springs won 11 games and made its way into the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2014. The Greyhounds set a school record for points scored with 510.
Stogner led the Maroon Tide to the Coast’s first state title since 2013 and restored Picayune’s place among the state’s power programs.
Player of the Year
Hubbard more than doubled his passing output as a junior while still improving on his rushing yardage. The 6A Mr. Football threw for 2,069 yards and ran for another 1,258 while accounting for 52 touchdowns.
The Greyhounds won the region for the first time since 2014 and took down Pearl in the first round of the playoffs. Hubbard, a Southern Miss baseball commit, earned a football offer from the University of Southern Mississippi for his efforts.
Coach of the Year
Cody Stogner, Picayune
Stogner spent 13 years as an assistant in Picayune under legendary head coach Dodd Lee and won a pair of state titles. In just his second year as the head man, Stogner has captured a trophy of his own.
The Maroon Tide improved from 8-4 to 14-1 behind a powerful ground attack. Picayune rode the hot hands of Dante Dowdell and Chris Davis all the way to Hattiesburg, where it knocked off West Point to win the 5A state championship.
Fan choice Offensive Player of the Year
Jacob Palazzo, Gulfport
Palazzo narrowly edged out Hubbard in our Player of the Year poll after leading Gulfport to a 7-5 record and a spot in the playoffs.
The junior threw for just over 1,800 yards and 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Palazzo had his best outing against Hancock, where he threw for 205 yards and three scores.
Fan choice Defensive Player of the Year
Xavian Chamberlain, Pass Christian
Chamberlain made his way into the 100-tackle club in just nine games for the Pirates. The senior was a big part of Pass Christian’s turnaround, jumping from 1-6 last season to 5-4 with a trip to the playoffs this year.
He set the tone for the season in the first game with 17 tackles and five stops behind the line of scrimmage against Forrest County Agriculture. Chamberlain finished the year with 21 tackles for a loss.
2021 All-South Mississippi Football Team
OFFENSE:
QB Kaden Irving, Gautier - Led the Coast with 3,687 passing yards. Named Mississippi coaches 5A offensive player of the year.
QB Christian Turner, Harrison Central - All-Region 4-6A selection, threw for 2,084 yards and 17 touchdowns.
RB Dante Dowdell, Picayune - Led Picayune to 5A state title and won MVP of the championship game. Mississippi coaches All-State First Team selection after rushing for 2,987 yards.
RB Dayan Bilbo, Vancleave - All-State 5A First Team selection. Ran for 2,577 yards and 40 touchdowns.
FB Drey Lenoir, D’Iberville - First Team 6A All-State selection, Region 4-6A offensive MVP. Led Warriors in rushing with 1,397 yards and 23 touchdowns.
TE Colton DeShazo, D’Iberville - All-Region 4-6A selection, appeared in the Alabama-Mississippi All Star Game. Tallied over 1,000 yards of offense.
WR Larry Simmons, Moss Point - First Team 4A All-State selection. MS-AL All Star Game participant. Signed with Ole Miss in December.
WR Isaiah Atkins, Harrison Central - Second Team 6A All-State and All-Region 4-6A selection. Bernard Blackwell All Star Game selection. Caught 61 passes for 1,076 yards.
WR Aydan Morgan, Gautier - First Team 5A All-State and Region 4-5A selection. Had 76 receptions for 1,232 yards.
OL Bryson Hurst, Gautier - First Team 5A All-State and Region 4-5A selection. US Army All-American and MS-AL All Star Game participant. Signed with Ole Miss in December.
OL Tyrus Burton, Pascagoula - Second Team 6A All-State and Region 4-6A selection.
OL Robert Cook, D’Iberville - Second Team 6A All-State and Region 4-6A selection. Bernard Blackwell All Star Game participant.
OL Ryan Pascal, Picayune - First Team 5A All-State and Region 4-5A selection.
OL Breland Curry, Moss Point - First Team 4A All-State selection. Bernard Blackwell All Star Game participant.
ATH Marquez Dortch, George Co. - First Team 5A All-State selection. MS-AL All Star Game participant and signed with Mississippi State in December.
PK Bart Edmiston, Ocean Springs - Made seven of eight field goal attempts and converted on 93 percent of extra point attempts.
P Gabe Showalter, St. Martin - First Team 6A All-State selection. MS-AL All Star Game participant. Averaged 38.7 yards per punt, including a long of 55. Also added three made field goals and 28 touchbacks.
DEFENSE:
DL RJ Moss, Biloxi - All-Region 4-6A selection. Had 47 tackles and seven tackles for loss. MS-AL All Star Game participant.
DL Dakeyvion Jones, Picayune - First Team 5A All-State and All-Region 4-5A selection. Had 98 tackles and nine tackles for loss.
DL Jamarious Brown, Moss Point - First Team 5A All-State selection. Had 84 tackles and 16 tackles for loss.
DL Kam Williams, D’Iberville - Second Team 6A All-State and All-Region 4-6A selection. Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game participant.
LB Khalid Moore, Poplarville - Mississippi 4A Defensive Player of the Year. MS-AL All Star Game participant. Signed with Mississippi State in December.
LB Amarion Tyson, Picayune - Second Team 5A All-State selection. Recorded 169 tackles as a sophomore.
LB Raymond Collins, Harrison Central - First Team 6A All-State selection. Bernard Blackwell All Star Game participant. Had 143 tackles and 13 tackles for loss.
LB Brady St. Amant, Ocean Springs - Recorded 104 tackles and 17 tackles for loss.
DB Caleb Williams, D’Iberville - First Team 6A All-State and Region 4-6A selection. Recorded 90 stops, 7.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
DB Xavion Handford, Gautier - Second Team 5A All-State and Region 4-5A selection. Had 94 tackles and 10 tackles for loss.
DB Ja’Shon Price, Moss Point - Second Team 4A All-State selection. Had 83 tackles and an interception.
DB Daniel Pickens, Resurrection - Had 54 tackles, six interceptions and four pass deflections.
Future stars
These players are set to become stars on the Coast in the years to come.
RB Chris Davis, Picayune (So.) - Ran for 953 yards and 17 touchdowns as part of Maroon Tide triple-headed backfield.
DL Angel McGee, Gautier (So.) - All-Region 4-5A selection. Had 69 tackles and 24 tackles for loss.
LB Trace Carter, Ocean Springs (So.) - All-Region 4-6A selection. Logged 60 tackles and 20 tackles for loss.
LB Kieron Jones, Harrison Central (So.) - Had four interceptions in his first season on varsity.
DB JT Robinson, Harrison Central (So.) - All-Region 4-6A selection. Recorded four interceptions.
Honorable Mention
▪ RB David Humphries, Ocean Springs; RB Maurice Travis, Poplarville; FB Darnell Smith, Picayune; FB Noah Cutter, Bay; FB DJ Richardbey, Poplarville; WR Aaron Phillips, Gautier; OL Joseph Bradford, St. Stanislaus; OL Drake Pond, Pass Christian; OL Conner Davis, Poplarville; ATH Ashton Hollins, George County; ATH Davien Lagarde, St. Stanislaus; DL Michael Smith, Gulfport; LB TJ Dunsford, East Central; LB Ladarrius Matthews, Moss Point; LB Ahmad Harmon, Poplarville; LB Dorian Robinson, Picayune; DB Jaylin Acker, Pass Christian; P Miller Kay, Resurrection.
