Two top South Mississippi athletes are Mr. Football winners
Ocean Springs quarterback Bray Hubbard and Picayune running back Dante Dowdell have been named 6A and 5A Mr. Football, respectively, by the Mississippi High School Activities Association.
Hubbard is now a two-time winner after his win last year. Hubbard is the first South Mississippi football player to win the award twice since at least 2016, the year the MHSAA began archiving winners.
The Alabama commit has thrown for 1,694 yards and ran for another 1,236 while being responsible for 32 total touchdowns. Hubbard has the Greyhounds in the playoffs as the No. 1 seed out of Region 4.
“He’s a special player,” Ocean Springs coach Blake Pennock told SB Live. “He’s a leader on the field, winning back-to-back Mr. Football awards in 6A is a great accomplishment, and one we’re really proud of. The highlights, the leadership and just how he carries himself speaks for itself.”
Dowdell earns the 5A honors heading into the playoffs with 1,477 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns to his name. The Oregon commit has led the reigning state champions through an undefeated regular season and is the favorite to win it all again.
“Everyone knows he’s a phenomenal player, but he’s also a great person,” Picayune coach Cody Stogner told SB Live. “He deserves everything that has come to him. He’s done everything we’ve asked and he’s a leader in the classroom, close to a 4.0 student. He complements our team well. We thrive on having to out-work people, and that’s what you’ve seen from Dante the last four years here.”
This is the first time since the MHSAA began archiving the award that two Coast athletes have won.
Past Mr. Football winners:
2021 Mr. 6A: Bray Hubbard, Ocean Springs
2020 Mr. 6A: Justin Walley, D’Iberville
2019 Mr. 6A: McKinnley Jackson, George County
2016 Mr. 4A: Myles Brennan, St. Stanislaus
